Anna.
My poor little Nora had no mother but me.
Nora.
And if my little ones had nobody else, I'm sure you would Nonsense, nonsense! [Opens the box.] Go in to the children. Now I must You'll see how lovely I shall be to-morrow.
Anna.
I'm sure there will be no one at the ball so lovely as my Miss Nora.
[She goes into the room on the left.
Nora.
[Takes the costume out of the box, but soon throws it down again.] Oh, if I dared go out. If only nobody would come. If only nothing would happen here in the meantime. Rubbish; nobody is coming. Only not to think. What a delicious muff! Beautiful gloves, beautiful gloves! To forget—to forget! One, two, three, four, five, six [With a scream.] Ah, there they come.
[Goes towards the door, then stands irresolute.
Mrs. Linden enters from the hall, where she has taken off her things.
Nora.
Oh, it's you, Christina. There's nobody else there? I'm so glad you have come.
Mrs. Linden.
I hear you called at my lodgings.
Nora.
Yes, I was just passing. There's something you
