He feels he is not valued, so he will risk destroying himself to deprive her altogether.
The stars on the lake seemed to leap like grasshoppers, silver upon the blackness, as he spun past.

Then there was the long climb home.
"See, mother!" he said, as he threw her the berries and leaves on to the table.
"H'm!" she said, glancing at them, then away again.

She sat reading, alone, as she always did.
"Aren't they pretty ?" "Yes." He knew she was cross with him.

After a few minutes he said: "Edgar and Miriam are coming to tea tomorrow." She did not answer.
"You don't mind ?" Still she did not answer.
"Do you ?" he asked.
"You know whether I mind or not." "I don't see why you should.

I have plenty of meals there." "You do." "Then why do you begrudge them tea ?" "I begrudge whom tea ?" "What are you so horrid for ?" "Oh, say no more! You've asked her to tea, it's quite sufficient.