The whole burden, I say——
Nora.
[With decision.] That you shall never, never do!
Helmer.
Very well; then we’ll share it, Nora, as man and wife. That is how it should be. [Petting her.] Are you satisfied now? Come, come, come, don’t look like a scared dove. It’s all nothing—foolish fancies.—Now you ought to play the tarantella through and practise with the tambourine. I shall sit in my inner room and shut both doors, so that I shall hear nothing. You can make as much noise as you please. [Turns round in doorway.] And when Rank comes, just tell him where I’m to be found.
[He nods to her, and goes with his papers into his room, closing the door.
Nora.
[Bewildered with terror, stands as though rooted to the ground, and whispers.] He would do it. Yes, he would do it. He would do it, in spite of all the world.—No, never that, never, never! Anything rather than that! Oh, for some way of escape! What shall I do——! [Hall bell rings.] Doctor Rank——!—Anything, anything, rather than——!
[Nora draws her hands over her face, pulls herself together, goes to the door and opens it. Rank stands outside hanging up his fur coat. During what follows it begins to grow dark.
Nora.