"No one has ever told me that before," he answered. A very slight flush rose in his pale face.
"It is not of much importance, either. Would you like me to enumerate your good qualities?"
"Of all things!"
"You are honest and kind, and you are very clever, I think, though I am not clever enough to be sure. You have no right to be unhappy, and you would not be if you were not so sensitive about—about not being so strong and big as some men are. What difference does it make?"
"You will almost tempt me to think that it makes none, if you talk in that way," said Arden.
"Do you mean to say that you would really and truly change places with any one? With Signor Ghisleri, for instance?"
"Indeed I would, with him, and very gladly. I would rather be Ghisleri than any man I know."
"I cannot understand that," answered Laura, thoughtfully. "If I were a man, I would much rather be like you. Besides, they say Signor Ghisleri has been dreadfully wild, and is anything but angelic now. You used that very word about him the first evening we met; do you remember?"
"Of course I do; but what has that to do with it? Must I necessarily choose a saint for my friend, and pick out one to exchange places with me if it were possible? A woman saint may be lovable, too lovable perhaps, but a man saint about town is like a fish out of water. But you are right about Ghisleri, up to a certain point, only you do not understand him. He is an exceedingly righteous sinner, but a sinner he is."
"What do you mean by a righteous sinner?" asked Laura, gravely.