so that she might hear my voice. The little darling thought she
was doing you a service--

Mathilde. When as a matter of fact it was I that was doing her
one--

Axel. Yes, and without suspecting it! That was the amusing part
of it.

Mathilde. Yes, that was the amusing part of it.

Axel. But soon people began to say that you and I were secretly
engaged, and that we were making a stalking-horse of Laura; so
for her sake I had to bring matters to a head rather quickly.

Mathilde. Yes, you took a good many people by surprise.

Axel. Including even yourself, I believe--not to mention the old
folk and Laura. But the worst of it is that I took my own
happiness by surprise, too.

Mathilde. What do you mean?

Axel. Of course I knew Laura was only a child; but I thought she
would grow up when she felt the approach of love. But she has
never felt its approach; she is like a bud that will not open,
and I cannot warm the atmosphere. But you could do that--you, in
whom she has confided all her first longings--you, whose kind
heart knows so well how to sacrifice its happiness for others.
You know you are to some extent responsible, too, for the fact