voice_] That'll do; don't, Rene dear. [_She withdraws
gently from his embrace_] Don't. Let's talk. Have you seen your people?

RENE. Yes.

THERESE. Well?

RENE. Well, Therese, they won't come to our wedding.

THERESE. They still refuse their consent?

RENE. We can do without it.

THERESE. But they refuse it?

RENE. Yes. Forgive me, my dearest, for asking you to take just my own
self. Do you love me enough to marry me quite simply, without any
relations, since I leave my relations for your sake?

THERESE. My dear, we mustn't do that; we must wait.

RENE. No, I won't wait. I won't lose the best time of my life, and years
of happiness, for the sake of prejudices I don't believe in. Do you
remember what you said to me the night we played _Barberine_? You were
splendid. You said: "Marry me all the same, in spite of my poverty."
[_She makes a movement to stop him_] Oh, let me--please let me go on! I
was only a miserable weakling then, I was frightened about the future.
But you roused me and set me going. If I'm a man now, it's to you I owe
it. Thanks to you I know how splendid it is to trust one's self and
struggle, and hope, and succeed. Now I can come to you and say: "I am
the man you wanted me to be, let us marry and live together." Oh,
together, together! How splendid it sounds! Do you remember how you said
that night long ago: "Let us conquer our place in the world together"?

THERESE. Oh, Rene! Rene! We must wait!

RENE. Why? Why must we wait? What possible reason can you have for not
doing now what you wanted me to do a year ago? Don't you believe in me?

THERESE. Oh yes, yes. It's not that!

RENE. What is it then? Therese, you frighten me. It seems as if you were
hiding something from me.

THERESE. No, no. What an idea!

RENE. Is it--oh, can it be that you don't love me so much?

THERESE. Oh, Rene, no, no. Don't think that for a moment.

RENE. But you're not being straight with me. You're hiding something.

THERESE. Don't ask me.

RENE. Therese!

THERESE. Oh, please don't ask me!

RENE. Now, you know very well that's impossible. How can there be
secrets between us? You and I are the sort of people who are straight
with one another. I must have my share in everything that makes you
unhappy.

THERESE. Well, then, I must tell you. It's about your father and mother.
Oh, how I wish I needn't tell you. Rene, while you've been away your
people have been dreadful to me. Your father came here to se