Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/31

 to have known, though, that it couldn't last. Something was sure to happen— Good Lord! What's the matter?

. We are coming to a tunnel.

. Horrors! [''They pass into a tunnel. After a moment they come out''] Don't look at that gentleman. I was the one who pinched you on the arm

. Madam!

. But that was not all. My sister-in-law is of a very domineering disposition. She is the moneyed member of the family, and, naturally, she expects everybody to bow down before her. She wants them to grovel. Well, that isn't my style. If I say anything she doesn't like, it results in an explosion. Now she has set herself on marrying my daughter to a nephew of hers about whom we know absolutely nothing. It is a delicate subject. A woman only marries once; at least, the first time that is all that she counts on. She plans no further ahead. She says he is a nice fellow, but I have made inquiries— Look out of the window, my dear— I hear he is very fond of the ladies. But what of that? All men are alike. Would you believe it, when we had been married only eight days, I surprised my first husband kissing the nurse?

. Did you have a nurse when you had been married only eight days?

. For my little sister. For heaven's sake, what did you think?

. Mamma! Mamma! Look at all the little rabbits!

. Don't talk to me about little rabbits. You can take your head in now. We were discussing your fiancé.

. What does this gentleman think?

. He thinks the same as I do. He says that without knowing him thoroughly— And he is perfectly right