"We were too happy," breathed Felicitas, "that is why we must suffer so much now."
He did not answer. After the manner of man, he retained less grateful remembrances than she did of the bliss that had been theirs.
She became doubtful "Or perhaps you were not happy?" she asked.
He nodded, for, against his will, he was falling a victim to old memories.
She gazed at him with fixed eyes, her hands pressed hard against her forehead.
"Why did things turn out so?" she whispered. "Why could we not be strong, and resist the temptation?"
"Why? There is no 'why' in the matter. We were young and hot-headed and foolish, and we thought of nothing.... I, for my part, wonder now how I could have seemed so sagacious to myself, and not cried out to the whole world, 'See, what a dog I am. I have an affair with a woman ... a married woman!'"
"But at first, in the beginning ... how did you feel?" she asked.
"What? In the beginning?"
"When you ... first ... guessed my love."