In her eyes was that expression of conscious advantage which he had noticed many times before.

She seemed to be making a great effort to suppress some emotion, and was succeeding, too, for when she spoke her voice was low and well controlled.
"So you heard Taggart talking to me ?" she mocked, mirth in her eyes.
"And you shot at him?
Is that it?
Well, what of it?
I do not have to account to you for my actions!" He laughed.

"Nothin' of it, I reckon.

But if you're stuck on him, why don't you come out in the open, instead of sneakin' around?
You made it pretty strong the day I smashed his face for talkin' about you.

I reckon he had some grounds." He was talking now to hurt her; there was a savage desire in his heart to goad her to anger.
But he did not succeed.