I heard Zyp give a little scornful laugh and she breathed the word “coward” at me.
I stopped as if I had struck against a wall. All my blood surged back on my heart and seemed to leave my veins filled with a tingling ichor in its place.
“Perhaps I have been,” I said, in a low voice, “but here’s an end of it.”
Jason tittered.
“We’re mighty stiltish this morning,” he said, with a sneer. “What a pity it’s November, so that we can’t have a plunge for the sake of coolness—except that they say the pool’s haunted now.”
I looked at him with blazing eyes, then made another effort to get past him, but he repelled me violently.
“You don’t know your place,” he said, and gave an insolent laugh. “Stand back till I choose to let you go.”
I heard the doctor snigger and Zyp gave a second little cluck. My father was still absorbed—lost in his own dark reflections.
The loaded reel of endurance was spinning to its end.
“You might have given all your morning to one of your Susans yonder,” said my brother, mockingly. “Now she’s gone, I expect, with her apron to her eyes. She’ll enjoy her pease pudding none the less, I dare say, and perhaps look out for a more accommodating clown. It won’t be the first time you’ve had to take second place.”