“I did not say so,” he replied, abashed, cursing his heedless tongue. He would not, for much, have reminded her of any duty on her part.
She regarded him for a moment in silence, while the clouds of indignation gathered. Then the storm broke.
“You poltroon, I do see! You wish to take back your declaration, because you are afraid of Colden’s vengeance!”
“Afraid? I afraid?” he echoed, mildly, surprised almost out of his voice at this unexpected inference.
“Yes, you craven!” she cried, and seemed to tower above her common height, as she stood erect, tearless, fiery-eyed, and clarion-voiced. “Your cowardice outweighs your love! Go from my sight and from my father’s house, you cautious lover, with 196 your prudent scruples about the rights of your rival! Heavens, that I should have listened to such a coward! Go, I say! Spend no more time under this roof than you need to get your belongings from your room. Don’t stop for farewells! Nobody wants them! Go,—and I’ll thank you to leave my cloak behind you!”
“‘GO, I SAY!’”
Silenced and confounded by the force of her denunciation, he stupidly dropped the cloak to the floor where he stood, and stumbled from the room, as if swept away by the torrent of her wrath and scorn.