Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet? (This is a stupid question I put on here for no reason)

Saved in marigolds, what do the following lines from the passage mainly reveal about lizabeth? suddenly i was ashamed, and i did not like being ashamed. the child in me sulked and said it was all in fun, but the woman in me flinched at the thought of the malicious attack that i had led.