Because this is what he always felt after his father died - that if he could just speak to him now, he could really open his heart and say everything, without feeling that strange mute on his vocal chords.
He speculated whether he should speak to the friar, open his heart, tell him his secrets, get rid of the sea of misery he felt bathing his body, drowning his mind.
For her part, she felt that he was someone to whom she could open her heart and who would understand.