Pierre.
Yes--I dare say. Live!--But how? Where? (_Sobs chokingly._)
Julia.
Come, then--we"ll die together--together! (_They sink into each other"s arms and remain motionless in mute despair. After a time_, Julia _raises her head cautiously and looks about her._) Pierre!
Pierre (_troubled_).
Well?
Julia.
Has it occurred to you? Perhaps it isn"t so, after all!
Pierre.
What do you mean?
Julia.
Perhaps we"ve just been talking ourselves into this notion, little by little--think so?
Pierre.
You mean that he really wanted to do nothing but--look at the pavilion?
Julia.
Well, it"s possible, you know.
Pierre.
Yes--at least nothing very unusual occurred.
Julia.
But your naughty, naughty conscience came and a.s.serted itself. Ha! Ha!
What a silly little boy it is! A downright stupid little boy!
Pierre.
My imagination was always rather easily aroused. I----
Julia (_laughing without restraint_).
Such a stupid boy!--Pierre, let"s make some coffee--for a change, eh?
Pierre.
But you know--I have to----
Julia.
Dear me, mamma has had her tea long ago. Tell her you sat down in the shade--and fell asleep--anything! It"s growing a bit shady here now.
See there! The streaks of light have gone. (_Indicates a corner of the room in which the streaks of light have just grown dim._) Ah! but how hot it is! (_Tears her dress open at the throat, breathing heavily._) Will you bring me the coffee-pot, like a good boy?
Pierre (_listlessly_).
Oh, well--all right. (_Carries the coffee-pot to the table._)
Julia.
Pierre, you--you couldn"t open the small door just a tiny bit? No one would look into the shrubbery.
Pierre.
Well, out there in the shrubbery, it"s even hotter than in here.
Julia.
Oh, just try it--won"t you?
Pierre.
Well, you"ll see! (_Opens the door at the left._)
Julia.
Whew! It"s like a blast from a furnace! And that disgusting odour--a mixture of perspiration and bad perfume--ugh!
Pierre.
That"s from the roses of our by-gone days--they lie out there in great heaps.
Julia.
Close the door! Hurry--close it!
Pierre (_does so_).
I told you how it would be!
Julia.
Well, perhaps you could adjust the shutters at the large door so that we"d get more fresh air in here.
Pierre.