Just like your poor father, _he_ always asked me to make it cash--he never made any himself! It's heredity, I suppose. Well--well! [_Goes back to his Bank._ NORA _goes on humming._ _Enter_ MRS. LINDEN, _doubtfully._ NORA. What, Christina--why, how old you look! But then you are poor. I'm not. Torvald has just been made a Bank Manager. [_Tidies the room._] Isn't it really wonderfully delicious to be well off? But of course, you wouldn't know. _We_ were poor once, and, do you know, when Torvald was ill, I--[_tossing her head_]--though I _am_ such a frivolous little squirrel, and all that, I actually borrowed £300 for him to go abroad. Wasn't _that_ clever? Tra-la-la! I shan't tell you _who_ lent it. I didn't even tell Torvald. I am such a mere baby I don't tell him everything. I tell Dr. Rank, though. Oh, I'm so awfully happy I should like to shout, "Dash it all!" MRS. LINDEN. [_Stroking her hair._] Do--it is a natural and innocent outburst--you are such a child! But I am a widow, and want employment. _Do_ you think your husband could find me a place as clerk in his Bank? [_Proudly._] I am an excellent knitter! NORA. That would really be awfully funny. [_To_ HELMER, _who enters._] Torvald, this is Christina; she wants to be a clerk in your Bank--_do_ let her! She thinks such a lot of _you_. [_To herself._] Another taradiddle! HELMER. She is a sensible woman, and deserves encouragement. Come along, Mrs. Linden, and we'll see what we can do for you. [_He goes out through the hall with_ MRS. LINDEN, _and the front-door is heard to slam after them._ NORA. [_Opens door, and calls._] Now, Emmy, Ivar, and Bob, come in and have a romp with Mamma--we will play hide-and-seek. [_She gets under the table, smiling in quiet satisfaction_; KROGSTAD _enters_--NORA _pounces out upon him._] Boo!... Oh, I beg your pardon. I don't do this kind of thing _generally_--though I may be a little silly. [Illustration: "Boo!"] KROGSTAD. [_Politely._] Don't mention it. I called because I happened to see your husband go out with Mrs. Linden--from which, being a person of considerable penetration, I infer that he is about to give her my post at the Bank. Now, as you owe me the balance of £300, for which I hold your acknowledgment, you will see the propriety of putting a stop to this little game at once. NORA. But I don't at all--not a little wee bit! I'm so childish, you know--why _should_ I? [_Sitting upright on carpet._ KROGSTAD. I will try to make it plain to the meanest capacity. When you came to me for the loan, I naturally required some additional security. Your father, being a shady Government official, without a penny--for, if he had possessed one, he would presumably have left it to you--without a penny, then--I, as a cautious man of business, insisted upon having his signature as a surety. Oh, we Norwegians are sharp fellows! NORA. Well, you _got_ papa's signature, didn't you? KROGSTAD.