"
"I believe you!" she said, low, as if she spoke to herself. "Yes,
I understand now."
"Why don't you say I'm lying to you?"
"Because you are not lying. Because you tell me the truth, and I
know it. I was mistaken."
"How do you know? Why forgive me? I don't want you to forgive me.
You don't understand the madness--"
"What hope could there be in a particular madness such as that?"
He could see her eyes turned on him steadily. He turned away,
sighing.
"I am degraded for ever."
"Tell me," she flashed out upon him suddenly; "what did you think
then of _me_, there on the boat? How did you dare--"
"I don't think I had any conclusion--I only wanted you. I just
couldn't think of your going away, that was all. I'd never seen a
woman like you, I'll never hope to see another your equal in all my
life. And you sent for me, told me to come, said you needed help.
I didn't know what you were. But I didn't care what you were,
either. I don't care now. Your past might be what you liked, you
might be what you are not, and it would make no difference to me.
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