If you hadn't taken it so hard they'd have let up on you." "Mebbe I might have stood that.

But they taunted me with bein'-- loony about you." Joel spoke huskily.

There was no doubt that he had been deeply hurt.
Lucy saw tears in his eyes, and her first impulse was to put a hand on his and tell him how sorry she was.

But she desisted.

She did not feel at her ease with Joel.
"What'd you and Van fight about ?" she asked, presently.