ve about among them again. You,
who are so good yourself--

Leonarda. No, that is just what I am not.

Aagot. You? You are only so very difficult to understand, aunt!--Oh,
what is it, dear?

Leonarda. I am unhappy, Aagot!

Aagot. Why, aunt? About me?

Leonarda. You are the sunshine of my life; you have brought light and
warmth and gentleness into it--but it is just because of that--

Aagot. Because of that? Aunt, I don't understand you.

Leonarda. I am clumsy, I am hard, I am suspicious--wicked. I am a
savage, with no more self-restraint than I ever had. What sort of a
figure must I cut in his eyes--and in yours? Tell me! Am I not a clumsy,
ugly--

Aagot. You are the sweetest woman in the whole work! It is only your
indomitable strength and courage and youthfulness--

Leonarda. No, no--tell me the truth! I deserve it! Because, you know, it
has been for your sake that for eight years I have only associated with
work-people. All that I have will be yours. So have some respect for me,
Aagot--tell me the truth! Am I not--what shall I say? Tell me what I am!

Aagot. Adorable!

Leonarda. No, no! I have never realised as strongly as I do now how
I have buried myself all these eight years. All the books I have read
about the great movements going on in the world outside have not really
enlightened me. All that I have read and thought fades away before
the first gleam of life that reaches me from the real world of men and
women. I see new beauty merely in your new clothes, your fashionable
hat--the colours you are wearing--the way they are blended. They mean
something that I know nothing of. You bring a fragrance in with you--a
breath of freshness; you are so dainty and full of life; whereas
everything here has become so old, so heavy, so disjointed--and my life
most of all.

Aagot. Well, I must tell you what he said, since you won't believe what
I say.

Leonarda. But he knew nothing about me?

Aagot. No--it only indirectly referred to you. He said he had never
wanted so much to get to know any one, as he wanted to get to know you,
because seeing much of me had made him discover you--that was the very
expression he used! And it was an extraordinary chance that--

Leonarda. Stop! I can't bear to think of it!--To think it should be the
very man whom we--we--

Aagot. Hated so!--yes, isn't it extraordinary?

Leonarda. The very first time you have been away from me!

Aagot. Yes!

Leonarda. And you come back