The Beast in the Jungle

"Ah if you haven't why should I?" he asked. "Lived away, you mean, from what I myself was?" "From what I was. I was of course an ass," Marcher went on; "but I would rather know from you just the sort of ass I was than-from the moment you have something in your mind-not know anything." Still, however, she hesitated. "But if you've completely ceased to be that sort-?" "Why I can then all the more bear to know. Besides, perhaps I haven't." "Perhaps. Yet if you haven't," she added, "I should suppose you'd remember.