[_With wild eyes, gropes about her, seizes_ HELMER’S _domino, throws it round her, and whispers quickly, hoarsely, and brokenly._] Never to see him again. Never, never, never. [_Throws her shawl over her head._] Never to see the children again. Never, never.—Oh that black, icy water! Oh that bottomless——! If it were only over! Now he has it; he’s reading it. Oh, no, no, no, not yet. Torvald, good-bye——! Good-bye, my little ones——! [_She is rushing out by the hall; at the same moment_ HELMER _flings his door open, and stands there with an open letter in his hand._ HELMER. Nora! NORA. [_Shrieks._] Ah——! HELMER. What is this? Do you know what is in this letter? NORA. Yes, I know. Let me go! Let me pass! HELMER. [_Holds her back._] Where do you want to go? NORA. [_Tries to break away from him._] You shall not save me, Torvald. HELMER. [_Falling back._] True! Is what he writes true? No, no, it is impossible that this can be true. NORA. It is true. I have loved you beyond all else in the world. HELMER. Pshaw—no silly evasions! NORA. [_A step nearer him._] Torvald——! HELMER. Wretched woman—what have you done! NORA. Let me go—you shall not save me! You shall not take my guilt upon yourself! HELMER. I don’t want any melodramatic airs. [_Locks the outer door._] Here you shall stay and give an account of yourself. Do you understand what you have done? Answer! Do you understand it? NORA. [_Looks at him fixedly, and says with a stiffening expression._] Yes; now I begin fully to understand it. HELMER. [_Walking up and down._] Oh! what an awful awakening! During all these eight years—she who was my pride and my joy—a hypocrite, a liar—worse, worse—a criminal. Oh, the unfathomable hideousness of it all! Ugh! Ugh! [NORA _says nothing, and continues to look fixedly at him._ HELMER. I ought to have known how it would be. I ought to have foreseen it. All your father’s want of principle—be silent!—all your father’s want of principle you have inherited—no religion, no morality, no sense of duty. How I am punished for screening him! I did it for your sake; and you reward me like this. NORA. Yes—like this. HELMER.