Rita.
Yes, now that it is safely over.—But I can tell you it has been a terrible time for me, Asta. I have never cared to talk about it—and you so seldom came out to see me, too——
Asta.
Yes, I daresay that wasn’t very nice of me—but——
Rita.
Well, well, well, of course you had your school to attend to in town. [Smiling.] And then our road-maker friend—of course he was away too.
Asta.
Oh, don’t talk like that, Rita.
Rita.
Very well, then; we will leave the road-maker out of the question.—You can’t think how I have been longing for Alfred! How empty the place seemed! How desolate! Ugh, it felt as if there had been a funeral in the house!