Meanwhile Zora said nothing to Sypher.
"Don't you like it ?" he asked at last, disconcerted.
"Do you want me to be the polite lady you've asked to lunch or your friend ?" "My friend and my helper," said he.
"Then," she replied, touching his coat sleeve, "I must say that I don't like it.

I hate it.

I think it's everything that is most abominable." The board was one pride of his heart, and Zora was another.

He looked at them both alternately in a piteous, crestfallen way.
"But why ?" he asked.
Zora's eyes filled with tears.

She saw that her lack of appreciation had hurt him to the heart.