Nora. No, no, no! Don't let them come in to me! You stay with
them, Anne.

Nurse. Very well, ma'am. (Shuts the door.)

Nora (pale with terror). Deprave my little children? Poison my
home? (A short pause. Then she tosses her head.) It's not true.
It can't possibly be true.

ACT II

(THE SAME SCENE.--THE Christmas Tree is in the corner by the
piano, stripped of its ornaments and with burnt-down candle-ends
on its dishevelled branches. NORA'S cloak and hat are lying on
the sofa. She is alone in the room, walking about uneasily. She
stops by the sofa and takes up her cloak.)

Nora (drops her cloak). Someone is coming now! (Goes to the door
and listens.) No--it is no one. Of course, no one will come today,
Christmas Day--nor tomorrow either. But, perhaps--(opens
the door and looks out). No, nothing in the letterbox; it is
quite empty. (Comes forward.) What rubbish! of course he can't be
in earnest about it. Such a thing couldn't happen; it is
impossible--I have three little children.

(Enter the NURSE from the room on the left, carrying a big
cardboard box.)

Nurse. At last I have found the box with the fancy dress.