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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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and no need to worry about things, isn’t it? MRS. LINDEN Yes; at any rate it must be delightful to have what you need. NORA No, not only what you need, but heaps of money-heaps! MRS. LINDEN[Smiling.] Nora, Nora, haven’t you learnt reason yet? In our school days you were a shocking little spendthrift. NORA [Quietly smiling.] Yes; that’s what Torvald says I am still. [Holding up her forefinger.] But “Nora, Nora” is not so silly as you all think. Oh! I haven’t had the chance to be much of a spendthrift. We have both had to work. MRS. LINDEN You too? NORA Yes, light fancy work: crochet, and embroidery, and things of that sort; [Carelessly] and other work too. You know, of course, that Torvald left the Government service when we were married. He had little chance of promotion, and of course he required to make more money. But in the first year after our marriage he overworked himself terribly. He had to undertake all sorts of extra work, you know, and to slave early and late. He couldn’t stand it, and fell dangerously ill. Then the doctors declared he must go to the South. MRS. LINDEN You spent a whole year in Italy, didn’t you? NORA Yes, we did. It wasn’t easy to manage, I can tell you. It was just after Ivar’s birth. But of course we had to go. Oh, it was a wonderful, delicious journey! And it saved Torvald’s life. But it cost a frightful lot of money, Christina. MRS. LINDEN So I should think. NORA Twelve hundred dollars! Four thousand eight hundred crowns! 9 Isn’t that a lot of money? MRS. LINDEN How lucky you had the money to spend! 9 The dollar (4s. 6d.) was the old unit of currency in Norway. The crown was substituted for it shortly before the date of this play. NORA We got it from father, you must know. MRS. LINDEN Ah, I see. He died just about that time, didn’t he? NORA Yes, Christina, just then. And only think! I couldn’t go and nurse him! I was expecting little Ivar’s birth daily; and then I had my poor sick Torvald to attend to. Dear, kind old father! I never saw him again, Christina. Oh! that’s the hardest thing I have had to bear since my marriage. MRS. LINDEN I know how fond you were of him. But then you went to Italy? NORA Yes; you see, we had the money, and the doctors said we must lose no time. We started a month later. MRS. LINDEN And your husband came back completely cured. NORA Sound as a bell. MRS. LINDEN But-the doctor? NORA What do you mean? MRS. LINDEN I thought as I came in your servant announced the doctorNORA Oh, yes; Doctor Rank. But he doesn’t come professionally. He is our best friend, and never lets a day pass without looking in. No, Torvald hasn’t had an hour’s illness since that time. And the children are so healthy and well, and so am I. [Jumps up and claps her hands.] Oh, Christina, Christina, what a wonderful thing it is to live and to be happy!- Oh, but it’s really too horrid of me! Here am I talking about nothing but my own concerns. |
