ELSA
I'm sorry I showed it—but—I—I'm nervous to-day.
MIMI, brightening
Oh, I know what it is—I used to suffer dreadfully from nervousness when I was in the chorus.
ELSA
Come over here, Mimi; I want to talk to you.
MIMI, goes over and sits on the couch
You can talk to me about everything, I'm not a bad sort, really I'm not. I've known all along about Herr Karl and—and you—he's such a kind man. I was crying when I went away yesterday, and he felt sorry for me and he came to see me on his way to the ball—in his evening clothes—but I didn't receive him. If it's over, it may as well be over.
ELSA
Was he fond of you?