The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 100,
April 4, 1891, by Various

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Title: Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 100, April 4, 1891

Author: Various

Release Date: August 26, 2004 [EBook #13297]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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PUNCH,

OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

VOL. 100.

April 4, 1891.

MR. PUNCH'S POCKET IBSEN.

(_CONDENSED AND REVISED VERSION BY MR. P.'S OWN HARMLESS IBSENITE._)

NO. II.-NORA; OR, THE BIRD-CAGE (ET DIKKISVOeIT).

ACT I.

_A Room tastefully filled with cheap Art-furniture. Gimcracks
in an etagere; a festoon of chenille monkeys hanging from
the gaselier. Japanese fans, skeletons, cotton-wool spiders,
frogs, and lizards, scattered everywhere about. Drain-pipes
with tall dyed grasses. A porcelain stove decorated with
transferable pictures. Showily-bound books in book-case.
Window. The Visitors' bell rings in the hall outside. The
hall-door is heard to open, and then to shut. Presently
NORA walks in with parcels; a Porter carries a large
Christmas-tree after her--which he puts down. NORA gives
him a shilling--and he goes out grumbling. NORA hums
contentedly, and eats macaroons. Then HELMER puts his
head out of his Manager's room, and NORA hides macaroons
cautiously._

_Helmer_ (_playfully_). Is that my little squirrel twittering--that my
lark frisking in here?

_Nora_. Ess! (_To herself._) I have only been married eight years, so
these marital amenities have not yet had time to pall!

[Illustration: "Boo!"]

_Helmer_ (_threatening with his finger_). I hope the little bird has
surely not been digging its beak into any macaroons, eh?

_Nora_ (_bolting one, and wiping her mouth_). No, most certainly not.
(_To herself_.) The worst of being so babyish is--one _does_ have to
tell such a lot of taradiddles! (_To H._) See what _I_'ve bought--it's
been _such_ fun!

[_Hums._

_Helmer_ (_inspecting parcels_). H'm--rather an _expensive_ little
lark!

[_Takes