Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/250

 dren's brothers and sisters may not become their husbands and wives. Did you know that you had made your daughter very unhappy? A trifling matter may become of importance; thoughtlessness has its results. But I am sorry that I told you—I intended to keep this to myself, but I was afraid for your daughter's sake, and little by little, without meaning it, I have let you see what was in my heart, I have told you everything, because I am afraid, yes, afraid, that you may mistake my resignation for indifference; for if you only knew how deeply it hurts me whenever I detect that uneasy look in your eye or discover a fresh insincerity—and I always do discover them—you are not good at deceit, you are too jauntily insolent—ah, you have no idea how you make my heart bleed, or you would never again be so cruel as to torment me! But that is how you are. If you don't hear the cry, you do not realize that you have inflicted the wound; unless you see my tears, you cannot believe that my life is unhappy.

. [Deeply affected] Isabel! Why, Isabel!—Come, come! This is no way to dress for dinner.

. No, it is foolish to complain. But I have suffered so much, and now

. Now? What do you mean?

. You know what I mean. I am not blind. I can see what you are thinking about.

. Business, my affairs—&ensp;How ridiculous!

. No, you take your business very calmly, but now you are irritable; your mood changes hourly, not daily. I love you too much not to know that you are disappointed when you seem happiest, or happy when you wish me to believe that you are sober and dignified.

. Pure imagination! However, I have no right to complain. You knew my life as a bachelor.