Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/37

 Nora.

Just this minute. [Hides the bag of macaroons in her pocket and wipes her mouth.] Come here, Torvald, and see what I've been buying.

Helmer.

Don't interrupt me. [A little later he opens the door and looks in, pen in hand.] Buying, did you say? What! All that? Has my little spendthrift been making the money fly again?

Nora.

Why, Torvald, surely we can afford to launch out a little now. It's the first Christmas we haven't had to pinch.

Helmer.

Come come; we can't afford to squander money.

Nora.

Oh yes, Torvald, do let us squander a little, now—just the least little bit! You know you'll soon be earning heaps of money.

Helmer.

Yes, from New Year's Day. But there's a whole quarter before my first salary is due.

Nora.

Never mind; we can borrow in the meantime.

Helmer.

Nora! [He goes up to her and takes her playfully by the ear.] Still my little featherbrain! Supposing I borrowed a thousand crowns to-day, and you made ducks and drakes of them during Christmas week, and then on New Year's Eve a