Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/62

 it! And then the spring will soon be here, with the great blue sky. Perhaps then we shall have a little holiday. Perhaps I shall see the sea again. Oh, what a wonderful thing it is to live and to be happy! [The hall-door bell rings.

Mrs. Linden.

[Rising.] There's a ring. Perhaps I had better go.

Nora.

No; do stay. No one will come here. It's sure to be some one for Torvald.

Ellen.

[In the doorway.] If you please, ma'am, there's a gentleman to speak to Mr. Helmer.

Nora.

Who is the gentleman?

Krogstad.

[In the doorway.] It is I, Mrs. Helmer.

[Mrs. Linden starts and turns away to the window.

Nora.

[Goes a step towards him, anxiously, speaking low.]

You? What is it? What do you want with my husband?

Krogstad.

Bank business—in a way. I hold a small post in the Joint Stock Bank, and your husband is to be our new chief, I hear.

Nora.

Then it is?