Do you think that——? HELMER. Just think how a man with a thing of that sort on his conscience must be always lying and canting and shamming. Think of the mask he must wear even towards those who stand nearest him—towards his own wife and children. The effect on the children—that’s the most terrible part of it, Nora. NORA. Why? HELMER. Because in such an atmosphere of lies home life is poisoned and contaminated in every fibre. Every breath the children draw contains some germ of evil. NORA. [_Closer behind him._] Are you sure of that? HELMER. As a lawyer, my dear, I have seen it often enough. Nearly all cases of early corruption may be traced to lying mothers. NORA. Why—mothers? HELMER. It generally comes from the mother’s side; but of course the father’s influence may act in the same way. Every lawyer knows it too well. And here has this Krogstad been poisoning his own children for years past by a life of lies and hypocrisy—that is why I call him morally ruined. [_Holds out both hands to her._] So my sweet little Nora must promise not to plead his cause. Shake hands upon it. Come, come, what’s this? Give me your hand. That’s right. Then it’s a bargain. I assure you it would have been impossible for me to work with him. It gives me a positive sense of physical discomfort to come in contact with such people. [NORA _draws her hand away, and moves to the other side of the Christmas-tree._ NORA. How warm it is here. And I have so much to do. HELMER. [_Rises and gathers up his papers._] Yes, and I must try to get some of these papers looked through before dinner. And I shall think over your costume too. Perhaps I may even find something to hang in gilt paper on the Christmas-tree. [_Lays his hand on her head._] My precious little song-bird! [_He goes into his room and shuts the door._ NORA. [Softly, after a pause.] It can’t be. It’s impossible. It must be impossible! ANNA. [_At the door, left._] T NORA. No, no, no; don’t let them come to me! Keep them with you, Anna. ANNA. Very well, ma’am. [_Shuts the door._ NORA. [_Pale with terror._] Corrupt my children!—Poison my home! [_Short pause. She throws back her head._] It’s not true! It can never, never be true! ----- Footnote 5: About sixpence. There are 100 öre in a krone or crown, which is worth thirteenpence halfpenny. Footnote 6: “Spillefugl,” literally “playbird,” means a gambler. Footnote 7: