"Perhaps so," was his reply.
"You are not alone; take heart!"—which was as much as to say: "Let us each forget our own concerns in a bliss which we shall enjoy in common."
Then she placed the petal of a flower between her lips and extended it towards him so that he might peck at it. This movement, full of grace and of almost voluptuous gentleness, had a softening influence on Frederick.
"Why do you give me pain?" said he, thinking of Madame Arnoux.
"I give you pain?"
And, standing before him, she looked at him with her lashes drawn close together and her two hands resting on his shoulders.
All his virtue, all his rancour gave way before the utter weakness of his will.
He continued:
"Because you won't love me," and he took her on his knees.
She gave way to him. He pressed his two hands round her waist. The crackling sound of her silk dress inflamed him.