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No,
no, no!--don't take me in. I want to go upstairs again; I don't
want to leave so early.

Helmer. But, my dearest Nora--

Nora. Please, Torvald dear--please, please--only an hour more.

Helmer. Not a single minute, my sweet Nora. You know that was our
agreement. Come along into the room; you are catching cold
standing there. (He brings her gently into the room, in spite of
her resistance.)

Mrs. Linde. Good evening.

Nora. Christine!

Helmer. You here, so late, Mrs. Linde?

Mrs. Linde. Yes, you must excuse me; I was so anxious to see Nora
in her dress.

Nora. Have you been sitting here waiting for me?

Mrs. Linde. Yes, unfortunately I came too late, you had already
gone upstairs; and I thought I couldn't go away again without
having seen you.

Helmer (taking off NORA'S shawl). Yes, take a good look at her. I
think she is worth looking at. Isn't she charming, Mrs. Linde?

Mrs. Linde. Yes, indeed she is.

Helmer. Doesn't she look remarkably pretty? Everyone thought so
at the dance. But she is terribly self-willed, this sweet little
person. What are we to do with her? You will hardly believe that
I had almost to bring her away by force.

Nora. Torvald, you will repent not having let me stay, even if it
were only for half an hour.

Helmer. Listen to her, Mrs. Linde! She had danced her Tarantella,
and it had been a tremendous success, as it deserved--although
possibly the performance was a trifle too realistic--a little
more so, I mean, than was strictly compatible with the limitations
of art. But never mind about that! The chief thing is, she had made
a success--she had made a tremendous success. Do you think I was going
to let her remain there after that, and spoil the effect? No, indeed!
I took my charming little Capri maiden--my capricious little
Capri maiden, I should say--on my arm; took one quick turn
round the room; a curtsey on either side, and, as they say in
novels, the beautiful apparition disappeared. An exit ought always
to be effective, Mrs. Linde; but that is what I cannot make Nora
understand. Pooh! this room is hot. (Throws his domino on a
chair, and opens the door of his room.) Hullo! it's all dark
in here. Oh, of course--excuse me--. (He goes in, and lights
some candles.)

Nora (in a hurried and breathless whisper).

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