'Made myself a laughing-stock to the whole country-side!--and thrown
all my principles overboard--to content you--and save my book!' The
reply was given with an angry energy that shook her. 'I have humbled
myself to the dust to meet your sentimental ideas--and there you
sit--as stony and inaccessible as this fellow here!'--he brought his
hand down with vehemence on the Roman emperor's shoulder. 'Not a
word of gratitude--or concession--or sympathy! I was indeed a fool
to take any trouble to please you!'
Elizabeth was silent. They surveyed each other. 'No agitation!' said
Elizabeth's inner mind; 'keep cool!'
At last she withdrew her own eyes from the angry tension of
his--dropped them to the table where her right hand was
mechanically drawing nonsense figures on her blotting-paper.
'Did you really yourself take down that barricade?' she said gently.
'I did! And it was an infernal piece of work!'
'I'm awfully glad!' Her voice was very soft.
'I daresay you are. It suits your principles, and your ideas, of
course--not mine! And now, having driven me to it--having publicly
discredited and disgraced me--you can still sit there and talk of
throwing up your work.
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