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[Act II
Robert
My poor Bertha! Sit down. Come.
[He leads her towards a chair near the table. She sits down. He stands beside her.]
Robert
[After a short pause.] Has it passed?
Bertha
Yes. It was only a moment. I was very silly. I was afraid that . . . I wanted to see you near me.
Robert
That . . . that you made me promise not to think of?
Bertha
Yes.
Robert
[Keenly.] Or something else?
Bertha
[Helplessly.] Robert, I feared something. I am not sure what.
Robert
And now?
Bertha
Now you are here. I can see you. Now it has passed.
Robert
[With resignation.] Passed. Yes. Love's labour lost.
Bertha
[Looks up at him.] Listen, Robert. I want to explain to you about that. I could not deceive Dick. Never. In nothing. I told him everything—from the