_Helmer_. Stop, Rank; this is sheer madness. Stop, I tell you. (RANK _stops playing, and,_ NORA _suddenly stands still_. HELMER _goes up to her._) I could never have believed it. You have forgotten everything I taught you. _Nora_ (_throwing away the tambourine_). There, you see. _Helmer_. You will want a lot of coaching. _Nora_. Yes, you see how much I need it. You must coach me up to the last minute. Promise me that, Torvald! _Helmer_. You can depend on me. _Nora_. You must not think of anything but me, either to-day or to-morrow; you mustn't open a single letter--not even open the letter-box-- _Helmer_. Ah, you are still afraid of that fellow---- _Nora_. Yes, indeed I am. _Helmer_. Nora, I can tell from your looks that there is a letter from him lying there. _Nora_. I don't know; I think there is; but you must not read anything of that kind now. Nothing horrid must come between us till this is all over. _Rank_ (_whispers to_ HELMER). You mustn't contradict her. _Helmer_ (_taking her in his arms_). The child shall have her way. But to-morrow night, after you have danced-- _Nora_. Then you will be free. (_The_ MAID _appears in the doorway to the right_.) _Maid_. Dinner is served, ma'am. _Nora_. We will have champagne, Helen. _Maid_. Very good, ma'am. _Helmer_. Hullo!--are we going to have a banquet? (_Exit._) _Nora_. Yes, a champagne banquet till the small hours. (_Calls out_.) And a few macaroons, Helen--lots, just for once! _Helmer_. Come, come, don't be so wild and nervous. Be my own little skylark, as you used. _Nora_. Yes, dear, I will. But go in now and you too, Doctor Rank. Christine, you must, help me to do up my hair. _Rank_ (_whispers to_ HELMER _as they go out_). I suppose there is nothing--she is not expecting anything? _Helmer_. Far from it, my dear fellow; it is simply nothing more than this childish nervousness I was telling you of. (_They go into the right-hand room_.) _Nora_. Well! _Mrs. Linde_. Gone out of town. _Nora_. I could tell from your face. _Mrs. Linde_. He is coming home tomorrow evening. I wrote a note for him. _Nora_. You should have let it alone; you must prevent nothing. After all, it is splendid to be waiting for a wonderful thing to happen. _Mrs. Linde_. What is it that you are waiting for? _Nora_, Oh, you wouldn't understand. Go in to them. I will come in a moment. (MRS. LINDE _goes into the dining-room._ NORA _stands still for a little while, as if to compose herself. Then she looks at her watch_.) Five o'clock. Seven hours till midnight; and then four-and-twenty hours till the next midnight. Then the Tarantella will be over. Twenty-four and seven? Thirty-one hours to live. _Helmer_ (_from the doorway on the right_). Where's my little skylark? _Nora_ (_going to him with her arms out-stretched_). Here she is! ACT III