"FORTNIGHTLY" V. SO-CALLED "NINETEENTH CENTURY."--Change of Author's name. Mr. FREDERIC HARRISON to be known in future as "FREDERIC HARRASIN' KNOWLES." (_Signed_) [Greek: Phrederik] * * * * * MR. PUNCH'S POCKET IBSEN. (_CONDENSED AND REVISED VERSION BY MR. P.'S OWN HARMLESS IBSENITE._) NO. II.--NORA; OR, THE BIRD-CAGE (ET DIKKISVÖIT). ACT II. _The Room, with the cheap Art-furniture as before--except that the candles on the Christmas-tree have guttered down and appear to have been lately blown out. The cotton-wool frogs and the chenille monkeys are disarranged, and there are walking things on the sofa._ NORA _alone_. _Nora_ (_putting on a cloak and taking it off again_). Bother KROGSTAD! There, I won't think of him. I'll only think of the costume ball at Consul STENBORG's, over-head, to-night, where I am to dance the Tarantella all alone, dressed as a Capri fisher-girl. It struck TORVALD that, as I am a matron with three children, my performance might amuse the Consul's guests, and, at the same time, increase his connection at the Bank. TORVALD _is_ so practical. (_To_ Mrs. LINDEN, _who comes in with a large cardboard box._) Ah, CHRISTINA, so you have brought in my old costume? _Would_ you mind, as my husband's new Cashier, just doing up the trimming for me? _Mrs. L._ Not at all--is it not part of my regular duties? (_Sewing._) Don't you think, NORA, that you see a little too much of Dr. RANK? _Nora_. Oh, I _couldn't_ see too much of Dr. RANK! He _is_ so amusing--always talking about his complaints, and heredity, and all sorts of indescribably funny things. Go away now, dear; I hear TORVALD. [Mrs. LINDEN _goes. Enter_ TORVALD _from the Manager's room._ NORA _runs trippingly to him._ _Nora_ (_coaxing_). Oh, TORVALD, if only you won't dismiss KROGSTAD, you can't think how your little lark would jump about and twitter! _Helmer_. The inducement would be stronger but for the fact that, as it is, the little lark is generally engaged in that particular occupation. And I really _must_ get rid of KROGSTAD. If I didn't, people would say I was under the thumb of my little squirrel here, and then KROGSTAD and I knew each other in early youth; and when two people knew each other in early youth--(_a short pause_)--h'm! Besides, he _will_ address me as, "I say, TORVALD"--which causes me most painful emotion! He is tactless, dishonest, familiar, and morally ruined--altogether not at all the kind of person to be a Cashier in a Bank like mine. [Illustration: "A poor fellow with both feet in the grave is not the best authority on the fit of silk stockings."] _Nora_. But he writes in scurrilous papers,--he is on the staff of the Norwegian _Punch_. If you dismiss him, he may write nasty things about _you_, as wicked people did about poor dear Papa!