Yes. He has got some sort of place there. [_To_ MRS. LINDEN.] I don’t know whether, in your part of the country, you have people who go grubbing and sniffing around in search of moral rottenness—and then, when they have found a “case,” don’t rest till they have got their man into some good position, where they can keep a watch upon him. Men with a clean bill of health they leave out in the cold. MRS. LINDEN. Well, I suppose the—delicate characters require most care. RANK. [_Shrugs his shoulders._] There we have it! It’s that notion that makes society a hospital. [NORA, _deep in her own thoughts, breaks into half-stifled laughter and claps her hands._ RANK. Why do you laugh at that? Have you any idea what “society” is? NORA. What do I care for your tiresome society? I was laughing at something else—something excessively amusing. Tell me, Doctor Rank, are all the employees at the Bank dependent on Torvald now? RANK. Is that what strikes you as excessively amusing? NORA. [_Smiles and hums._] Never mind, never mind! [_Walks about the room._] Yes, it is funny to think that we—that Torvald has such power over so many people. [_Takes the bag from her pocket._] Doctor Rank, will you have a macaroon? RANK. What!—macaroons! I thought they were contraband here. NORA. Yes; but Christina brought me these. Mrs. Linden. What! I——? NORA. Oh, well! Don’t be frightened. You couldn’t possibly know that Torvald had forbidden them. The fact is, he’s afraid of me spoiling my teeth. But, oh bother, just for once!—That’s for you, Doctor Rank! [_Puts a macaroon into his mouth._] And you too, Christina. And I’ll have one while we’re about it—only a tiny one, or at most two. [_Walks about again._] Oh dear, I am happy! There’s only one thing in the world I really want. RANK. Well; what’s that? NORA. There’s something I should so like to say—in Torvald’s hearing. RANK. Then why don’t you say it? NORA. Because I daren’t, it’s so ugly. MRS. LINDEN. Ugly? RANK. In that case you’d better not. But to us you might——What is it you would so like to say in Helmer’s hearing? NORA. I should so love to say “Damn it all!”[8] RANK. Are you out of your mind? MRS. LINDEN. Good gracious, Nora——! RANK Say it—there he is! NORA. [_Hides the macaroons._] Hush—sh—sh