"Have you forgotten that I'm a woman?"
"No, I haven't. That's why I'm going to make you do as I tell you. If you were a man, I mightn't be able to. Come, now."
He made a movement to take her by the arm, but she was too quick for him. With the quickness of a cat, she slipped aside. The next moment, to his astonishment, he felt a stinging blow on the ear. He stared at her dumbfounded. It is safe to hazard that never in his life had he been so utterly taken aback.
She met his stare without lowering her glance. But she was panting now as if she had been running, one clenched hand pressed against her heaving breast.
He gave a short laugh, half of amused admiration at her daring, and half of anger.
"That was a darned silly thing to do!"
"What did you expect?"
"I expected that you were cleverer than to hit me. You ought to know that when it comes to—to muscle, I guess I've got the bulge on you."
"I'm not frightened of you."
It was a stupid thing to say. Nora realized it too late. If she had only been able to hold her tongue, he might have relented, she thought. But at her words, his face hardened once more and the same steely glitter came into his eyes. "Now come and wash up these things."