HELMER. [_Seizing her hand._] Come, come, don’t let us have this wild excitement! Be my own little lark again. NORA. Oh yes, I will. But now go into the dining-room; and you too, Doctor Rank. Christina, you must help me to do up my hair. RANK. [_Softly, as they go._] There’s nothing in the wind? Nothing—I mean——? HELMER. Oh no, nothing of the kind. It’s merely this babyish anxiety I was telling you about. [_They go out to the right._ NORA. Well? MRS. LINDEN. He’s gone out of town. NORA. I saw it in your face. MRS. LINDEN. He comes back to-morrow evening. I left a note for him. NORA. You shouldn’t have done that. Things must take their course. After all, there’s something glorious in waiting for the miracle. MRS. LINDEN. What is it you’re waiting for? NORA. Oh, you can’t understand. Go to them in the dining-room; I shall come in a moment. [MRS. LINDEN _goes into the dining-room._ NORA _stands for a moment as though collecting her thoughts; then looks at her watch._ NORA. Five. Seven hours till midnight. Then twenty-four hours till the next midnight. Then the tarantella will be over. Twenty-four and seven? Thirty-one hours to live. HELMER _appears at the door, right._ HELMER. What has become of my little lark? NORA. [_Runs to him with open arms._] Here she is! ----- Footnote 9: In the original, “We say ‘thou’ to each other.” ACT THIRD _The same room. The table, with the chairs around it, in the middle. A lighted lamp on the table. The door to the hall stands open. Dance music is heard from the floor above._ _MRS. LINDEN sits by the table and absently turns the pages of a book. She tries to read, but seems unable to fix her attention; she frequently listens and looks anxiously towards the hall door._ MRS. LINDEN. [_Looks at her watch._] Not here yet; and the time is nearly up. If only he hasn’t—— [_Listens again._] Ah, there he is. [_She goes into the hall and cautiously opens the outer door; soft footsteps are heard on the stairs; she whispers._] Come in; there is no one here. KROGSTAD. [_In the doorway!_] I found a note from you at my house. What does it mean? MRS. LINDEN. I must speak to you. KROGSTAD. Indeed? And in this house? MRS. LINDEN.