|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
 |
||||
|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
|
|
||||
|
ELLEN Oh, yes, ma’am, I understand. [She goes out. NORA It is coming! The dreadful thing is coming, after all. No, no, no, it can never be; it shall not! [She goes to HELMER’S door and slips the bolt. ELLEN opens the hall door for KROGSTAD, and shuts it after him. He wears a travelling-coat, high boots, and a fur cap. NORA [Goes towards him.] Speak softly; my husband is at home. KROGSTAD All right. That’s nothing to me. NORA What do you want? KROGSTAD A little information. NORA Be quick, then. What is it? KROGSTAD You know I have got my dismissal. NORA I couldn’t prevent it, Mr. Krogstad. I fought for you to the last, but it was of no use. KROGSTAD Does your husband care for you so little? He knows what I can bring upon you, and yet he daresNORA How could you think I should tell him? KROGSTAD Well, as a matter of fact, I didn’t think it. It wasn’t like my friend Torvald Helmer to show so much courageNORA Mr. Krogstad, be good enough to speak respectfully of my husband. KROGSTAD Certainly, with all due respect. But since you are so anxious to keep the matter secret, I suppose you are a little clearer than yesterday as to what you have done. NORA Clearer than you could ever make me. KROGSTAD Yes, such a bad lawyer as INORA What is it you want? KROGSTAD Only to see how you are getting on, Mrs. Helmer. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Even a mere money-lender, a gutter-journalist, a-in short, a creature like me-has a little bit of what people call feeling. NORA Then show it; think of my little children. KROGSTAD Did you and your husband think of mine? But enough of that. I only wanted to tell you that you needn’t take this matter too seriously. I shall not lodge any information, for the present. NORA No, surely not. I knew you wouldn’t. KROGSTAD The whole thing can be settled quite amicably. Nobody need know. It can remain among us three. NORA My husband must never know. KROGSTAD How can you prevent it? Can you pay off the balance? NORA No, not at once. KROGSTAD Or have you any means of raising the money in the next few days? NORA None-that I will make use of. |
