I have never cared to talk about it—and you so seldom came out to see me, too
Asta.
Yes, I daresay that wasn't very nice of me—but
RITA.
Well, well, well, of course you had your school to attend to in town. [Smiling.] And then our road-maker friend—of course he was away too.
Asta.
Oh, don't talk like that, Rita.
RITA.
Very well, then; we will leave the road-maker out of the question.—You can't think how I have been longing for Alfred! How empty the place seemed! How desolate! Ugh, it felt as if there had been a funeral in the house!
Asta.
Why, dear me, only six or seven weeks
RITA.
Yes; but you must remember that Alfred has never been away from me before—never so much as twenty-four hours. Not once in all these ten years.
Asta.
No; but that is just why I really think it was high time he should have a little outing
