Axel. You don't even know what love is.

Laura. I don't?--That is not kind of you.

Axel. Tell me what it is then, sweetheart!

Laura (kissing him). Now you mustn't talk about it any more;
because you know, if you do, I shall have red eyes, and then
father and mother will want to know why they are red, and I
shall not be able to tell them, and it will be very embarrassing.

Axel. Better a few tears now than many later on.

Laura. But what have I done to cry about?

Axel. You have given your hand without giving your heart with it;
your tongue said "yes," but not your will; you have given
yourself without realising what it means. And so, what ought to
be the greatest and purest happiness in my life begins to turn to
sorrow, and the future looks dark.

Laura. Oh, dear!--and is all this my fault?

Axel. No, it is my own fault. I have been deluding myself with
flattering hopes. I thought it would be so easy a matter for my
love to awaken yours; but I cannot make you understand me.
Every way I have tried has failed. So I must call up my courage,
and try the last chance.