NORA. Of course. Besides, I was the one responsible for it. Whenever Torvald has given me money for new dresses and such things, I have never spent more than half of it; I have always bought the simplest and cheapest things. Thank Heaven, any clothes look well on me, and so Torvald has never noticed it. But it was often very hard on me, Christine—because it is delightful to be really well dressed, isn’t it? MRS LINDE. Quite so. NORA. Well, then I have found other ways of earning money. Last winter I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do; so I locked myself up and sat writing every evening until quite late at night. Many a time I was desperately tired; but all the same it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning money. It was like being a man. MRS LINDE. How much have you been able to pay off in that way? NORA. I can’t tell you exactly. You see, it is very difficult to keep an account of a business matter of that kind. I only know that I have paid every penny that I could scrape together. Many a time I was at my wits’ end. _[Smiles.]_ Then I used to sit here and imagine that a rich old gentleman had fallen in love with me— MRS LINDE. What! Who was it? NORA. Be quiet!—that he had died; and that when his will was opened it contained, written in big letters, the instruction: “The lovely Mrs Nora Helmer is to have all I possess paid over to her at once in cash.” MRS LINDE. But, my dear Nora—who could the man be? NORA. Good gracious, can’t you understand? There was no old gentleman at all; it was only something that I used to sit here and imagine, when I couldn’t think of any way of procuring money. But it’s all the same now; the tiresome old person can stay where he is, as far as I am concerned; I don’t care about him or his will either, for I am free from care now. _[Jumps up.]_ My goodness, it’s delightful to think of, Christine! Free from care! To be able to be free from care, quite free from care; to be able to play and romp with the children; to be able to keep the house beautifully and have everything just as Torvald likes it! And, think of it, soon the spring will come and the big blue sky! Perhaps we shall be able to take a little trip—perhaps I shall see the sea again! Oh, it’s a wonderful thing to be alive and be happy. _[A bell is heard in the hall.]_ MRS LINDE. _[rising]_. There is the bell; perhaps I had better go. NORA. No, don’t go; no one will come in here; it is sure to be for Torvald. SERVANT. _[at the hall door]_. Excuse me, ma’am—there is a gentleman to see the master, and as the doctor is with him— NORA. Who is it? KROGSTAD. _[at the door]_. It is I, Mrs Helmer. _[Mrs LINDE starts, trembles, and turns to the window.]_ NORA. _[takes a step towards him, and speaks in a strained, low voice]_. You? What is it? What do you want to see my husband about? KROGSTAD. Bank business—in a way. I have a small post in the Bank, and I hear your husband is to be our chief now— NORA. Then it is—