"Is it for me to tell you?" she said scornfully.
He looked at her wonderingly; but she had resumed her work and was silent.
"Abuse me for my stupidity," he said; "for upon my word, I do not understand you."
She shrugged her shoulders contemptuously.
"Will you not tell me?" he asked.
She took a skein of silk and said,—
"Hold this, while I wind it."
She fixed the skein on his hands, and began calmly winding, as if nothing whatever had been said. He waited a few moments expecting her to speak, but she gave no signs of intending to pursue the subject.
"Why will you not tell me what is in your thoughts at this moment?" he said.
"Contempt."