Talking little himself, he could not imagine that often words are the same as actions.
Although he loved her, or, rather, because he loved her with strength and confidence, he thought it his duty to resist her whims, which he judged absurd.

Whenever he played the master, he succeeded with her; and, naively, he always ended by playing it.
"You know very well, Therese, that I wish to do nothing except to be agreeable to you.

Don't be capricious with me." "And why should I not be capricious?
If I gave myself to you, it was not because I was logical, nor because I thought I must.

It was because I was capricious." He looked at her, astonished and saddened.
"The word is not pleasant to you, my friend?
Well let us say that it was love.

Truly it was, with all my heart, and because I felt that you loved me.