Page "A Doll's House" Paragraph 11

Torvald enters and tries to retrieve his mail but Nora distracts him by begging him to help her with the dance she has been rehearsing for the costume party, feigning anxiety about performing.

She dances so badly and acts so childishly that Torvald agrees to spend the whole evening coaching her.

When the others go in to dinner Nora stays behind for a few minutes and contemplates suicide to save her husband from the shame of the revelation of her crime and ( more importantly ) to pre-empt any gallant gesture on his part to save her reputation.