Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/92

 on the children—that's the most terrible part of it, Nora.

Nora.

Why?

Helmer.

Because in such an atmosphere of lies home life is poisoned and contaminated in every fibre. Every breath the children draw contains some germ of evil.

Nora.

[Closer behind him.] Are you sure of that?

Helmer.

As a lawyer, my dear, I have seen it often enough. Nearly all cases of early corruption may be traced to lying mothers.

Nora.

Why—mothers?

Helmer.

It generally comes from the mother's side; but of course the father's influence may act in the same way. Every lawyer knows it too well. And here has this Krogstad been poisoning his own children for years past by a life of lies and hypocrisy—that is why I call him morally ruined.

[Holds out both hands to her.] So my sweet little Nora must promise not to plead his cause. Shake hands upon it. Come, come, what's this? Give me your hand. That's right. Then it's a bargain. I assure you it would have been impossible for me to work with him. It gives me a positive sense of physical discomfort to come in contact with such people.

[Nora draws her hand away, and moves to the other side of the Christmas-tree.