A Doll’s House Henrik Ibsen (e book free reading .TXT) 📖
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- Author: Henrik Ibsen
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right of me not to let you stay there any longer.
Nora
Everything you do is quite right, Torvald.
Helmer
Kissing her on the forehead. Now my little skylark is speaking reasonably. Did you notice what good spirits Rank was in this evening?
Nora
Really? Was he? I didn’t speak to him at all.
Helmer
And I very little, but I have not for a long time seen him in such good form. Looks for a while at her and then goes nearer to her. It is delightful to be at home by ourselves again, to be all alone with you—you fascinating, charming little darling!
Nora
Don’t look at me like that, Torvald.
Helmer
Why shouldn’t I look at my dearest treasure?—at all the beauty that is mine, all my very own?
Nora
Going to the other side of the table. You mustn’t say things like that to me tonight.
Helmer
Following her. You have still got the Tarantella in your blood, I see. And it makes you more captivating than ever. Listen—the guests are beginning to go now. In a lower voice. Nora—soon the whole house will be quiet.
Nora
Yes, I hope so.
Helmer
Yes, my own darling Nora. Do you know, when I am out at a party with you like this, why I speak so little to you, keep away from you, and only send a stolen glance in your direction now and then?—do you know why I do that? It is because I make believe to myself that we are secretly in love, and you are my secretly promised bride, and that no one suspects there is anything between us.
Nora
Yes, yes—I know very well your thoughts are with me all the time.
Helmer
And when we are leaving, and I am putting the shawl over your beautiful young shoulders—on your lovely neck—then I imagine that you are my young bride and that we have just come from the wedding, and I am bringing you for the first time into our home—to be alone with you for the first time—quite alone with my shy little darling! All this evening I have longed for nothing but you. When I watched the seductive figures of the Tarantella, my blood was on fire; I could endure it no longer, and that was why I brought you down so early—
Nora
Go away, Torvald! You must let me go. I won’t—
Helmer
What’s that? You’re joking, my little Nora! You won’t—you won’t? Am I not your husband—? A knock is heard at the outer door.
Nora
Starting. Did you hear—?
Helmer
Going into the hall. Who is it?
Rank
Outside. It is I. May I come in for a moment?
Helmer
In a fretful whisper. Oh, what does he want now? Aloud. Wait a minute! Unlocks the door. Come, that’s kind of you not to pass by our door.
Rank
I thought I heard your voice, and felt as if I should like to look in. With a swift glance round. Ah, yes!—these dear familiar rooms. You are very happy and cosy in here, you two.
Helmer
It seems to me that you looked after yourself pretty well upstairs too.
Rank
Excellently. Why shouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t one enjoy everything in this world?—at any rate as much as one can, and as long as one can. The wine was capital—
Helmer
Especially the champagne.
Rank
So you noticed that too? It is almost incredible how much I managed to put away!
Nora
Torvald drank a great deal of champagne tonight too.
Rank
Did he?
Nora
Yes, and he is always in such good spirits afterwards.
Rank
Well, why should one not enjoy a merry evening after a well-spent day?
Helmer
Well spent? I am afraid I can’t take credit for that.
Rank
Clapping him on the back. But I can, you know!
Nora
Doctor Rank, you must have been occupied with some scientific investigation today.
Rank
Exactly.
Helmer
Just listen!—little Nora talking about scientific investigations!
Nora
And may I congratulate you on the result?
Rank
Indeed you may.
Nora
Was it favourable, then?
Rank
The best possible, for both doctor and patient—certainty.
Nora
Quickly and searchingly. Certainty?
Rank
Absolute certainty. So wasn’t I entitled to make a merry evening of it after that?
Nora
Yes, you certainly were, Doctor Rank.
Helmer
I think so too, so long as you don’t have to pay for it in the morning.
Rank
Oh well, one can’t have anything in this life without paying for it.
Nora
Doctor Rank—are you fond of fancy-dress balls?
Rank
Yes, if there is a fine lot of pretty costumes.
Nora
Tell me—what shall we two wear at the next?
Helmer
Little featherbrain!—are you thinking of the next already?
Rank
We two? Yes, I can tell you. You shall go as a good fairy—
Helmer
Yes, but what do you suggest as an appropriate costume for that?
Rank
Let your wife go dressed just as she is in everyday life.
Helmer
That was really very prettily turned. But can’t you tell us what you will be?
Rank
Yes, my dear friend, I have quite made up my mind about that.
Helmer
Well?
Rank
At the next fancy-dress ball I shall be invisible.
Helmer
That’s a good joke!
Rank
There is a big black hat—have you never heard of hats that make you invisible? If you put one on, no one can see you.
Helmer
Suppressing a smile. Yes, you are quite right.
Rank
But I am clean forgetting what I came for. Helmer, give me a cigar—one of the dark Havanas.
Helmer
With the greatest pleasure. Offers him his case.
Rank
Takes a cigar and cuts off the end. Thanks.
Nora
Striking a match. Let me give you a light.
Rank
Thank you. She holds the match for him to light his cigar. And now goodbye!
Helmer
Goodbye, goodbye, dear old man!
Nora
Sleep well, Doctor Rank.
Rank
Thank you for that wish.
Nora
Wish me the same.
Rank
You? Well, if you want me to sleep well! And thanks for the light. He nods to them both and goes out.
Helmer
In a subdued voice. He has drunk more than he ought.
Nora
Absently. Maybe. Helmer takes a
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