I don't want blood! But there is something between.

However--" She hesitated.

He looked down upon her half irritable, half smiling.
"Please go on." "It would do them no good, would it--to be independent ?" "Considering how soon they must be slaves for life?
Is that what you mean ?" Her frank blue eyes raised themselves to his.

He was instantly conscious of something cool and critical in her attitude towards him.

Very possibly he had been conscious of it for some time, which accounted for his instinctive avoidance of her.