"If you really feel as you say you do," answered Laura, "I can understand that you should be very unhappy."
"Why do you doubt that I feel what I have told you?" Ghisleri wondered, as he asked the question, whether he was ever to be believed again by any woman. "Do you think I am untruthful?"
"No," said Laura, quickly. "Indeed I do not. On the contrary, I think you very scrupulously exact when you speak of things you know about. But any one may be mistaken in judging of himself."
"That is precisely the point. I am afraid of finding myself mistaken, and so I do not trust my own motives."
"Yes—I see. But then, if you do what is right, you need not let your motives trouble you. That seems so simple."
"To you. Do you remember? I once told you that you were horribly good."
"I am not," said Laura, "but if I were, I should not see anything horrible in it."
"I should, and I do. When I see how good you are I am horrified at myself. That is what I mean."
"Why do you so often talk about being bad? You will end by making me believe that you are—if I do not believe it already."
"As you do, I fancy. What difference can it make to you?"