Lucienne. It might do you good!
Thérèse. You know—[She breaks down a little]
Lucienne [tenderly] Yes—I know that you're good and brave.
Thérèse. I shall have to be.
Lucienne. Then you'll break off the engagement?
Thérèse. Yes. I shall never see him again.
Lucienne. Never see him again!
Thérèse. I shall write to him. If I saw him I should probably break down. If I write I shall be more likely to be able to make him feel that we must resign ourselves to the inevitable.
Lucienne. He'll be horribly unhappy.
Thérèse. So shall I. [Low and urgently] Oh, if he only understood me! If he was able to believe that I can earn my own living and that he could earn his. If he would dare to do without his people's consent!