“Dare I ask you—puppy!” he exclaimed, with an insolent laugh. “Why, what do you mean?”
“How dare you come here?” I cried, my indignation getting the mastery of me.
“Dare I come here!” he exclaimed, frowning. “Why, you insolent young upstart, what do you mean?”
“I mean that you ought to be ashamed to show your face here again after your behaviour to Mr Hallett’s sister.”
“Hush!”
As he uttered that word he caught me by the throat, thrust his face close to mine, and I saw that he was deadly pale.
“You dog!” he whispered; “if you dare to utter another word, I’ll—”
He did not finish, but gave me a vindictive look that was full of threatenings of ill.
But unfortunately for him, he had hurt me severely as he caught me by the throat, and the pain, instead of cowing me, filled me full of rage. With one quick wrest I was free, and turning upon him fiercely, I exclaimed:
“I will speak in spite of what you say. You are a coward, and treacherous, and no gentleman!”