Laura (as before). A person who is always deceiving one is no friend.
Axel. Has Mathilde deceived anybody? You are unjust.
Laura (as before). Am I? It is Mathilde's fault that I am unhappy now.
Axel. Laura!
Laura. My dear, you may defend her, if you choose; but you must allow me to tell you plainly that it is Mathilde's advice that has guided me from the days of my innocent childhood, and has led me into all the misery I am suffering now! If it were not for her I should not be married to-day and separated from my parents. She came here with me—not to help me, as she pretended—but to be able still to spy on me, quietly and secretly, in her usual way, and afterwards to make use of what she had discovered. But she devotes herself to you; because she—no, I won't say it! (With growing vehemence.) Well, just you conspire against me, you two—and see whether I am a child any longer! The tree that you have torn up by the roots and transplanted will yield you no fruit for the first year, however much you shake its branches! I don't care if things do happen as they do in that story she has taken such pleasure in reading to me; but I shall never live to see the day when I shall beg for any one's love! And now my parents are coming to see everything, everything—and that is just what I want them to do! Because I won't be led like a child, and I won't be deceived! I won't! (Stands quite still for a moment, then bursts into a violent fit of crying and runs out.)
Axel (after a pause). What is the meaning of that?
Mathilde. She hates me.
Axel (astonished). When did it come to that?
Mathilde. Little by little. Is it the first time you have noticed it?
Axel (still more astonished). Have you no longer her confidence, then?