Part 11 (2/2)

Julie What have you got to say, Adolphe?

Minard Mademoiselle--

Julie Mademoiselle! Am I no longer Julie to you? Oh, tell me quickly. You have settled everything with my father, have you not?

Minard Your father has shown great confidence in me. He has revealed to me his situation; he has told me--

Julie Go on, please go on--

Mercadet I have told him that we are ruined--

Julie And this avowal has not changed your plans--your love--has it, Adolphe?

Minard (ardently) My love! (Mercadet, without being noticed, seizes his hand.) I should be deceiving you--mademoiselle--(speaking with great effort)--if I were to say that my intentions are unaltered.

Julie Oh! It is impossible! Can it be you who speak to me in this strain?

Mme. Mercadet Julie--

Minard (rousing himself) There are some men to whom poverty adds energy; men capable of daily self-sacrifice, of hourly toil; men who think themselves sufficiently recompensed by a smile from a companion that they love--(checking himself). I, mademoiselle am not one of these. The thought of poverty dismays me. I--I could not endure the sight of your unhappiness.

Julie (bursting into tears and flinging herself into the arms of her mother) Oh! Mother! Mother! Mother!

Mme. Mercadet My daughter--my poor Julie!

Minard (in a low voice to Mercadet) Is this sufficient, sir?

Julie (without looking at Minard) I should have had courage for both of us. I should always have greeted you with a smile, I should have toiled without regret, and happiness would always have reigned in our home. You could never have meant this, Adolphe. You do not mean it.

Minard (in a low voice) Let me go--let me leave the house, sir.

Mercadet Come, then. (He retires to the back of the stage.)

Minard Good-bye--Julie. A love that would have flung you into poverty is a thoughtless love. I have preferred to show the love that sacrifices itself to your happiness--

Julie No, I trust you no longer. (In a low voice to her mother) My only happiness would have been to be his.

Justin (announcing visitors) M. de la Brive! M. de Mericourt!

Mercadet Take your daughter away, madame. M. Minard, follow me. (To Justin) Ask them to wait here for a while. (To Minard) I am well satisfied with you.

(Mme. Mercadet and Julie, Mercadet and Minard go out in opposite directions, while Justin admits Mericourt and De la Brive.)

SCENE FOURTH

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