Page:The great Galeoto; Folly or saintliness; two plays done from the verse of José Echegaray into English prose by Hannah Lynch (IA greatgaleotofoll00echerich).djvu/78

. [To Pepito.] And you! The deuce, why don't you offer your arm to your mother? My good brother Severo will take mine. So, quite a family party, and now let pleasure flow with the wine in our glasses. So there are gossips about? Well, let them chatter and scream. A farthing for all they can say. I shouldn't object to a glass house, that they might have the pleasure of staring in at Teodora and Ernest together, and learn how little I care for their spite and their calumnies. Each man to his fancy.

[Enter servant in black suit and white tie.]

. Dinner is served.

. Let us look after our life, since it will be the affair of others to look after our death. Come. [Invites the others to pass.]

. Mercedes.

. Teodora.

. I pray you, Mercedes.

. [Aside.] He is looking at her, and there are tears in her eyes. [Teodora, walking unsteadily and struggling with emotion, slowly follows the others inside.]

. [To Severo.] Are they talking together?

. I don't know, but I think it very probable.

. Why are they looking back at us? Both! Did you notice? I wonder why.

. You see, you are growing reasonable at last!

. No, I've caught your madness. Ah, how sure a thing is calumny! It pierces straight to the heart.

38