NORA. Afterward? When I am no longer——

KROG. Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of your reputation? [Nora stands speechlessly looking at him.] Well, now, I have warned you. Do not do anything foolish. When Helmer has had my letter I shall expect a message from him. And be sure you remember that it is your husband himself who has forced me into such ways as this again. I will never forgive him for that. Good-by, Mrs. Helmer. [Exit through the hall.]

NORA [goes to the hall door, opens it slightly and listens]. He is going. He is not putting the letter in the box. Oh no, no! that’s impossible! [Opens the door by degrees.] What is that? He is standing outside. He is not going downstairs. Is he hesitating? Can he—— [A letter drops in the box; then Krogstad’s footsteps are heard, till they die away as he goes downstairs. Nora utters a stifled cry and runs across the room to the table by the sofa. A short pause.]

NORA. In the letter box. [Steals across to the hall door.] There it lies— Torvald, Torvald, there is no hope for us now!

[Mrs. Linde comes in from the room on the left, carrying the dress.]

MRS. L. There, I can’t see anything more to mend now. Would you like to try it on?

NORA [in a hoarse whisper]. Christine, come here.

MRS. L. [throwing the dress down on the sofa]. What is the matter with you? You look so agitated!

NORA. Come here. Do you see that letter? There, look—you can see it through the glass in the letter box.

MRS. L. Yes, I see it.

NORA. That letter is from Krogstad.

MRS. L. Nora—it was Krogstad who lent you the money!

NORA. Yes, and now Torvald will know all about it.

MRS. L. Believe me, Nora, that’s the best thing for both of you.

NORA. You don’t know all. I forged a name.

MRS. L. Good heavens!

NORA. I only want to say this to you, Christine—you must be my witness.

MRS. L. Your witness? What do you mean? What am I to——

NORA. If I should go out of my mind—and it might easily happen——

MRS. L. Nora!

NORA. Or if anything else should happen to me—anything, for instance, that might prevent my being here——

MRS. L. Nora! Nora! you are quite out of your mind.

NORA. And if it should happen that there were someone who wanted to take all the responsibility, all the blame, you understand——