Juana. Why not?
Don Lorenzo. [Despairingly.] You denied me at the hour of my birth, and again you deny me at the hour of your death.
Juana. [Clasping him closely, so that in the darkness it is not possible to discern if they are embracing, or if Don Lorenzo has caught her in his rage.] Child of my love! [Whispers in a dying voice.]
Don Lorenzo. [Delirously.] That's so, that's so.
Juana. I am dying,
Don Lorenzo. No, mother.
Duchess. Heavens! Is the man going to kill her? Help! [Runs to door R.]
Doña Ángela. Edward—doctor!
Don Lorenzo. Mother, mother!
Juana. No,—God help me!—no, not that.
SCENE X
Don Lorenzo, Juana, Inés, Doña Ángela, Duchess, Dr. Tomás, and Edward. Latter two enter R. with lights, all help to separate Juana and Don Lorenzo.
Dr. Tomás. Come, come.
Don Lorenzo. My mother—forgive me, forgive me. You don't wish me to call you mother—my mother.
Juana. Farewell.
Don Lorenzo. Juana! [Juana makes a terrible effort and rises as if wounded in the heart by the name of Juana; falls back.]
Dr. Tomás. Dead!
160