"I took my hat. All the time I could not have borne to depart so, and I believed she would not let me. Nor would she but for the mortal pang I had given her pride, that cowed her compassion and kept her silent.
"I was obliged to turn back of my own accord when I reached the door, to approach her, and to say, 'Forgive me.'
"'I could, if there was not myself to forgive too,' was her reply; 'but to mislead a sagacious man so far I must have done wrong.'
"I broke out suddenly with some declamation I do not remember. I know that it was sincere, and that my wish and aim were to absolve her to herself. In fact, in her case self-accusation was a chimera.

"I took my hat. Yet I believed she would not let me depart. But she was silent. I was obliged to turn back of my own accord when I reached the door, and to say, 'Forgive me.'
"'I could, if there was not myself to forgive too,' was her reply; 'but to mislead an intelligent man I must have done wrong.'
"I broke out suddenly with some declamation I do not remember. I know that I sincerely wished to absolve her. She had done no wrong.
