“Oh! my dear, you are very foolish to be alarmed; just see how lively and contented Ami is! If he were the bearer of bad news, he wouldn’t play about us like this.”
“I agree with mademoiselle,” said Edmond. A moment later, he added: “It’s a very dismal thing to call one’s fiancée ‘mademoiselle.’ Don’t you think so, madame?”
Honorine smiled, while Agathe hastily rejoined:
“And I think it’s horrible to say ‘monsieur’!—It’s so ceremonious, monsieur!”
“Well! what prevents you from calling each other Agathe and Edmond simply?”
“Oh! madame! have we your permission?”
“I see no harm in it, when you are engaged.”
“Oh! what joy, my dear good friend! How sweet it will be, Edmond!—Do you hear, Monsieur Edmond?”
“No more ‘monsieur,’ dear Agathe!”
“True; but one dares not begin all at once. Never mind; I shall soon get used to calling you Edmond—just Edmond.”