has no right to spare her old dying father, or to save her
husband's life. I can't believe that.

Helmer. You talk like a child. You don't understand the conditions of
the world in which you live.

Nora. No, I don't. But now I am going to try. I am going to see if I can
make out who is right, the world or I.

Helmer. You are ill, Nora; you are delirious; I almost think you are out
of your mind.

Nora. I have never felt my mind so clear and certain as tonight.

Helmer. And is it with a clear and certain mind that you forsake your
husband and your children?

Nora. Yes, it is.

Helmer. Then there is only one possible explanation.

Nora. What is that?

Helmer. You do not love me anymore.

Nora. No, that is just it.

Helmer. Nora!--and you can say that?

Nora. It gives me great pain, Torvald, for you have always been so kind
to me, but I cannot help it. I do not love you any more.

Helmer (regaining his composure). Is that a clear and certain conviction
too?

Nora. Yes, absolutely clear and certain. That is the reason why I will
not stay here any longer.

Helmer. And can you tell me what I have done to forfeit your love?

Nora. Yes, indeed I can. It was tonight, when the wonderful thing did
not happen; then I saw you were not the man I had thought you were.

Helmer. Explain yourself better. I don't understand you.

Nora. I have waited so patiently for eight years; for, goodness knows,
I knew very well that wonderful things don't happen every day. Then this
horrible misfortune came upon me; and then I felt quite certain that the
wonderful thing was going to happen at last. When Krogstad's letter was
lying out there, never for a moment did I imagine that you would consent
to accept this man's conditions. I was so absolutely certain that you
would say to him: Publish the thing to the whole world. And when that
was done--

Helmer. Yes, what then?--when I had exposed my wife to shame and
disgrace?

Nora. When that was done, I was so absolutely certain, you would come
forward and take everything upon yourself, and say: I am the guilty one.

Helmer. Nora--!

Nora. You mean that I would never have accepted such a sacrifice on your
part? No, of course not. But what would my assurances have been worth
against yours? That was the wonderful thing which I hoped for and
feared; and it was to prevent that, that I wanted to kill myself.

Helmer. I would gladly work night and day for you, Nora--bear sorrow and