NORA. No, it would never have come into my head to ask Doctor Rank. Although I am quite sure that if I had asked him——

MRS. L. But of course you won’t.

NORA. Of course not. I have no reason to think it could possibly be necessary. But I am quite sure that if I told Doctor Rank——

MRS. L. Behind your husband’s back?

NORA. I must make an end of it with the other one, and that will be behind his back too. I must make an end of it with him.

MRS. L. Yes, that is what I told you yesterday, but——

NORA [walking up and down]. A man can put a thing like that straight much easier than a woman.

MRS. L. One’s husband, yes.

NORA. Nonsense! [Standing still.] When you pay off a debt you get your bond back, don’t you?

MRS. L. Yes, as a matter of course.

NORA. And can tear it into a hundred thousand pieces and burn it up—the nasty dirty paper!

MRS. L. [looks hard at her, lays down her sewing and gets up slowly]. Nora, you are concealing something from me.

NORA. Do I look as if I were?

MRS. L. Something has happened to you since yesterday morning. Nora, what is it?

NORA [going nearer to her]. Christine! [Listens.] Hush! There’s Torvald come home. Do you mind going in to the children for the present? Torvald can’t bear to see dressmaking going on. Let Anne help you.

MRS. L. [gathering some of the things together]. Certainly—but I am not going away from here till we have had it out with one another. [She goes into the room on the left as Helmer comes in from the hall.]

NORA [going up to Helmer]. I have wanted you so much, Torvald dear.

HEL. Was that the dressmaker?

NORA. No, it was Christine; she is helping me to put my dress in order. You will see I shall look quite smart.

HEL. Wasn’t that a happy thought of mine, now?

NORA. Splendid! But don’t you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish?

HEL. Nice?—because you do as your husband wishes? Well, well, you little rogue, I am sure you did not mean it in that way. But I am not going to disturb you; you will want to be trying on your dress, I expect.

NORA. I suppose you are going to work.