(Mrs. Linde comes in from the room on the left, carrying the dress.)

Mrs. Linde.  There, I can’t see anything more to mend now.  Would you like to try it on—?

Nora (in a hoarse whisper).  Christine, come here.

Mrs. Linde (throwing the dress down on the sofa).  What is the matter with you?  You look so agitated!

Nora.  Come here.  Do you see that letter?  There, look—­you can see it through the glass in the letter-box.

Mrs. Linde.  Yes, I see it.

Nora.  That letter is from Krogstad.

Mrs. Linde.  Nora—­it was Krogstad who lent you the money!

Nora.  Yes, and now Torvald will know all about it.

Mrs. Linde.  Believe me, Nora, that’s the best thing for both of you.

Nora.  You don’t know all.  I forged a name.

Mrs. Linde.  Good heavens—!

Nora.  I only want to say this to you, Christine—­you must be my witness.

Mrs. Linde.  Your witness?  What do you mean?  What am I to—?

Nora.  If I should go out of my mind—­and it might easily happen—­

Mrs. Linde.  Nora!

Nora.  Or if anything else should happen to me—­anything, for instance, that might prevent my being here—­

Mrs. Linde.  Nora!  Nora! you are quite out of your mind.

Nora.  And if it should happen that there were some one who wanted to take all the responsibility, all the blame, you understand—­

Mrs. Linde.  Yes, yes—­but how can you suppose—?

Nora.  Then you must be my witness, that it is not true, Christine.  I am not out of my mind at all; I am in my right senses now, and I tell you no one else has known anything about it; I, and I alone, did the whole thing.  Remember that.

Mrs. Linde.  I will, indeed.  But I don’t understand all this.

Nora.  How should you understand it?  A wonderful thing is going to happen!

Mrs. Linde.  A wonderful thing?

Nora.  Yes, a wonderful thing!—­But it is so terrible, Christine; it mustn’t happen, not for all the world.

Mrs. Linde.  I will go at once and see Krogstad.

Nora.  Don’t go to him; he will do you some harm.

Mrs. Linde.  There was a time when he would gladly do anything for my sake.

Nora.  He?

Mrs. Linde.  Where does he live?

Nora.  How should I know—?  Yes (feeling in her pocket), here is his card.  But the letter, the letter—!

Helmer (calls from his room, knocking at the door).  Nora!  Nora (cries out anxiously).  Oh, what’s that?  What do you want?

Helmer.  Don’t be so frightened.  We are not coming in; you have locked the door.  Are you trying on your dress?

Nora.  Yes, that’s it.  I look so nice, Torvald.

Mrs. Linde (who has read the card).  I see he lives at the corner here.

Nora.  Yes, but it’s no use.  It is hopeless.  The letter is lying there in the box.