ANNETTE. No, no. What can you be thinking of? I promise you—
LUCIE. What is it, then?
ANNETTE. Well, I’ve been foolish enough to tell some of my friends that I was engaged.
LUCIE. Before telling me about it?
ANNETTE [confused] Don’t ask me any more questions. Please, please don’t!
LUCIE. Indeed, I must scold you. You deserve it. You have hurt me very much by not letting me know what was going on. I could never have believed that you would keep me so in the dark, whoever had said it of you. I thought you were too fond of me. I was wrong. We see each other every day, all the time, and you could still hide from me what was in your heart. It was very, very wrong of you. Not only because I am your elder sister, but because I am in mother’s place towards you. And then, if only that, because I am your friend. A little more, and I should have heard of your engagement from strangers. Well, my dear, you’ve made a bad choice, and now you’ll need all your courage. These people aren’t worth your tears. I’m going to tell you everything. They don’t want you, my poor dear; you’re too poor for them.
ANNETTE [staring] They don’t want me! They don’t want me! But he—Jacques—he knows they don’t?
LUCIE. Yes; he knows.
ANNETTE. He’ll do what they say, if they tell him to give me up?