Helmer thinks that Nora is afraid his reputation will suffer, heightening the suspense about her real secret.
Explanation:
In this interaction, we learn about Helmer's opinions of Krogstad. We learn that Helmer has decided to fire Krogstad, and that Nora is taking the news very badly. She is upset and anxious, and she begs Helmer to take his words back. Helmer believes that Nora is upset because she cares deeply about his reputation, and she is worried that this will suffer. However, the reality is that Nora is afraid her secret will be revealed. This discrepancy heightens the suspense about Nora's real secret.
