Pres. [13]Ay! or lose one's own head.[13]
(Michael and the President retire to one corner of the stage and sit whispering. Vera takes up the proclamation, and reads it to herself; Alexis watches and suddenly rushes up to her.)
Alex. Vera!
Vera. Alexis, you here! Foolish boy, have I not prayed you to stay away? All of us here are doomed to die before our time, fated to expiate by suffering whatever good we do; but you, with your [14]bright boyish face,[14] you are too young to die yet.
Alex. One is never too young to die for one's country!
Vera. Why do you come here night after night?
Alex. Because I love the people.
Vera. But your fellow-students must miss you. Are there no traitors among them? You know what spies there are in the University here. O Alexis, you must go! You see how desperate suffering has made us. There is no room here for a nature like yours. You must not come again.
Alex. Why do you think so poorly of me? Why should I live while my brothers suffer?
Vera. You spake to me of your mother once. You said you loved her. Oh, think of her!