Indeed, I shall--occasionally--as strangers. [_She puts on a shawl sadly, and fetches her dressing-bag._] If I ever do come back, the greatest miracle of all will have to happen. Good-bye! [_She goes out through the hall; the front door is heard to bang loudly._ HELMER. [_Sinking on a chair._] The room empty? Then she must be gone! Yes, my little lark has flown! [_The dull sound of an unskilled latchkey is heard trying the lock; presently the door opens, and_ NORA, _with a somewhat foolish expression, reappears._] What? back already! Then you _are_ educated? NORA. [_Puts down dressing-bag._] No, Torvald, not yet. Only, you see, I found I had only threepence-halfpenny in my purse, and the Norwegian theatres are all closed at this hour--and so I thought I wouldn't leave the cage till to-morrow--after breakfast. HELMER. [_As if to himself._] The greatest miracle of all has happened. My little bird is not in the bush _just_ yet! [NORA _takes down a showily-bound dictionary from the shelf and begins her education;_ HELMER _fetches a bag of macaroons, sits near her, and tenders one humbly. A pause._ NORA _repulses it, proudly. He offers it again. She snatches at it suddenly, still without looking at him, and nibbles it thoughtfully as Curtain falls._ * * * * * HEDDA GABLER ACT FIRST SCENE--_A sitting-room cheerfully decorated in dark colours. Broad doorway, hung with black crape, in the wall at back, leading to a back drawing-room, in which, above a sofa in black horsehair, hangs a posthumous portrait of the late_ GENERAL GABLER. _On the piano is a handsome pall. Through the glass panes of the back drawing-room window are seen a dead wall and a cemetery. Settees, sofas, chairs, &c., handsomely upholstered in black bombazine, and studded with small round nails. Bouquets of immortelles and dead grasses are lying everywhere about._ _Enter_ AUNT JULIE (_a good-natured-looking lady in a smart hat._) AUNT JULIE. Well, I declare, if I believe George or Hedda are up yet! [_Enter_ GEORGE TESMAN, _humming, stout, careless, spectacled._] Ah, my dear boy, I have called before breakfast to inquire how you and Hedda are after returning late last night from your long honeymoon. Oh, dear me, yes; am I not your old aunt, and are not these attentions usual in Norway? GEORGE. Good Lord, yes! My six months' honeymoon has been quite a little travelling scholarship, eh? I have been examining archives. Think of _that_! Look here, I'm going to write a book all about the domestic interests of the Cave-dwellers during the Deluge. I'm a clever young Norwegian man of letters, eh? AUNT JULIE. Fancy your knowing about that too! Now, dear me, thank Heaven! GEORGE. Let me, as a dutiful Norwegian nephew, untie that smart, showy hat of yours. [_Unties it, and pats her under the chin._] Well, to be sure, you have got yourself really up--fancy that!