"Did you expect me to give you a chance to destroy me and poison Jacqueline's mind? If I had been guilty of the thing with which you charge me, what I have done would have been cowardly. Otherwise, it is justified."
"You have been guilty of enough without that particular thing to rule you out."
"If," he said, controlling his anger, "you really were appointed God's deputy on earth, you'd have to rule out the majority of men who attempt to marry."
"I'd do it, too," she remarked.
"Fortunately," he went on, "your authority for meddling is only self delegated. You once threatened me. You gave me warning like a fair adversary. But even rattlesnakes do that!"
He could see her features more plainly now, having become accustomed to the light; and her scornful expression and the brilliant danger in her beady eyes did not escape him. She darted at a bit of toast and swallowed it.
"So," he ended calmly, "I merely accepted the warning and acted accordingly—if you call that cowardly."
"I see. You were much too clever for me. In other words, you forestalled me, didn't you?"
"Ask yourself, Aunt Hannah."