I supposed it would be no use attempting to express myself to Mrs.Lascelles, but I felt I must say something before I went, so I said: "I deny nothing, and I'm proud of nothing, but neither am I quite so ashamed as perhaps I ought to be.

Shall I tell you why, Mrs.Lascelles?
It may have been an insolent and an infamous part, as you imply; but I enjoyed playing it, and I used often to forget it was a part at all.

So much so that even now I'm not so sure that it was one! There--I suppose that makes it all ten times worse.

But I won't apologise again.

Do you mind giving me that stick ?" I had rested the two of them against the chair between us.