MARIO. Come here. [_He places an arm around Paolo's shoulders._] Are you persuaded that I love you?
MARIO. Well then, if you are content, so am I. Is it all right?
MARIO. Ah, that reminds me, I cannot go to-morrow.
MARIO. The engineer Falchi has arrived. The day after to-morrow there is the meeting of the water-company.
PAOLO. It was arranged that we were to leave to-day. We put it off on your account.
MARIO. How could it be helped? I had to sell the hay. It is now a question of three days, four at the most.
PAOLO. Suppose Anna and I go meanwhile? The rent of the chalet started fifteen days ago. You can join us as soon as you are free.
PAOLO. I'll tell you. The day after to-morrow is Anna's birthday. Until the business kept me in Milan all of July, we always passed that day together--just Anna and I. We did not do this on purpose, but things turned out so. Last year I was able to be free early in July and we came here to stay until September. Well, three days before her birthday, Anna begged me to take her for a trip to Switzerland. She did not tell me, you understand, the reason for her desire, but insisted upon leaving immediately. We went to Interlaken and from there we went up to Murren. The day of Saint Anna we were at Murren. The place was so lovely, Anna liked it so much, that then and there I arranged for a chalet for this year. Fifteen days ago you--who never go anywhere, proposed to accompany us--
PAOLO. No. You saw that Anna was pleased. She is very fond of you.
PAOLO. When you had to postpone your leaving it was the same as to propose that we wait for you. But the first delay would still have allowed us to arrive in time; this second one will not and I, for my part, now especially desire to be there at the date arranged. It is childish if you wish--
MARIO. No. All right. I will join you there.
PAOLO. We postponed leaving until to-morrow to await you; but now that you cannot come immediately we could leave this evening. [_Jumping up._] I must go--to get out of here. Those letters--
MARIO. Go. Go to-night; it is better. But will Anna be ready?
MARIO. I was telling Paolo that I could not leave to-morrow; nor for three or four days. It is useless that you two remain here in the heat to wait for me. Paolo must be back in Milan at the beginning of September; every day shortens his vacation. I am old enough to travel alone; as soon as I am free I will join you. What do you say?