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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 looks inquiringly at him. HELMER Nora!- Oh! I must read it again.- Yes, yes, it is so. I am saved! Nora, I am saved! NORA And I? HELMER You too, of course; we are both saved, both of us. Look here-he sends you back your promissory note. He writes that he regrets and apologises, that a happy turn in his life-Oh, what matter what he writes. We are saved, Nora! No one can harm you. Oh, Nora, Nora-; but first to get rid of this hateful thing. I’ll just see[Glances at the I.O.U.] No, I will not look at it; the whole thing shall be nothing but a dream to me. [Tears the I.O.U. and both letters in pieces. Throws them into thefire and watches them burn.] There! it’s gone!- He said that ever since Christmas Eve-Oh, Nora, they must have been three terrible days for you! NORA I have fought a hard fight for the last three days. HELMER And in your agony you saw no other outlet but-No; we won’t think of that horror. We will only rejoice and repeat-it’s over, all over! Don’t you hear, Nora? You don’t seem able to grasp it. Yes, it’s over. What is this set look on your face? Oh, my poor Nora, I understand; you cannot believe that I have forgiven you. But I have, Nora; I swear it. I have forgiven everything. I know that what you did was all for love of me. NORA That is true. HELMER You loved me as a wife should love her husband. It was only the means that, in your inexperience, you misjudged. But do you think I love you the less because you cannot do without guidance? No, no. Only lean on me; I will counsel you, and guide you. I should be no true man if this very womanly helplessness did not make you doubly dear in my eyes. You mustn’t dwell upon the hard things I said in my first moment of terror, when the world seemed to be tumbling about my ears. I have forgiven you, Nora-I swear I have forgiven you. NORA I thank you for your forgiveness. [Goes out, to the right. HELMER No, stay-! [Looking through the doorway.] What are you going to do? NORA[Inside.] To take off my masquerade dress. HELMER [In the doorway.] Yes, do, dear. Try to calm down, and recover your balance, my scared little song-bird. You may rest secure. I have broad wings to shield you. |
