A presentiment of evil made my heart sink like lead.

What had happened?
"Fools!" my cousin repeated with exceeding bitterness, her foot tapping the parquet unceasingly.

"Do you think he would have stooped to avenge himself on YOU?
On you! Or that he could hurt me one hundredth part as much here as--as--" She broke off stammering.

Her scorn faltered for an instant.

"Bah! he is a man! He knows!" she exclaimed superbly, her chin in the air, "but you are boys.