ura read it?

Mathilde. She thinks it is a poor story.

Axel. It isn't that, but it is an extraordinary one. It quite startles
me--it is like coming into one's own room and seeing one's self sitting
there. It has caught hold of unformed thoughts that lie hidden deep in
my soul.

Mathilde. Every good book does that.

Axel. Everything will happen to me just as it does in that book; the
premises are all here, only I had not recognised them.

Mathilde. I have heard of very young doctors feeling the symptoms of all
the diseases they read about.

Axel. Oh, but this is more than mere imagination. My temptations come
bodily before me. My thoughts are the result of what happens, just as
naturally as smoke is the result of fire--and these thoughts (lancing at
MATHILDE) lead me far.

Mathilde. As far as I can see, the book only teaches consideration for a
woman, especially if she is young.

Axel. That is true. But, look here--a young man, brought up among
students, cannot possibly possess, ready-made, all this consideration
that a woman's nature requires. He doesn't become a married man in one
day, but by degrees. He cannot make a clean sweep of his habits and take
up the silken bonds of duty, all in a moment. The inspiration of a first
love gives him the capacity, but he has to learn how to use it. I never
saw what I had neglected till I had frightened her away from me. But
what is there that I have not done, since then, to win her? I have gone
very gently to work and tried from every side to get at her--I have
tempted her with gifts and with penitence--but you can see for yourself
she shrinks from me more and more. My thoughts, wearied with longings
and with the strain of inventing new devices, follow her, and my love
for her only grows--but there are times when such thoughts are succeeded
by a void so great that my whole life seems slipping away into it. It
is then I need some one to cling to--. Oh, Mathilde, you have meant very
much to me at times like that. (Goes up to her.)

Mathilde (getting up). Yes, all sorts of things happen in a year that
one never thought of at the beginning of it.

Axel (sitting down). Good God, what a year! I haven't the courage to
face another like it. This book has frightened me.

Mathilde (aside). That's a good thing, anyway.

Axel (getting up). Besides--the amount of work I have to do, to keep up
everything here just as she was accustomed to have it, is getting to be
too much for m