ROGER. What about? Oh—it’s absurd—don’t ask—it was base of me. Forgive me, I beg you, forgive me! SUZANNE. Then you’re not going to marry her? ROGER. But I’m telling you——! SUZANNE. Then I don’t understand at all. Only tell me you won’t marry her, and I’ll believe you. ROGER. Of course I won’t. What a child you are! Don’t cry, wipe your eyes, my dear Suzanne, there’s nothing to cry about! SUZANNE. I can’t help it! ROGER. Why? SUZANNE. I have only you in the world! I don’t want you to leave me! ROGER. Leave you? SUZANNE. (_Sobbing_) You know how jealous I am. You—you can’t understand that! I saw this evening, when I tried to make you jealous by talking with M. Bellac, that you didn’t seem to care at all. You didn’t care anything about me! ROGER. I wanted to kill him! SUZANNE. To kill him? (_Puts her arms around his neck_) How nice you are! Then you thought—? ROGER. Let’s not say any more about that, it’s all over, forgotten, the past is dead. Let’s begin all over again: from my arrival—How are you, Suzanne? How are you, dear? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you! Come to me, dear, the way you used to! (_He seats himself with her beside him_) SUZANNE. Oh, Roger, how nice you are! What lovely things you say! You love me better than you love her, then? ROGER. (_With feeling_) Love you! But isn’t it my duty to love you? As a relative, as a tutor, as an honest man? Love you! When I read that letter I don’t know what happened to me—then I understood how deep my feelings were—yes, I love you, my dear child, my divine creature! More than I ever imagined I did! And I want you to know—(_Tenderly_)—don’t you feel that I love you deeply, dear little Suzanne? SUZANNE. (_A little surprised at his vehemence_) Yes—Roger—— ROGER. The way you look at me—I frightened you—you don’t believe me—I’m not used to—I’m not used to saying tender things, I’m awkward—I don’t know how to say those things—one’s emotions are influenced by maternal training and you know my mother; she has made a dryasdust scientist of me. Science has been my sole preoccupation—You have been my sole distraction—the one ray of sunshine in my dreary youth. You have only me and I have only you—and I, my dear child, whom else have I to love but you?—And I didn’t know! You have charmed me as one is charmed by a child!—With your simplicity, with your grace! I was your teacher, but your pupil as well. While I was nursing your mind to blossom forth into thought, you were planting seeds of tenderness in my heart. I taught you to read, you taught me to—love! It was your tiny pink fingers, the silk of your golden hair that woke my heart to its first kisses! You crept into my heart then, and you have grown now until your soul has filled mine! (_Pause_) Now do you believe me? SUZANNE. (_Moved, she rises and speaks in a low voice_) Let’s go! ROGER. Why?—Where? SUZANNE. (_Troubled_) Away from here. ROGER. But why? SUZANNE. It’s so dark! ROGER. But, just a moment ago——