_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--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_). Well? _Mrs. Linde._ (_in a low voice_). I have had a talk with him. _Nora._ Yes, and-- _Mrs. Linde_. Nora, you must tell your husband all about it. _Nora_ (_in an expressionless voice_). I knew it. _Mrs. Linde._ You have nothing to be afraid of as far as Krogstad is concerned; but you must tell him. _Nora_. I won't tell him. _Mrs. Linde_. Then the letter will. _Nora_. Thank you, Christine. Now I know what I must do. Hush--! _Helmer_ (_coming in again_). Well, Mrs. Linde, have you admired her? _Mrs. Linde_. Yes, and now I will say good-night. _Helmer_. What, already? Is this yours, this knitting? _Mrs. Linde_ (_taking it_). Yes, thank you, I had very nearly forgotten it. _Helmer_. So you knit? _Mrs. Linde_. Of course. _Helmer_. Do you know, you ought to embroider? _Mrs. Linde_. Really? Why? _Helmer_. Yes, it's far more becoming. Let me show you. You hold the embroidery thus in your left hand, and use the needle with the right--like this--with a long, easy sweep. Do you see? _Mrs. Linde_. Yes, perhaps--