"What is édéit, in heaven's name? Pray yield to it at once!"
"Well, I have a fancy to _tutoyer_[F] you; are you willing?"
I cannot describe the effect produced upon me by that: "Are you willing?"--A sort of shiver passed through my body. I was moved to the very depths of my being. For a man cannot, unmoved, hear a young and attractive woman address him thus familiarly. It was of no use for me to say to myself that with Frédérique that meant nothing, that it was simply one effect of her originality; I was perturbed, and I did not know what to reply.
"It's agreed; we will _tutoyer_ each other. I will be your confidant, and you shall be mine. Like the intimate friends we are, we will have no secrets from each other. Give me your hand. Your name is Charles, I believe? Well, I will call you Charles; it's less ceremonious than Rochebrune. Come, shake hands. Aren't you willing to address me as _thou_?"
"Oh, yes, indeed! I am delighted! I will gladly address you--address thee--_thou_."
"One would say that it came rather hard! For my part, I feel as if you were my brother, and I had _thou'd_ thee all my life."
"Ah! you feel as if I were your brother, do you?"
I was not at all pleased to have her look upon me as her brother. Ah! what conceited fools men are! I fancied that I had turned Frédérique's head! Her last words dispelled my illusion. I was silent for a moment, but I soon recovered myself and shook her hand, saying:
"It's agreed, my dear friend: confidences and questions to the fore! Tell me why your brow darkened just now when we were talking of Monsieur Sordeville? Are you afraid that he doesn't make his wife happy?"
Frédérique resumed her grave--yes, sombre air; she lowered her eyes and was silent for some time before she replied:
"You have made an unfortunate choice for your first question. I can't answer it, my dear Charles; there are some things that one must keep concealed in the depths of one's soul, that one cannot reveal--even to a friend--especially when---- I did wrong to give way to thoughts that---- No, it's impossible! it cannot be! I say again: I ought not to have had those thoughts that banished my cheerfulness for a moment. It is altogether useless to mention that subject again."