Nora.  Yes, that’s the saddest part of it all.

Rank (with a searching look at her).  Hm!—­

Nora (after a short pause).  Why did you smile?

Rand.  No, it was you that laughed.

Nora.  No, it was you that smiled, Doctor Rank!

Rank (rising).  You are a greater rascal than I thought.

Nora.  I am in a silly mood today.

Rank.  So it seems.

Nora (putting her hands on his shoulders).  Dear, dear Doctor Rank, death mustn’t take you away from Torvald and me.

Rank.  It is a loss you would easily recover from.  Those who are gone are soon forgotten.

Nora (looking at him anxiously).  Do you believe that?

Rank.  People form new ties, and then—­

Nora.  Who will form new ties?

Rank.  Both you and Helmer, when I am gone.  You yourself are already on the high road to it, I think.  What did that Mrs. Linde want here last night?

Nora.  Oho!—­you don’t mean to say you are jealous of poor Christine?

Rank.  Yes, I am.  She will be my successor in this house.  When I am done for, this woman will—­

Nora.  Hush! don’t speak so loud.  She is in that room.

Rank.  To-day again.  There, you see.

Nora.  She has only come to sew my dress for me.  Bless my soul, how unreasonable you are! (Sits down on the sofa.) Be nice now, Doctor Rank, and to-morrow you will see how beautifully I shall dance, and you can imagine I am doing it all for you—­and for Torvald too, of course. (Takes various things out of the box.) Doctor Rank, come and sit down here, and I will show you something.

Rank (sitting down).  What is it?

Nora.  Just look at those.

Rank.  Silk stockings.

Nora.  Flesh-coloured.  Aren’t they lovely?  It is so dark here now, but to-morrow—.  No, no, no! you must only look at the feet.  Oh, well, you may have leave to look at the legs too.

Rank.  Hm!—­

Nora.  Why are you looking so critical?  Don’t you think they will fit me?

Rank.  I have no means of forming an opinion about that.

Nora (looks at him for a moment).  For shame! (Hits him lightly on the ear with the stockings.) That’s to punish you. (Folds them up again.)

Rank.  And what other nice things am I to be allowed to see?

Nora.  Not a single thing more, for being so naughty. (She looks among the things, humming to herself.)

Rank (after a short silence).  When I am sitting here, talking to you as intimately as this, I cannot imagine for a moment what would have become of me if I had never come into this house.