SMIRNOV. My mind is not clear--I can't understand--servant--water! I have fallen in love like any young man. [_He takes her hand and she cries with pain._] I love you! [_He kneels._] I love you as I have never loved before. Twelve women, I threw over, nine were untrue to me, but not one of them all have I loved as I love you. I am conquered, lost, I lie at your feet like a fool and beg for your hand. Shame and disgrace! For five years I haven't been in love, I thanked the Lord for it and now I am caught, like a carriage tongue in another carriage. I beg for your hand! Yes or no? Will you?--Good! [_He gets up and goes to the door quickly._] MRS. POPOV. Wait a moment-- SMIRNOV [_stopping_]. Well? MRS. POPOV. Nothing. You may go. But--wait a moment. No, go on, go on. I hate you. Or no. Don't go. Oh, if you knew how angry I was, how angry! [_She throws the revolver onto the chair._] My finger is swollen from this thing. [_She angrily tears her handkerchief._] What are you standing there for? Get out! SMIRNOV. Farewell! MRS. POPOV. Yes, go. [_Cries out._] What are you going for? Wait--no, go!! Oh, how angry I am! Don't come too near, don't come too near--er--come--no nearer. SMIRNOV [_approaching her_]. How angry I am with myself. Fallen in love like a school-boy, thrown myself on my knees. I've got a chill! [_Strongly._] I love you. This is fine,--all I needed was to fall in love. To-morrow I have to pay my interest, the hay harvest has begun and then you appear. [_He takes her in his arms._] I can never forgive myself. MRS. POPOV. Go away! Take your hands off me! I hate you--you--this is--[_A long kiss._] [_Enter Luka with an ax, the gardener with a rake, the coachman with a pitch-fork, workmen with poles._] LUKA [_staring at the pair_]. Merciful Heavens! [_A long pause._] MRS. POPOV [_dropping her eyes_]. Tell them in the stable that Tobby isn't to have any oats. [_Curtain._] HIS WIDOW'S HUSBAND A COMEDY BY JACINTO BENEVENTE TRANSLATED BY JOHN GARRETT UNDERHILL. Copyright, 1917, by John Garrett Underhill. All rights reserved. First presented at the Teatro Principe Alfonso, Madrid, on the evening of the nineteenth of October, 1908. CHARACTERS CAROLINA. EUDOSIA. PAQUITA. FLORENCIO. CASALONGA. ZURITA. VALDIVIESO. THE SCENE _is laid in a provincial capital_. Reprinted from "Plays: First Series," by permission of, and special arrangements with, Mr. John Garrett Underhill and Charles Scribner's Sons. Applications for permission to produce HIS WIDOW'S HUSBAND should be addressed to the Society of Spanish Authors, 20 Nassau Street, New York. HIS WIDOW'S HUSBAND A COMEDY BY JACINTO BENEVENTE [_Carolina is seated as Zurita enters._] ZURITA. My friend! CAROLINA. My good Zurita, it is so thoughtful of you to come so promptly! I shall never be able to repay all your kindness. ZURITA. I am always delighted to be of service to a friend.