THERESE. He's quite right, my dear, quite right. If I was your sister, I should advise you not to give up the position you have been brought up in and the profession you've been educated for. RENE. But I love you. THERESE [_moved_] And I love you. Well, we've got to forget one another. RENE. That's impossible. THERESE. We must be wise enough to--[_She stops, her voice breaks_] RENE. Oh! how unhappy I am. THERESE [_controlling herself_] Don't let yourself go. We're not in dreamland. If you keep on saying "I am unhappy," you'll be unhappy. RENE. I love you so. Oh, Therese, how I love you! THERESE [_softly_] You'll forget me. RENE. Never. THERESE. Yes. You'll remember me in a way, of course. But you're young. Very soon you'll be able to live, to laugh, to love, to work. RENE. My dearest! I don't know what to say. I can't talk of it. I only know one thing--I can't let you go. THERESE. But we should be miserable, Rene. RENE. Miserable _together_! THERESE. Think, dear, think. It will be years before you can earn your own living, won't it? RENE. But I-- THERESE. Now you know you've tried already. Only last year you wanted to leave home and be independent, and you had to go back because you were starving. Isn't that true? RENE. It's dreadful, dreadful! [_He is overcome, terrified_] THERESE. So we must look at life as it is, practically, mustn't we? We have to have lodging and furniture and clothes. How are we to manage? RENE. It's dreadful! THERESE. How would you bear to see me going about in rags? [_He is silent. She waits, looking at him, hoping for a word of strength or courage. It does not come. She draws herself up slowly, her face hardening_] You can't face that, can you? Tell me. Can you face that? RENE. No. THERESE [_humiliated by his want of courage and infected by his weakness_] So you see, I'm right. RENE [_sobbing_] Oh! Oh! THERESE [_setting her teeth_] Oh, can you do nothing but cry? RENE. What a useless creature I am. THERESE. There, now, you see you're better! RENE. I'm ashamed of being so good-for-nothing. THERESE [_hopeless_] You're just like all the others. Now, don't be miserable. I'm not angry with you; you are doing what I told you we must do, and you agree. Go, Rene. Say good-bye. Good-bye, Rene. RENE. Therese! THERESE [_her nerves on edge_] Everything we can say is useless, and it'll only torture and humiliate us. We must end this--now--at once. RENE. I shall always love you, Therese. THERESE. Yes--exactly--now go. RENE. Oh, my God! THERESE. Go. RENE. I'll go and see my people. They'll never be so cruel-- THERESE. Yes, yes, all right. RENE. I'll write you. THERESE. Yes--that's it--you'll write. RENE. I shall see you again, Therese? [_He goes slowly to the door_] THERESE [_ashamed for him, covers her face with her hands. Then, all of a sudden, she bursts out into passionate sobs, having lost all control of herself, and cries wildly_] Rene!