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 yourself.

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 until 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—­

Mrs. Linde.  No, Nils, you must not recall your letter.

Krogstad.  But, tell me, wasn’t it for that very purpose that you asked me to meet you here?

Mrs. Linde.  In my first moment of fright, it was.  But twenty-four hours have elapsed since then, and in that time I have witnessed incredible things in this house.  Helmer must know all about it.  This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on.