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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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[NORA says nothing, and continues to look fixedly at him. HELMER I ought to have known how it would be. I ought to have foreseen it. All your father’s want of principle-be silent!- all your father’s want of principle you have inherited-no religion, no morality, no sense of duty. How I am punished for screening him! I did it for your sake; and you reward me like this. NORA Yes-like this. HELMER You have destroyed my whole happiness. You have ruined my future. Oh, it’s frightful to think of! I am in the power of a scoundrel; he can do whatever he pleases with me, demand whatever he chooses; he can domineer over me as much as he likes, and I must submit. And all this disaster and ruin is brought upon me by an unprincipled woman! NORA When I am out of the world, you will be free. HELMER Oh, no fine phrases. Your father, too, was always ready with them. What good would it do me, if you were “out of the world,” as you say? No good whatever! He can publish the story all the same; I might even be suspected of collusion. People will think I was at the bottom of it all and egged you on. And for all this I have you to thank-you whom I have done nothing but pet and spoil during our whole married life. Do you understand now what you have done to me? NORA [With cold calmness.] Yes. HELMER The thing is so incredible, I can’t grasp it. But we must come to an understanding. Take that shawl off. Take it off, I say! I must try to pacify him in one way or another-the matter must be hushed up, cost what it may.- As for you and me, we must make no outward change in our way of life-no outward change, you understand. Of course, you will continue to live here. But the children cannot be left in your care. I dare not trust them to you.- Oh, to have to say this to one I have loved so tenderly-whom I still-! But that must be a thing of the past. Henceforward there can be no question of happiness, but merely of saving the ruins, the shreds, the show [A ring; HELMER starts.] What’s that? So late! Can it be the worst? Can he-? Hide yourself, Nora; say you are ill. [NORA stands motionless. HELMER goes to the door and opens it. ELLEN [Half dressed, in the hall.] Here is a letter for you, ma’am. HELMER Give it to me. [Seizes the letter and shuts the door.] Yes, from him. You shall not have it. I shall read it. NORA Read it? HELMER [By the lamp.] I have hardly the courage to. We may both be lost, both you and I. Ah! I must know. [Hastily tears the letter open; reads a few lines, looks at an enclosure; with a cry of joy.] Nora! |
