Her unfavourable verdict was impressed upon him so strongly that it produced a revulsion of anger.

He felt, somehow, that their positions were reversed, that she had him now at her mercy, and failing to reduce him by flattery, had chosen to wither him by contempt.
"There's not a woman I know who could dress decently on what I have," she rejoined, skilfully adjusting him into the necessity of defence.
He gathered up the papers, and placing them in a drawer of his desk, closed it sharply.

There was a sordid indecency about the discussion which stung him like the stroke of a whip.
"I am sorry," he returned coolly, "but I have done my best.

There is nothing more to be said." His eyes lingered for a moment on her thin bosom where the bones were beginning to be faintly visible through the ivory flesh.

Then he looked at her sharpened face and saw that the three little wrinkles were stamped indelibly between her eyebrows.