_Nora_. To have some fun at Christmas-time, of course. How delightful! We will have such fun together! But take off your things. You are not cold, I hope. (_Helps her_.) Now we will sit down by the stove, and be cosy. No, take this arm-chair; I will sit here in the rocking-chair. (_Takes her hands_.) Now you look like your old self again; it was only the first moment--You are a little paler, Christine, and perhaps a little thinner. _Mrs. Linde_. And much, much older, Nora. _Nora_. Perhaps a little older; very, very little; certainly not much. (_Stops suddenly and speaks seriously_.) What a thoughtless creature I am, chattering away like this. My poor, dear Christine, do forgive me. _Mrs. Linde_. What do you mean, Nora? _Nora_ (_gently_). Poor Christine, you are a widow. _Mrs. Linde_. Yes; it is three years ago now. _Nora_. Yes, I knew; I saw it in the papers. I assure you, Christine, I meant ever so often to write to you at the time, but I always put it off and something always prevented me. _Mrs. Linde_. I quite understand, dear. _Nora_. It was very bad of me, Christine. Poor thing, how you must have suffered. And he left you nothing? _Mrs. Linde_. No. _Nora_. And no children? _Mrs. Linde_. No. _Nora_. Nothing at all, then? _Mrs. Linde_. Not even any sorrow or grief to live upon. _Nora_ (_looking incredulously at her_). But, Christine, is that possible? _Mrs. Linde_ (_smiles sadly and strokes her hair_). It sometimes happens, Nora. _Nora_. So you are quite alone. How dreadfully sad that must be. I have three lovely children. You can't see them just now, for they are out with their nurse. But now you must tell me all about it. _Mrs. Linde_. No, no; I want to hear about you. _Nora_. No, you must begin. I mustn't be selfish today; today I must only think of your affairs. But there is one thing I must tell you. Do you know we have just had a great piece of good luck? _Mrs. Linde_. No, what is it? _Nora_. Just fancy, my husband has been made manager of the Bank! _Mrs. Linde_. Your husband? What good luck! _Nora_. Yes tremendous! A barrister's profession is such an uncertain thing, especially if he won't undertake unsavoury cases; and naturally Torvald has never been willing to do that, and I quite agree with him. You may imagine how pleased we are! He is to take up his work in the Bank at the New Year, and then he will have a big salary and lots of commissions. For the future we can live quite differently--we can do just as we like. I feel so relieved and so happy, Christine! It will be splendid to have heaps of money and not need to have any anxiety, won't it? _Mrs. Linde_. Yes, anyhow I think it would be delightful to have what one needs. _Nora_. No, not only what one needs, but heaps and heaps of money. _Mrs. Linde_ (_smiling_). Nora, Nora, haven't you learnt sense yet? In our schooldays you were a great spendthrift.