Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: SCENE IV Teodora, Ernest, Dona Mercedes, and Don Severo. The latter remain standing behind as they enter. The room is quite dark, save for a glimmer of light shed from the balcony, whither Ernest and Teodora have moved. Ernest. How good you are! Teodora. And you, what a boy ! After to-day I hope you have done with sadness—eh ? Ernest. Quite. Mercedes. [Outside, speaking low.] How dark it is ! Severo. [In same tone.] Come away, Mercedes. Mercedes. [Crossing the threshold.] There is nobody here. Severo. [Detaining her.] Yes, there is. [Both stand a while peering.] ERNEST. Teodora, my whole life, a thousand lives would still not be enough to offer you in return for your kindness. Don't judge me by my morose temper. I cannot lend a showy front to my affections, but, believe me, I do know how to love—and hate as well. My heart can beat to bursting under the lash of either sentiment. MERCEDES. [To Severo.] What are they saying? Severo. Something odd, but I hear imperfectly. [ Teodora and Ernest go out on the balcony, speaking low.] Mercedes. 'Tis Ernest. Severo. And she—I suppose—is Mercedes. Teodora. Severo. Their eternal tricks—always together. I can stand no more of this. And their words ? I mustn't put it off any longer Mercedes. True, Severo. Come away. It is certainly your duty, since everybody is talking. Severo. Yes, I must open Julian's eyes—to-day, at once. Mercedes. The fellow has impudence enough, and to spare. Severo. By all that's holy—so has she. MERCEDES. Poor girl! She's but a child. Leave her to me. Teodora. Another house? Surely no. You wouldn't leave us ? What an idea! Julian would never consent. Severo. [To Dona Mercedes. ] I should think not indeed, neither would I. [Aloud.] Ah, Teodora, you didn't see me ...