I am losing all respect for
you."
Without speaking, he turned to accompany her back to the house.
His reticence and coldness appeared to annoy her beyond endurance,
for she soon stopped and sat down on a ledge of the rocks that
jutted down the beach where they had met Miss Van Tyne.
"John, you are the most unnatural man I ever saw in my life," she
began angrily.
"What reason have you for so flattering an opinion," he asked
coolly.
"You have been giving reason for it every day since you came
here," she resumed hotly. "I always heard it said that you had no
heart; but I defended you and declared that your course toward
your mother even when a boy showed that you had, and that you
would prove it some day. But I now believe that you are
unnaturally cold, heartless, and unfeeling. I had no objection to
your wounding Miss Van Tyne's vanity and encouraged you when that
alone bid fair to suffer. But when she proved she had a heart and
that you had awakened it, she deserved at least kindness and
consideration on your part. If you could not return her affection,
you should have gone away at once; but I believe that you have
stayed for the sole and cruel purpose of gloating over her
suffering.
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