He was on his feet now, fierce, primal, brutal—all the manhood that was left of him straight and rigid.
"Stop!" he commanded. "Don't you dare say one word against her, or by
God, I'll—"
She interrupted, rising haughtily before him, and said coldly, incisively:
"You forget yourself. You humiliate yourself. You insult me. I'll say what I please of whom I please."
"You'll keep your tongue off her, and off the little one!"
"I'll not if I choose not!"
"You will!"
She laughed. He stood for a moment, poised in anger. Then the momentary flash of righteous wrath was gone. He turned, slowly, from her.
She remarked, lightly, scornfully:
"The man of it, and again the fool of it. You would protect her who has scorned, and flouted, and humiliated you."