HEL. That is strange. I saw Krogstad going out of the gate.
NORA. Did you? Oh yes, I forgot, Krogstad was here for a moment.
HEL. Nora, I can see from your manner that he has been here begging you to say a good word for him.
NORA. Yes.
HEL. And you were to appear to do it of your own accord; you were to conceal from me the fact of his having been here; didn’t he beg that of you too?
NORA. Yes, Torvald, but——
HEL. Nora, Nora, and you would be a party to that sort of thing? To have any talk with a man like that and give him any sort of promise? And to tell me a lie into the bargain?
NORA. A lie?
HEL. Didn’t you tell me no one had been here? [Shakes his finger at her.] My little songbird must never do that again. A songbird must have a clean beak to chirp with—no false notes! [Puts his arm around her waist.] That is so, isn’t it? Yes, I am sure it is. [Lets her go.] We will say no more about it. [Sits down by the stove.] How warm and snug it is here! [Turns over his papers.]
NORA [after a short pause during which she busies herself with the Christmas tree]. Torvald!
HEL. Yes.
NORA. I am looking forward tremendously to the fancy-dress ball at the Stenborgs’ the day after tomorrow.
HEL. And I am tremendously curious to see what you are going to surprise me with.
NORA. It was very silly of me to want to do that.
HEL. What do you mean?
NORA. I can’t hit upon anything that will do; everything I think of seems so silly and insignificant.
HEL. Does my little Nora acknowledge that at last?
NORA [standing behind his chair with her arms on the back of it]. Are you very busy, Torvald?
HEL. Well——
NORA. What are all those papers?
HEL. Bank business.
NORA. Already?
HEL. I have got authority from the retiring manager to undertake the necessary changes in the staff and in the rearrangement of the work, and I must make use of the Christmas week for that, so as to have everything in order for the new year.
NORA. Then that was why this poor Krogstad——
HEL. Hm!