LINDE

Not even any sorrow or grief to live upon.

NORA

(Looking incredulously at her.) But, Christine, is that possible?

MRS. LINDE

(Smiles sadly and strokes her hair). It sometimes happens, Nora.

NORA

So you are quite alone. How dreadfully sad that must be. I have three lovely children. You can’t see them just now, for they are out with their nurse. But now you must tell me all about it.

MRS. LINDE

No, no; I want to hear about you.

NORA

No, you must begin. I mustn’t be selfish today; today I must only think of your affairs. But there is one thing I must tell you. Do you know we have just had a great piece of good luck?

MRS. LINDE

No, what is it?

NORA

Just fancy, my husband has been made manager of the Bank!

MRS. LINDE

Your husband? What good luck!

NORA

Yes, tremendous! A barrister’s profession is such an uncertain thing, especially if he won’t undertake unsavoury cases; and naturally Torvald has never been willing to do that, and I quite agree with him. You may imagine how pleased we are! He is to take up his work in the Bank at the New Year, and then he will have a big salary and lots of commissions. For the future we can live quite differently—we can do just as we like. I feel so relieved and so happy, Christine! It will be splendid to have heaps of money and not need to have any anxiety, won’t it?

MRS. LINDE

Yes, anyhow I think it would be delightful to have what one needs.

NORA

No, not only what one needs, but heaps and heaps of money.

MRS. LINDE

(Smiling.) Nora, Nora, haven’t you learned sense yet? In our schooldays you were a great spendthrift.

NORA

(Laughing.) Yes, that is what Torvald says now. (Wags her finger at her.) But “Nora, Nora” is not so silly as you think. We have not been in a position for me to waste money. We have both had to work.

MRS. LINDE

You too?

NORA

Yes; odds and ends, needlework, crotchet-work, embroidery, and that kind of thing. (Dropping her voice.) And other things as well. You know Torvald left his office when we were married? There was no prospect of promotion there, and he had to try and earn more than before. But during the first year he over-worked himself dreadfully. You see, he had to make money every way he could, and he worked early and late; but he couldn’t stand it, and fell dreadfully ill, and the doctors said it was necessary for him to go south.

MRS. LINDE

You spent a whole year in Italy, didn’t you?

NORA

Yes. It was no easy matter to get away, I can tell you. It was just after Ivar was born; but naturally we had to go. It was a wonderfully beautiful journey, and it saved Torvald’s life.