Thérèse. I will not have you! I will not have you!
Nérisse. Why? Tell me why.
Thérèse. I will tell you why; and then, I hope, I shall have done with you. You're right in one way. I believe I should not be able to live all alone. I should be too unhappy. But at least I'll keep my right of choice. If ever I give myself to anyone, it will be to someone I love. [With vehemence] And I love him, I love him!
Nérisse [violently] You have a lover! If that's true—
Thérèse [with a cry of triumph] Oh, have I got to the bottom of your vulgar, hateful little soul? If there ever was any danger of my giving in, your expression then would have saved me. You never thought there could be anything better. A lover! No, I have no lover. I have a love.
Nérisse. I don't see so very much difference.
Thérèse [proudly] I know you don't, and that shows what you are. This is the one love of my life, my love for my betrothed. I lost my money and that separated us, but we found each other again. It's unhappy to be separated, but we bear our unhappiness out of respect for what you call prejudices, because we know how our defying them would hurt those we love. You think me ridiculous, but you cannot imagine how utterly indifferent I am. I am waiting, we are waiting, with perfect trust and love. Now d'you understand that I'm perfectly safe from you? Go!
Nérisse [in a low voice which trembles with anger and jealousy] How dare you say that to me, Thérèse? How dare you bring such a picture before me? I will not allow you to belong to another man. [He advances towards her]
Thérèse [in violent excitement] No, no, don't dare! Don't touch me! don't dare to touch me!
She cries out those words with such violence and in a voice of such authority that Nérisse stops and drops into a chair.