Three years earlier, Nora's friend, Kristine Linde, had been left widowed and penniless. Mrs. Linde's task in life was to care for an ailing mother and her siblings, and since she could not find a suitable husband, she took whatever odd jobs she could find. Mrs. Linde says to Nora, "The last three years have been to me like an endless day of work without rest" (1145). In Act III, Nora and Helmer are in their bedroom after discovering that they would not be exposed by Krogstad's incriminating letter. Helmer is ready to retire for the evening and wonders why Nora is still dressed to go out. Nora speaks to Helmer seriously: “But our house has always been a box. I have been your doll-wife here, just as I was Daddy's little girl-doll” (Ibsen 285). Nora has been treated like property her whole life and now she wants to find out if she can provide that