_Helmer_. And when we are leaving, and I am putting the shawl over your beautiful young shoulders--on your lovely neck--then I imagine that you are my young bride and that we have just come from the wedding, and I am bringing you for the first time into our home--to be alone with you for the first time--quite alone with my shy little darling! All this evening I have longed for nothing but you. When I watched the seductive figures of the Tarantella, my blood was on fire; I could endure it no longer, and that was why I brought you down so early-- _Nora_. Go away, Torvald! You must let me go. I won't-- _Helmer_. What's that? You're joking, my little Nora! You won't--you won't? Am I not your husband--? (_A knock is heard at the outer door_.) _Nora_ (_starting_). Did you hear--? _Helmer_ (_going into the hall_). Who is it? _Rank_ (_outside_). It is I. May I come in for a moment? _Helmer_ (_in a fretful whisper_). Oh, what does he want now? (_Aloud_.) Wait a minute? (_Unlocks the door_.) Come, that's kind of you not to pass by our door. _Rank_. I thought I heard your voice, and felt as if I should like to look in. (_With a swift glance round_.) Ah, yes!--these dear familiar rooms. You are very happy and cosy in here, you two. _Helmer_. It seems to me that you looked after yourself pretty well upstairs too. _Rank_. Excellently. Why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't one enjoy everything in this world?--at any rate as much as one can, and as long as one can. The wine was capital-- _Helmer_. Especially the champagne. _Rank_. So you noticed that too? It is almost incredible how much I managed to put away! _Nora_. Torvald drank a great deal of champagne tonight, too. _Rank_. Did he? _Nora_. Yes, and he is always in such good spirits afterwards. _Rank_. Well, why should one not enjoy a merry evening after a well-spent day? _Helmer_. Well spent? I am afraid I can't take credit for that. _Rank_ (_clapping him on the back_). But I can, you know! _Nora_. Doctor Rank, you must have been occupied with some scientific investigation today. _Rank_. Exactly. _Helmer_. Just listen!--little Nora talking about scientific investigations! _Nora_. And may I congratulate you on the result? _Rank_. Indeed you may. _Nora_. Was it favourable, then. _Rank_. The best possible, for both doctor and patient--certainty. _Nora_ (_quickly and searchingly_). Certainty? _Rank_. Absolute certainty. So wasn't I entitled to make a merry evening of it after that? _Nora_. Yes, you certainly were, Doctor Rank. _Helmer_. I think so too, so long as you don't have to pay for it in the morning. _Rank_. Oh well, one can't have anything in this life without paying for it. _Nora_. Doctor Rank--are you fond of fancy-dress balls? _Rank_. Yes, if there is a fine lot of pretty costumes. _Nora_. Tell me--what shall we two wear at the next? _Helmer_. Little featherbrain!--are you thinking of the next already? _Rank_. We two? Yes, I can tell you. You shall go as a good fairy--