NORA. No, no one shall see me in my glory till to-morrow evening. HELMER. Why, Nora dear, you look so tired. Have you been practising too hard? NORA. No, I haven’t practised at all yet. HELMER. But you’ll have to—— NORA. Oh yes, I must, I must! But, Torvald, I can’t get on at all without your help. I’ve forgotten everything. HELMER. Oh, we shall soon freshen it up again. NORA. Yes, do help me, Torvald. You must promise me——Oh, I’m so nervous about it. Before so many people——This evening you must give yourself up entirely to me. You mustn’t do a stroke of work; you mustn’t even touch a pen. Do promise, Torvald dear! HELMER. I promise. All this evening I shall be your slave. Little helpless thing——! But, by-the-bye, I must just—— [_Going to hall door._ NORA. What do you want there? HELMER. Only to see if there are any letters. NORA. No, no, don’t do that, Torvald. HELMER. Why not? NORA. Torvald, I beg you not to. There are none there. HELMER. Let me just see. [_Is going._ [NORA, _at the piano, plays the first bars of the tarantella._ HELMER. [_At the door, stops._] Aha! NORA. I can’t dance to-morrow if I don’t rehearse with you first. HELMER. [_Going to her._] Are you really so nervous, dear Nora? NORA. Yes, dreadfully! Let me rehearse at once. We have time before dinner. Oh, do sit down and play for me, Torvald dear; direct me and put me right, as you used to do. HELMER. With all the pleasure in life, since you wish it. [_Sits at piano._ [NORA _matches the tambourine out of the box, and hurriedly drapes herself in a long parti-coloured shawl; then, with a bound, stands in the middle of the floor._ NORA. Now play for me! Now I’ll dance! [HELMER _plays and_ NORA _dances._ RANK _stands at the piano behind_ HELMER _and looks on._ HELMER. [_Playing._] Slower! Slower! NORA. Can’t do it slower! HELMER. Not so violently, Nora. NORA. I must! I must! HELMER. [_Stops._] No, no, Nora—that will never do. NORA.