Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/203

. But delicious! Love without responsibility; on the contrary, with a certain immunity

. Immunity? What are you talking about?

. Why not?

. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. If you expect any immunity from me you are no friend of mine.

. Expect? No! Far from it! But when you first confided in my loyalty, when, with tears in your eyes you said to me: "I am alone, all alone in the world. I have nobody but my husband, and there are so many things you cannot confide to a husband, however much you may respect him—for instance, what you think of him—it would be sure to make him angry!"

. Did I say that?

. In substance; I may have forgotten the words. Then I clasped your hand and pressed it tenderly, while you said to me: "Be my friend, my true friend!" And from that moment the faith, the trust which you placed in me, all those little confidences which we shared together, which were yours and mine—ours, Josefina—trifles that to another who loved you less might have proved tiresome, a bore, but which only served to increase my affection and captivate my heart… Ah! How happy, how contented we were then, Josefina! How noble I thought myself! How worthy your regard! Believe me, I would not have exchanged this sweet friendship of ours for all the loves of the united world!

. You are so upright! So noble!

. [Taking her other hand] Never doubt me! Never! I would give up everything for you.

. No, I could not accept such a sacrifice. What did Don Baldomero say?

. Josefina! Unless I leave immediately, Don