ANNETTE. Oh, forgive me; but it came about so gradually, I could hardly say when it began. I said to myself that it couldn’t be true, and when—when we did tell one another what we hadn’t ever said, though we knew it ourselves, then I knew I’d done wrong, only I was so ashamed that I couldn’t tell you about it. LUCIE [_gently_] But it was wrong, my little pet. ANNETTE. Oh, don’t scold me! Please, please, don’t! If you knew how I’ve been feeling—oh, how dreadfully badly! You didn’t notice. LUCIE. Yes, I did. MADELEINE. Has he spoken to his parents? ANNETTE. Oh, a long time ago. LUCIE. They consent? ANNETTE. They’re coming here this afternoon. MADELEINE. Why didn’t they come sooner? ANNETTE. Because—Jacques told them you see; but they didn’t want it talked about. They wanted Gabrielle to get married first. So we agreed that I should seem not to think they knew anything about it. Then today I met Jacques in the street— LUCIE. In the street! ANNETTE. Yes. He’s given up coming to the music, so I meet him— LUCIE. In the street! ANNETTE. As a rule, we only bow to each other; but to-day, as he passed me he said: ‘My parents are going to your sister’s today.’ He was quite pale. Don’t scold me, please! I’m so happy. Do forgive me! MADELEINE [_to Lucie, who looks silently at Annette_] Come, forgive her. LUCIE [_kissing her_] Oh, yes, I forgive her. So you want to leave us, bad girl? ANNETTE. Yes. I am bad and ungrateful, I know. LUCIE. Hush, hush! Nonsense! MADELEINE. Marriage is a serious thing, Annette. Are you sure that your characters agree together? ANNETTE. Oh, yes, yes. Why, we’ve quarrelled already! LUCIE. What about? ANNETTE. About a book he lent me. MADELEINE. What book? ANNETTE. Anna Karenina. He liked Vronsky better than Levine. He said such silly things. And he couldn’t understand Anna Karenina killing herself—you know—when she throws herself underneath the train that he’s in. You remember, don’t you? LUCIE. And then? ANNETTE. Then—there’s the bell. Perhaps it’s them. _A pause. Josephine enters with a card._ LUCIE. Yes. ANNETTE. Oh, heavens! LUCIE. Madeleine, take Annette. Go through her room. MADELEINE. All right. LUCIE [_to Josephine_] Shew Madame Bernin in. ANNETTE [_to Lucie_] Don’t be long. _Annette goes out with Madeleine. Lucie arranges herself before a glass. Josephine shews in Madame Bernin._ LUCIE. How do you do? MME. BERNIN. How are you? LUCIE. Very well, thank you. And you? MME. BERNIN. I need not ask news of M. Brignac. I know he is busy fighting the good fight. LUCIE. And M. Bernin? MME. BERNIN. He’s very well, thanks. I hope your children— LUCIE. About the same. But won’t you sit down? MME. BERNIN. Thank you. What lovely weather! LUCIE. Yes; isn’t it? MME. BERNIN. I hear there was a large audience at M. Brignac’s meeting. LUCIE. Yes, indeed. MME. BERNIN. In spite of the heat.