And so he shall, Christina. Just you leave it all to me. I shall lead up to it beautifully!—I shall think of some delightful plan to put him in a good humour! Oh, I should so love to help you. MRS. LINDEN. How good of you, Nora, to stand by me so warmly! Doubly good in you, who know so little of the troubles and burdens of life. NORA. I? I know so little of——? MRS. LINDEN. [_Smiling._] Oh, well—a little fancy-work, and so forth.—You’re a child, Nora. NORA. [_Tosses her head and paces the room._] Oh, come, you mustn’t be so patronising! MRS. LINDEN. No? NORA. You’re like the rest. You all think I’m fit for nothing really serious—— MRS. LINDEN. Well, well—— NORA. You think I’ve had no troubles in this weary world. MRS. LINDEN. My dear Nora, you’ve just told me all your troubles. NORA. Pooh—those trifles! [_Softly._] I haven’t told you the great thing. MRS. LINDEN. The great thing? What do you mean? NORA. I know you look down upon me, Christina; but you have no right to. You are proud of having worked so hard and so long for your mother. MRS. LINDEN. I am sure I don’t look down upon any one; but it’s true I am both proud and glad when I remember that I was able to keep my mother’s last days free from care. NORA. And you’re proud to think of what you have done for your brothers, too. MRS. LINDEN. Have I not the right to be? NORA. Yes indeed. But now let me tell you, Christina—I, too, have something to be proud and glad of. MRS. LINDEN. I don’t doubt it. But what do you mean? NORA. Hush! Not so loud. Only think, if Torvald were to hear! He mustn’t—not for worlds! No one must know about it, Christina—no one but you. MRS. LINDEN. Why, what can it be? NORA. Come over here. [_Draws her down beside her on the sofa._] Yes, Christina—I, too, have something to be proud and glad of. I saved Torvald’s life. MRS. LINDEN. Saved his life? How? NORA. I told you about our going to Italy. Torvald would have died but for that. MRS. LINDEN. Well—and your father gave you the money. NORA. [_Smiling._] Yes, so Torvald and every one believes; but—— MRS. LINDEN. But——? NORA.