Mrs. Linde.  What!  Who was it?

Nora.  Be quiet!—­that he had died; and that when his will was opened it contained, written in big letters, the instruction:  “The lovely Mrs. Nora Helmer is to have all I possess paid over to her at once in cash.”

Mrs. Linde.  But, my dear Nora—­who could the man be?

Nora.  Good gracious, can’t you understand?  There was no old gentleman at all; it was only something that I used to sit here and imagine, when I couldn’t think of any way of procuring money.  But it’s all the same now; the tiresome old person can stay where he is, as far as I am concerned; I don’t care about him or his will either, for I am free from care now. (Jumps up.) My goodness, it’s delightful to think of, Christine!  Free from care!  To be able to be free from care, quite free from care; to be able to play and romp with the children; to be able to keep the house beautifully and have everything just as Torvald likes it!  And, think of it, soon the spring will come and the big blue sky!  Perhaps we shall be able to take a little trip—­perhaps I shall see the sea again!  Oh, it’s a wonderful thing to be alive and be happy. (A bell is heard in the hall.)

Mrs. Linde (rising).  There is the bell; perhaps I had better go.

Nora.  No, don’t go; no one will come in here; it is sure to be for Torvald.

Servant (at the hall door).  Excuse me, ma’am—­there is a gentleman to see the master, and as the doctor is with him—­

Nora.  Who is it?

Krogstad (at the door).  It is I, Mrs. Helmer. (Mrs. LINDE starts, trembles, and turns to the window.)

Nora (takes a step towards him, and speaks in a strained low voice).  You?  What is it?  What do you want to see my husband about?

Krogstad.  Bank business—­in a way.  I have a small post in the Bank, and I hear your husband is to be our chief now—­

Nora.  Then it is—­

Krogstad.  Nothing but dry business matters, Mrs. Helmers; absolutely nothing else.

Nora.  Be so good as to go into the study then. (She bows indifferently to him and shuts the door into the hall; then comes back and makes up the fire in the stove.)

Mrs. Linde.  Nora—­who was that man?

Nora.  A lawyer, of the name of Krogstad.

Mrs. Linde.  Then it really was he.

Nora.  Do you know the man?

Mrs. Linde.  I used to—­many years ago.  At one time he was a solicitor’s clerk in our town.

Nora.  Yes, he was.

Mrs. Linde.  He is greatly altered.

Nora.  He made a very unhappy marriage.

Mrs. Linde.  He is a widower now, isn’t he?

Nora.  With several children.  There now, it is burning up. (Shuts the door of the stove and moves the rocking-chair aside.)