Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/289

 me, and have justified herself by explaining the reason, or otherwise, I should have been placed in a position where I should not have been able to explain it. But she forgave me—at least she took pity on me. Now to ask me to repay Isabel with a suggestion even of treachery, which she does not deserve of any one, much less of you or of me

. Who is talking about treachery?—unless you have become so friendly with Isabel that your mind, too, has been poisoned, and you are jealous yourself.

. Oh, no doubt you believe it! And I cannot blame you. Why should my repentance be more genuine to-day than my virtue was yesterday?

. I did not wish to give offense.

. No, you could not be so cruel. I have not yet wept sufficiently to be able to control myself in public except at great cost.

. [To ] I shall send for the waltzes and whatever else you desire.

. I warn you that you will be throwing your money away, as I play atrociously.

. Yes, through lack of practice. You have ability—oh, you have! You have the equipment of a great pianist—you have the fingers, the heart, and you have sympathy for the music. What you need is to learn to play. Music is a tonic to the soul. When one is unhappy, there is nothing like music. I should never have survived my engagement to Josefina if it had not been for music. Love went wrong with us from the beginning; it fell out badly. Señorita, we were so romantic! Our families were Capulets and Montagues, while we were Romeo and Juliet. At one time we thought that we should both die, and be buried together like them in the same tomb.

. Not really? You must have been very happy!