"Has it occurred to you that my motives are open to the worst construction?"
"Well, frankly, it has. But it won't occur to Miss Harden. Go to her and tell her everything."
"After all, what am I to tell her?"
"Oh, it doesn't matter much what you tell her now."
"It matters a great deal to me. I don't want her to think me more dishonourable than I am."
"Oh, she won't do that."
"Perhaps she can't?"
"Well, you see, I don't know how dishonourable you've been. I only know if I'd done a dishonourable thing—if I'd done—oh, the most disgraceful thing I can imagine, a thing I couldn't possibly tell to anybody else, I wouldn't mind telling Lucia Harden. I should have to tell her. It wouldn't matter. She's so perfectly good, that your own little amateur efforts in that line simply aren't in it; so when it comes to telling her things, you may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. And wait a minute; you're not likely to make a lamb of your sheep; but don't go to the other extreme, and make a full-grown sheep of your lamb."
"I shall not deceive her."
"You couldn't. She's not only a good woman, but a very clever one, though she doesn't let you see it. Mind you, you won't find her clever about stupid things. I doubt if you'll be able to make her understand all this library affair. But she'll understand your business."