Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/73

 me do it; it's such fun. Go to the nursery; you look frozen. You'll find some hot coffee on the stove.

[The Nurse goes into the room on the left. Nora takes off the children's things and throws them down anywhere, while the children talk all together.

Really! A big dog ran after you? But he didn't bite you? No; dogs don't bite dear little dolly children. Don't peep into those parcels, Ivar. What is it? Wouldn't you like to know? Take care—it'll bite! What? Shall we have a game? What shall we play at? Hide-and-seek? Yes, let's play hide-and-seek. Bob shall hide first. Am I to? Yes, let me hide first.

[She and the children play, with laughter and shouting, in the room and the adjacent one to the right. At last Nora hides under the table; the children come rushing in, look for her, but cannot find her, hear her half-choked laughter, rush to the table, lift up the cover and see her. Loud shouts. She creeps out, as though to frighten them. Fresh shouts. Meanwhile there has been a knock at the door leading into the hall. No one has heard it. Now the door is half opened and Krogstad appears. He waits a little; the game is renewed.

Krogstad.

I beg your pardon, Mrs. Helmer

Nora.

[With a suppressed cry, turns round and half jumps up.] Ah! What do you want?