ANNETTE. It’s not possible! LUCIE. Not possible? [_She looks searchingly at her_]. Annette, you frighten me. If it wasn’t you—[_tenderly and gravely_] Have I been wrong to trust you? ANNETTE. No! No! What can you be thinking of—Oh, _indeed_— LUCIE. What is it, then? ANNETTE. Well, I’ve been such a fool as to tell some friends I was engaged. LUCIE. Before speaking to me about it? ANNETTE [_confused_] Don’t, _please_, ask me any more questions. LUCIE. Annette, I must scold you a little. You’ve hurt me very much by keeping me in the dark about all this. Nothing would have made me believe that you’d do such a thing. I thought you were too fond of me not to tell me at once about anybody—any man—you were interested in. I find I was mistaken. We see one another every day, we are never parted, and yet you have managed to conceal from me the one thing your heart was full of. You ought to have told me. Not because I am your elder sister, but because I take mother’s place towards you. And for a better reason still—because I am your friend. It’s been a kind of treason. A little more, and I should have heard that you were engaged from strangers and not from you. Well, my dear, you’ve been wrong: these people are not worth crying about. Now be brave and remember your self-respect: I am going to tell you the whole truth. They don’t want you, my poor little girl: you are not rich enough for them. ANNETTE [_staring blindly at her sister_] They don’t want me! They don’t want me! But Jacques! Jacques! Does _he_ know? LUCIE. Yes, he knows. ANNETTE. He means to give me up if they tell him to? LUCIE. Yes. ANNETTE [_beside herself_] I must see him. I will write to him. I _must_ see him. If they don’t want me there is nothing left but to kill myself. LUCIE [_obliging Annette to look her in the face_] Annette, look at me. [_Silence. Then tenderly and gravely_] I think you have something to tell me. ANNETTE [_tearing herself away_] Don’t ask me—don’t [_very low_] or I shall die of shame. _Lucie forces her to sit down beside her and takes her in her arms._ LUCIE. Come—into my arms. Put your head on my shoulder as you used when you were little. There now, tell me what the trouble is. [_Speaking low_]. My darling—my little darling—I’m afraid you’re most unhappy. Try and think that it’s mother. ANNETTE [_very low, crying piteously_] Oh, mother! If you knew what I have done! LUCIE [_rocking her gently_] There—tell me. Whisper it to me. Whisper— _Annette whispers. Lucie rises and separates herself from her sister. She hides her face in her hands._ LUCIE. Oh, Annette! _You!_ ANNETTE [_kneeling and stretching out her arms_] Forgive me! Forgive me! Forgive me! I deserve it all. But I’m almost mad. LUCIE. You, Annette! _You!_ ANNETTE. Are you going to make me sorry I didn’t kill myself before I told you! Forgive me— LUCIE. Get up. It’s too awful. I must forgive you. [_She sits down_].