_Nora_ (_goes to other side of table_). I won't _have_ all that, TORVALD! _Helmer_. Why? ain't you my lil' lark--ain't thish our lil' cage? Ver-_well_, then. (_A ring._) RANK! confound it all! (_Enter Dr. RANK._) RANK, dear old boy, you've been (_hiccoughs_) going it upstairs. Cap'tal champagne, eh? _'Shamed_ of you, RANK! [_He sits down on sofa, and closes his eyes gently._ _Rank_. Did you notice it? (_with pride_). It was almost incredible the amount I contrived to put away. But I shall suffer for it to-morrow (_gloomily_). Heredity again! I wish I was dead! I do. _Nora_. Don't apologise. TORVALD was just as bad; but he is always so good-tempered after champagne. _Rank_. Ah, well, I just looked in to say that I haven't long to live. Don't weep for me, Mrs. HELMER, it's chronic--and hereditary too. Here are my P.P.C. cards. I'm a fading flower. Can you oblige me with a cigar? _Nora_ (_with a suppressed smile_). Certainly. Let me give you a light? [_RANK lights his cigar, after several ineffectual attempts, and goes out._ _Helmer_ (_compassionately_). Poo' old RANK--he'sh very bad to-ni'! (_Pulls himself together._) But I forgot--Bishness--I mean, bu-si-ness--mush be 'tended to. I'll go and see if there are any letters. (_Goes to box._) Hallo! someone's been at the lock with a hairpin--it's one of _your_ hairpins! [_Holding it out to her._ _Nora_ (_quickly_). Not mine--one of BOB's, or IVAR's--they both wear hairpins! _Helmer_ (_turning over letters absently_). You must break them of it--bad habit! What a lot o' lettersh! _double_ usual quantity. (_Opens KROGSTAD's._) By Jove! (_Reads it and falls back completely sobered._) What have you got to say to _this_? _Nora_ (_crying aloud._) You shan't save me--let me go! I _won't_ be saved! _Helmer_. Save _you_, indeed! Who's going to save _Me_? You miserable little criminal. (_Annoyed._) Ugh--ugh! _Nora_ (_with hardening expression_). Indeed, TORVALD, your singing-bird acted for the best! _Helmer_. Singing-bird! Your father was a rook--and you take _after_ him. Heredity again! You have utterly destroyed my happiness. (_Walks round several times._) Just as I was beginning to get on, too! _Nora_. I have--but I will go away and jump into the water. _Helmer_. What good will _that_ do me? People will say _I_ had a hand in this business (_bitterly_). If you _must_ forge, you might at least put your dates in correctly! But you never _had_ any principle! (_A ring._) The front-door bell! (_A fat letter is seen to fall into the box; HELMER takes it, opens it, sees enclosure, and embraces NORA._) KROGSTAD won't split. See, he returns the forged I.O.U.! Oh, my poor little lark, _what_ you must have gone through! Come under my wing, my little scared song-bird.... Eh? you _won't!_ Why, what's the matter _now_? _Nora_ (_with cold calm_). I have wings of my own, thank you, TORVALD, and I mean to use them!