  The double-dipole strength distribution in $^{40}$Ca is calculated
microscopically within a model space of 1p1h - and 2p2h excitations. Anharmonic
effects in the centroid energies of the $0^+$- and $2^+$ components are found
to be small, in agreement with experimental observation. Firm conclusions about
the spreading width cannot be drawn, as yet, due to computational limitations
in the number of 2p2h states.
