ve you
for a friend. What should I do without you?

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. How about your godmother?

THERESE. I didn't get on with her. She never could hide her dislike for
me, and it burst out in the end. When she saw that in spite of
everything she could say I was going to leave her, she let herself go
and made a dreadful scene. And, what was worse, my good, kind godfather
joined in! It seemed as if they thought my wanting to be independent was
a direct insult to them. What a lot of letters there are to-day.

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. It's the renewal of the subscriptions.

THERESE. Oh, is that it? So you see we parted, not exactly enemies--but,
well--on our dignity. We write little letters to one another now, half
cold and half affectionate. I tell you, without you I should be quite
alone.

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. Not more alone than I am.

THERESE. I have someone to talk to now and tell my little worries to.
It's not that, even. One always finds people ready to listen to you and
pity you, but what one doesn't find is people one can tell one's most
impossible dreams to and feel sure one won't be laughed at. That's real
friendship. [_She stops working as she continues_] To dare to think out
loud before another person and let her see the gods of one's secret
idolatry, and to be sure one's not exposing one's precious things to
blasphemy. How I love you for being like you are and for caring for me a
little. [_She resumes her work_]

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. I don't care for you a little, Therese! I care
for you very much indeed. I like you because you're brave and hurl
yourself against obstacles like a little battering ram, and because
you're straight and honest and one can depend on you.

THERESE [_who can't get open the letter she holds_] Please pass me the
scissors. Thanks. [_She cuts open the envelope_] I might have been all
those things, and it would have been no good at all, if you hadn't been
able to see them.

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT. Remember that in being friends with you I get
as much as I give. My people were very religious and very proud of their
title. I made up my mind to leave home, but since then I've been quite
alone--alone for thirty years. I'm selfish in my love for you now. I've
had so little of that sort of happiness.

THERESE. You've done so much for women. You've helped so many.

MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT [_touching her piles of letters_] Here's another
who won't renew.

THERESE. W