Mercedes. Hush! He is coming back.
Teodora. [Impetuously.] I will not see him. Tell him so. Julian expects me. [Goes to the right.]
Mercedes. [Detaining her.] Impossible! You must know it. He will not heed my orders, and now that I understand so fully how you feel for him, I should be glad to have him suffer at your hands the contempt he has already endured at mine.
Teodora. Then leave me. [Enter Ernest.]
Ernest. Teodora!
Mercedes. [Aside to Teodora.] It is late, do your duty quickly. [Aloud to Ernest.] The command you heard a little while ago from me, you will receive again from Teodora's lips, and she is the mistress of this house.
Teodora. [In a low voice to Mercedes.] Don't go away.
Mercedes. [To Teodora.] Are you afraid?
Teodora. I afraid! I am afraid of nothing. [Makes a sign for her to go. Exit Doña Mercedes on the right.]
SCENE VII
Teodora and Ernest.
Ernest. The command was—that I should go away. [Pause. Both remain silent without looking at each other.] And you? Are you going to repeat it? [Teodora nods, but still does not look at him.] Have no fear, Teodora. I will respect and obey your order. [Submissively.] The others could not get me to obey them, little as they may like to hear it [harshly], but nothing you could say, even though you wound me—From you I will endure anything! [Sadly.]
Teodora. I wound you! No, Ernest, you cannot believe
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