Carmen. Yes, I appreciate your coming very much. Won't you sit down?
Pepe. The maid tells me Luisa is not well.
Carmen. Her nerves, as usual. I am in despair over that child. The best physicians have examined her, and you know what that means to people in our circumstances in the way of sacrifices, with only my son's salary and what I had from my husband to depend upon. The cost of living in Madrid was never so high.
Pepe. No, never, Doña Carmen. Everything nowadays is going up, prices are in the sky.
Carmen. Although apparently you get along very comfortably. Your salary is the same as my Julio's, but you are alone. Besides, you have had experience; you have no idea of getting married.
Pepe. None whatever, Doña Carmen, none whatever. Why! Why should I?
Carmen. A man is always in his best years, as I tell my Julio. He has plenty of opportunities. But what is the use of talking? That is the reason I wanted to see you. You are his most intimate friend; you were inseparable.
Pepe. We were, yes, indeed. Doña Carmen, until this complication.
Carmen. What do you think? Is he in love? I never ask any questions; we never mention the subject without ending in a quarrel. But you must know something. What is he doing? Has he any idea of getting married?
Pepe. Well, frankly, he has gone pretty far. I tell him he is becoming more deeply mired every day. The girl is goodlooking; that is some consolation.
Carmen. But if he marries, what has he to look forward to? He is just in his prime. Now, with his modest salary—I ask
