BERTHA.
Well, afterwards you must stay to tea.
BEATRICE.
[To Archie.] Come.
[Beatrice and Archie go out together by the door on the left. Bertha goes towards the davenport, takes off her hat and lays it with her sunshade on the desk. Then taking a key from a little flowervase, she opens a drawer of the davenport, takes out a slip of paper and closes the drawer again. Robert stands watching her.]
BERTHA.
[Coming towards him with the paper in her hand.] You put this into my hand last night. What does it mean?
ROBERT.
Do you not know?
BERTHA.
[Reads.] There is one word which I have never dared to say to you. What is the word?
ROBERT.
That I have a deep liking for you.
[A short pause. The piano is heard faintly from the upper room.]
ROBERT.
[Takes the bunch of roses from the chair.] I brought these for you. Will you take them from me?
BERTHA.
[Taking them.] Thank you. [She lays them on the table and unfolds the paper again.] Why did you not dare to say it last night?