Helmer.
What—leave your pretty cage, and [pathetically] the old cock bird, and the poor little innocent eggs!
Nora.
Exactly. Sit down, and we will talk it over first. [Slowly.] Has it ever struck you that this is the first time you and I have ever talked seriously together about serious things?
Helmer.
Come, I do like that! How on earth could we talk about serious things when your mouth was always full of macaroons?
Nora.
[Shakes her head.] Ah, Torvald, the mouth of a mother of a family should have more solemn things in it than macaroons! I see that now, too late. No, you have wronged me. So did papa. Both of you called me a doll, and a squirrel, and a lark! You might have made something of me—and instead of that, you went and made too much of me—oh, you did!
Helmer.
Well, you didn't seem to object to it, and really I don't exactly see what it is you do want!