She was frightened and troubled. She exclaimed:
‘Mr. Twain, every word of it is true—every word. You believe me—you do believe me, now don’t you? Say you believe me—do say you believe me!’
‘I—well, yes, I do—I am trying to. But it was all so sudden. So sudden and prostrating. You shouldn’t do such a thing in that sudden way. It—’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry! If I had only thought—’
‘Well, it’s all right, and I don’t blame you any more, for you are young and thoughtless, and of course you couldn’t foresee what an effect—’
‘But oh, dear, I ought certainly to have known better. Why—’
‘You see, Lasca, if you had said five or six hooks, to start with, and then gradually—’
‘Oh, I see, I see—then gradually added one, and then two, and then—ah, why couldn’t I have thought of that!’
‘Never mind, child, it’s all right—I am better now—I shall be over it in a little while. But—to spring the whole twenty-two on a person unprepared and not very strong anyway—’
‘Oh, it was a crime! But you forgive me—say you forgive me. Do!’