up.
If only he does not--. (Listens again.) Ah, there he is. (Goes into the
hall and opens the outer door carefully. Light footsteps are heard on
the stairs. She whispers.) Come in. There is no one here.

Krogstad (in the doorway). I found a note from you at home. What does
this mean?

Mrs. Linde. It is absolutely necessary that I should have a talk with
you.

Krogstad. Really? And is it absolutely necessary that it should be here?

Mrs. Linde. It is impossible where I live; there is no private entrance
to my rooms. Come in; we are quite alone. The maid is asleep, and the
Helmers are at the dance upstairs.

Krogstad (coming into the room). Are the Helmers really at a dance
tonight?

Mrs. Linde. Yes, why not?

Krogstad. Certainly--why not?

Mrs. Linde. Now, Nils, let us have a talk.

Krogstad. Can we two have anything to talk about?

Mrs. Linde. We have a great deal to talk about.

Krogstad. I shouldn't have thought so.

Mrs. Linde. No, you have never properly understood me.

Krogstad. Was there anything else to understand except what was obvious
to all the world--a heartless woman jilts a man when a more lucrative
chance turns up?

Mrs. Linde. Do you believe I am as absolutely heartless as all that? And
do you believe that I did it with a light heart?

Krogstad. Didn't you?

Mrs. Linde. Nils, did you really think that?

Krogstad. If it were as you say, why did you write to me as you did at
the time?

Mrs. Linde. I could do nothing else. As I had to break with you, it was
my duty also to put an end to all that you felt for me.

Krogstad (wringing his hands). So that was it. And all this--only for
the sake of money!

Mrs. Linde. You must not forget that I had a helpless mother and two
little brothers. We couldn't wait for you, Nils; your prospects seemed
hopeless then.

Krogstad. That may be so, but you had no right to throw me over for
anyone else's sake.

Mrs. Linde. Indeed I don't know. Many a time did I ask myself if I had
the right to do it.

Krogstad (more gently). When I lost you, it was as if all the solid
ground went from under my feet. Look at me now--I am a shipwrecked man
clinging to a bit of wreckage.

Mrs. Linde. But help may be near.

Krogstad. It was near; but then you came and stood in my way.

Mrs. Linde. Unintentionally, Nils. It was only today that I learned it
was your place I was going to take in the Bank.

Krogstad. I believe you, if you say so. But now that you