'Yours for me will not hurt you, at all events,' he answered rudely.
'Mine? Oh—you may think of that as you please.'
She shrugged her shoulders like a woman of the people, and turned from him indifferently; leaving him standing near the door, growing pale by quick degrees, till his face was a faint yellow and his eyes were red.
'I believe you love my brother,' he said hoarsely, as she moved away.
She stopped and turned her head, as she answered.
'His is by far the more lovable character,' she said in a tone of contempt. 'I should not blame any woman for preferring him to you.'
'It will be better for him that you should not prefer him.' His face was livid now. Aliandra laughed, and turned so that she could see him.
'Bah! I believe you are a coward after all. He need not fear you, I fancy.'
'Do you really think me a coward?' asked Tebaldo, in a low voice, and his eyes began to frighten her.
'You behave like one,' she answered. 'You are afraid of the mere opinion of society. That is the reason why you hesitate. You say you love me, but you really love only that you call your position.'