Her face paled a little at his brutal words, at the insult they implied, and she became a little rigid, her lips stiffening.

But suddenly she smiled, mockingly, with irritating unconcern.
"If I didn't know that you hate me as you do I should be inclined to think that you are jealous.

Are you ?" He straightened in astonishment.

Her manner was not that of the woman who is caught doing something dishonorable; it was the calm poise of sturdy honesty at bay.

But while he was mystified, he was not convinced.
She had hit the mark, he knew, but he laughed harshly.
"Jealous!" he said; "jealous of you?
I reckon you've got a good opinion of yourself! You make me sick.