"When Gabriel had gone,édé I was anxious and impatient; I imagined that I loved that young man with a very profound love. In girls of that age, the slightest sentiment, the most trivial caprice, at once assumes the form of a passion. A pleasing illusion! which lasts too short a time, thanks to you, messieurs, who are so well skilled in opening our eyes to the melancholy reality!"
"My dear Frédérique, the illusions and disappointments are the same in both sexes! You are more affectionate, perhaps, but you are more easily fascinated, too. We change without reason, you change from pure coquetry. There is no more fidelity on one side than on the other."
"Do you think so? That may be true. Let me finish the story of my first love.
"Gabriel was not long away; in about ten minutes he returned; his face was flushed, his eyes gleamed--but not with joy. I must tell you that my father, an ex-naval officer, was not good-humored every day, that his language was often brusque, and that his manners corresponded with his language.
"'Well, monsieur,' I said, 'did you see my father?'
"'If you don't keep your cane quiet, monsieur, I'll throw it out of the window! What did father say?'
"'Mademoiselle--monsieur your father--he is not in a very good humor--he listened to me with a sarcastic expression, and then--then he took me by the hand, and--and put me out of his study. "Go and blow your nose!" he said; "you may come again in ten years and talk about your love."'
"'What! is it possible? My father told you to--to go and blow your nose?'
"'Yes, mademoiselle; and I give you my word I had no desire to.'
"I was petrified. My father's response seemed to me so rude, so humiliating, to Gabriel, that I asked him, looking him in the eye:
"'What would you have had me do, mademoiselle? I could not--threaten your papa, could I?'
"'No, of course not. Well, Monsieur Gabriel, as he looks upon you as a schoolboy, you must show him that you're a man. You must--you must--run off with me.'
"Gabriel was paralyzed; but I, afraid of nothing, and having no comprehension of the importance of my projected action, continued:
"'Mon Dieu! Monsieur Gabriel, you seem dumfounded. However, it's a very simple matter. You carry me off--that is to say, I run away--to-night, after dinner. No one suspects anything, and it will be easy enough for me to do it. You must be waiting for me at the corner, wrapped in a cloak--do you hear? You must have a cloak,--no one ever abducts a girl without that,--and a broad-brimmed hat pulled down over your eyes. I will wear a long pelisse and a veil. It will be great fun! You must take me--wherever you choose. Then you can write to my father that I am with you, and he can't help consenting to our marriage; that's the way it always ends.'