"You deserve to. Are you really capable of laughing, my peevish lady? Who would have thought so? But I know very well you laugh only because you can laugh at me. You do not do it from pleasure. For who ever looked so solemn as you did just now--like a Roman senator? And you might have looked ravishing, dear child, with those holy dark eyes, and your long black hair shining in the evening sunlight--if you had not sat there like a judge on the bench. Heavens! I actually started back when I saw how you were looking at me. A little more and I should have forgotten the most important thing, and I am all confused. But why do you not talk? Am I disagreeable to you?" "Well, that _is_ funny, you surly Julius. As if you ever let any one say anything! Your tenderness flows today like a spring shower." "Like your talk in the night." "Oh sir, let my neckcloth be." "Let it be? Not a bit of it! What is the use of a miserable, stupid neckcloth? Prejudice! Away with it!" "If only no one disturbs us!" "There she goes again, looking as if she wanted to cry! You are well, are you not? What makes your heart beat so? Come, let me kiss it! Oh, yes, you spoke a moment ago about closing the door. Very well, but not that way, not here. Come, let us run down through the garden to the summer-house, where the flowers are. Come! Oh, do not make me wait so!" "As you wish, sir." "I cannot understand--you are so odd today." "Now, my dear friend, if you are going to begin moralizing, we might just as well go back again. I prefer to give you just one more kiss and run on ahead of you." "Oh, not so fast, Lucinda! My moralizing will not overtake you. You will fall, love!" "I did not wish to make you wait any longer. Now we are here. And you came pretty fast yourself." "And you are very obedient! But this is no time to quarrel." "Be still! Be still!" "See! Here is a soft, cosy place, with everything as it should be. This time, if you do not--well, there will be no excuse for you." "Will you not at least lower the curtain first?" "You are right. The light will be much more charming so. How beautiful your skin shines in the red light! Why are you so cold, Lucinda?" "Dearest, put the hyacinths further away, their odor sickens me." "How solid and firm, how soft and smooth! That is harmonious development." "Oh no, Julius! Please don't! I beg of you! I will not allow it!"