"To you, Mr. Haines, I am Mrs. Carruth."
"Nelly, I say!"
In proof of his saying it, he stretched out towards me his clenched fist.
"Even at Strikehigh City, I did not think you capable of insulting an unprotected woman."
"I'm not insulting you."
"If you think not, then your ideas of what an insult is must be your own."
He rubbed his hands slowly up and down his knees. He stared at me hard. He shook his head.
"It's very hard; it's very hard. Between you and the girl, I'm suffering. The lines have fallen on me, and they're cutting right into my vital places." He brought his hands down upon his knees with a sudden thwack. "I asked you first, before even Daniel said a word to you; I laid myself at your feet."
"Was that my fault?"
He looked at me in silence. Then he drew the back of his hand across his brow.