RENE. No, I won't wait. I won't lose the best time of my life, and years of happiness, for the sake of prejudices I don't believe in. Do you remember what you said to me the night we played _Barberine_? You were splendid. You said: "Marry me all the same, in spite of my poverty." [_She makes a movement to stop him_] Oh, let me--please let me go on! I was only a miserable weakling then, I was frightened about the future. But you roused me and set me going. If I'm a man now, it's to you I owe it. Thanks to you I know how splendid it is to trust one's self and struggle, and hope, and succeed. Now I can come to you and say: "I am the man you wanted me to be, let us marry and live together." Oh, together, together! How splendid it sounds! Do you remember how you said that night long ago: "Let us conquer our place in the world together"? THERESE. Oh, Rene! Rene! We must wait! RENE. Why? Why must we wait? What possible reason can you have for not doing now what you wanted me to do a year ago? Don't you believe in me? THERESE. Oh yes, yes. It's not that! RENE. What is it then? Therese, you frighten me. It seems as if you were hiding something from me. THERESE. No, no. What an idea! RENE. Is it--oh, can it be that you don't love me so much? THERESE. Oh, Rene, no, no. Don't think that for a moment. RENE. But you're not being straight with me. You're hiding something. THERESE. Don't ask me. RENE. Therese! THERESE. Oh, please don't ask me! RENE. Now, you know very well that's impossible. How can there be secrets between us? You and I are the sort of people who are straight with one another. I must have my share in everything that makes you unhappy. THERESE. Well, then, I must tell you. It's about your father and mother. Oh, how I wish I needn't tell you. Rene, while you've been away your people have been dreadful to me. Your father came here to see me. He wanted me to swear never to see you again--never. Of course I wouldn't. When I refused to give in he said it was through worldly wisdom. He said: "If he wasn't going to inherit my money, you wouldn't hang on to him like this." He dared to say that to me, Rene--your father whom I have always wanted to respect and love. He thought that of me. And then I swore to him, and I've sworn to myself, that I'll never marry you, never, without his consent. I cannot be suspected of _that_. You understand, don't you? The poorer I am the prouder I ought to be. [_She bursts into tears_] My dear--my dear! How unhappy I am! How dreadfully unhappy I am! RENE. My darling! [_He kisses her_] THERESE. Don't, Rene! I couldn't help telling you. But you understand, my dearest, that we've got to wait until he knows me better. RENE [_forcibly_] No. We will _not_ wait. THERESE. I'll never break my word.