Krogstad.  Do you mean that you gave me a thought?

Mrs. Linde.  I could not endure life without work.  All my life, as long as I can remember, I have worked, and it has been my greatest and only pleasure.  But now I am quite alone in the world—­my life is so dreadfully empty and I feel so forsaken.  There is not the least pleasure in working for one’s self.  Nils, give me someone and something to work for.

Krogstad.  I don’t trust that.  It is nothing but a woman’s overstrained sense of generosity that prompts you to make such an offer of your self.

Mrs. Linde.  Have you ever noticed anything of the sort in me?

Krogstad.  Could you really do it?  Tell me—­do you know all about my past life?

Mrs. Linde.  Yes.

Krogstad.  And do you know what they think of me here?

Mrs. Linde.  You seemed to me to imply that with me you might have been quite another man.

Krogstad.  I am certain of it.

Mrs. Linde.  Is it too late now?

Krogstad.  Christine, are you saying this deliberately?  Yes, I am sure you are.  I see it in your face.  Have you really the courage, then—?

Mrs. Linde.  I want to be a mother to someone, and your children need a mother.  We two need each other.  Nils, I have faith in your real character—­I can dare anything together with you.

Krogstad (grasps her hands).  Thanks, thanks, Christine!  Now I shall find a way to clear myself in the eyes of the world.  Ah, but I forgot—­

Mrs. Linde (listening).  Hush!  The Tarantella!  Go, go!

Krogstad.  Why?  What is it?

Mrs. Linde.  Do you hear them up there?  When that is over, we may expect them back.

Krogstad.  Yes, yes—­I will go.  But it is all no use.  Of course you are not aware what steps I have taken in the matter of the Helmers.

Mrs. Linde.  Yes, I know all about that.

Krogstad.  And in spite of that have you the courage to—?

Mrs. Linde.  I understand very well to what lengths a man like you might be driven by despair.

Krogstad.  If I could only undo what I have done!

Mrs. Linde.  You cannot.  Your letter is lying in the letter-box now.

Krogstad.  Are you sure of that?

Mrs. Linde.  Quite sure, but—­

Krogstad (with a searching look at her).  Is that what it all means?—­that you want to save your friend at any cost?  Tell me frankly.  Is that it?

Mrs. Linde.  Nils, a woman who has once sold herself for another’s sake, doesn’t do it a second time.

Krogstad.  I will ask for my letter back.

Mrs. Linde.  No, no.

Krogstad.  Yes, of course I will.  I will wait here till Helmer comes; I will tell him he must give me my letter back—­that it only concerns my dismissal—­that he is not to read it—­