"He is too near the bank to look around now," Lyman replied. "He must keep his eyes on the temple."
"Zeb," she said, "why do you let this man talk that way? I thought you had more spirit."
"He has the spirit of anger, but not of courage," Lyman remarked.
"Eva," said Sawyer, "out in the Fox Grove neighborhood this man is known as a desperado."
"That phase of character was forced upon me, madam," Lyman replied, "and I had to accept it. Just as this man has been compelled to accept the name of notorious bully and coward, which was forced upon him. He gained some little prestige by shooting an unarmed man, and has been afraid to meet him since. The people have found this out, and hence his name of coward."
"It's a—" Sawyer hesitated.
"It's a what?" Lyman asked.
"A mistake."
"A soft word," said the young woman.
"A gentleman uses soft words in the presence of ladies," Sawyer replied.