Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/283

. Cervantes said something of the sort concerning an occupation very similar to mine; he said that it was necessary in any well-ordered republic.

. I am not asking now for a connection; on the contrary, I wish to discontinue service.

. What did I tell you? In any event, mine is an intermediary rôle.

. Is Federico Reinosa, the author, one of your friends?

. Do you mean the dreamer?

. Infinitely more dangerous! Authors who write their dreams exhaust themselves in the process, but dreamers who never write but attempt to live out their dreams, neither rest nor give others any rest. Life to them is a blank page which they are at liberty to dash off at their pleasure.

. Apparently you know Federico

. Yes, he is madly in love with María Antonia. I am told that you enjoy his confidence

. I merely offer him advice.

. Good advice?

. Naturally, as I am fond of María Antonia. I know the value of example and bringing-up, and María Antonia has never had anything but bringing-up, and examples of virtue in her mother and in you.

. When virtue has always been touched with sadness in a girl's experience, is it likely that at twenty she will resign herself to a life of suffering, unless her love is so impassioned, so blind, that it is able to transform even sorrow into something more precious than joy?

. True, María Antonia was not violently in love when she married. But Pepe is a nice boy. He may make a slip now and then

. Slip? María Antonia is wearing her heart out