Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Third series (IA playstranslatedf03benauoft).pdf/226

. Yes, he imagines already that we are acting in concert.

. There was no occasion to consult in order to agree. That is the reason I wished to speak to you. Not that Julio is not a fine young man, with an excellent education, and splendid character, who very likely will make a mark for himself, especially if he is careful to cultivate his connections and to build up influence, instead of dissipating his energies. You realize that a man can accomplish nothing to-day without influence. But this unseemly haste to get married—can you tell me the reason for it? They are children. While I married at fifteen myself, my husband was thirty-eight, which was a compensation. We had no means either, but then times have changed. Living has become much more expensive; there are more demands and necessities.

. Young people fail to take such things into consideration.

. In the first place, we should be obliged to live together. It is out of the question to maintain three separate establishments; a man is fortunate to be able to support one. However well-intentioned a person may be, however good-natured and patient, you know yourself what mixed families mean in the way of friction and unpleasantness.

. Yes, I do. You do not have to come here to convince me.

. Nevertheless, I should be willing to make the sacrifice, so as not to disappoint my daughter. I could never reconcile myself to hearing her say that I had opposed her happiness.

. Young people imagine that happiness consists simply of loving each other. No matter how deeply in love you may be when you marry, the first love, which is all illusion, does not last long. It may develop into another