Gonzalo turned to his intended and said softly:
"Why does not mama thee and thou me as your papa does? Ask her from me—I do not like to."
Then Cecilia approached her mother's ear and said in a soft voice, which trembled with shyness:
"Gonzalo would like you to thee and thou him."
"What do you say, child?" asked Doña Paula, putting her hand to her ear.
Cecilia, with a great effort, raised her voice a little:
"Gonzalo asks why you do not thee and thou him as papa does?"
"Ah! I am glad the suggestion comes from him, otherwise I should not have ventured. Very well, then, when a door is made here in the wall, you will be able to go from the large room into this one without crossing the passage—do you like the room? Is it large enough?"
"Too large; my business at the present moment does not require much space."
Cecilia looked anxious, as if something were on her mind. She opened her mouth several times as if about to speak, and then lacked courage. At last, after a long pause, she ventured to say: