PAOLO. Do you not see that I am odious to her?
PAOLO. Odious! You were not here a moment ago. Don't you see that it is necessary that she have your help in order to support my presence?
MARIO. To-day. Because she knows that you have read--did I not tell you? Because it is embarrassing.
PAOLO. Not only to-day. You never move from this place. For fifteen years that you have played at being a farmer, you have not been away for a week. And fifteen days ago you suddenly decided to make a tour of the world. She begged you to.
PAOLO. I do not believe you. Anna shall have to tell me. [_Paolo starts to exit._]
PAOLO. Oh, as far as that's concerned--[_Calls._] Anna--Anna!
PAOLO. If she loved me it did not come hard for her to repulse him. If she loved him, I owe her no gratitude.
PAOLO. No, no. Remain. Yes, Anna. I wanted to ask you something. Whatever you say, I shall believe you.
PAOLO. Was it you who begged Mario to come with us? Not to-day I don't mean.
ANNA. I did not beg him nor did I propose it to him. But I must say that if Mario had not come I would not have gone either.
ANNA. It is natural that Paolo desires to know and he has the right to question me.
PAOLO. I do not wish to impose my rights.
ANNA. There you are wrong. We must value our own and respect those of the others. Fifteen days ago I would have gone with you alone.
PAOLO. You were afraid that she would say no?
ANNA. But his consent to accompany us greatly relieved me.
PAOLO. Which is to say that my company would have weighed upon you.
ANNA. Not weighed. It would have annoyed me.
ANNA. You may as well. Because I was shadowed by an unhappiness which you ignored at the time, whereas now you know the reasons. Knowing them, you will understand that I must be very worried, but for the sake of your peace I must hide my unhappiness, seeing that I had nothing to reproach myself with in relation to you. You understand that for two to be together, always together, it would be more difficult to pretend all the time--all the time! While the presence of a third person--
ANNA. Mario had the good idea to accompany us.
MARIO. Do not reply, Anna, do not answer, come away--he is ill, he does not reason--poor devil--it will pass and he will understand then--