Because she was the stronger of the two she was beginning to get the
better of him. The truth was that he had never had a fight with anyone
like himself in his life and, upon the whole, it was rather good for
him, though neither he nor Mary knew anything about that. He turned his
head on his pillow and shut his eyes and a big tear was squeezed out
and ran down his cheek. He was beginning to feel pathetic and sorry for
himself not for anyone else.
I m not as selfish as you, because I m always ill, and I m sure there
is a lump coming on my back, he said. And I am going to die besides.
You re not! contradicted Mary unsympathetically.
He opened his eyes quite wide with indignation. He had never heard such
a thing said before. He was at once furious and slightly pleased, if a
person could be both at one time.
I m not? he cried. I am! You know I am! Everybody says so.
I don t believe it! said Mary sourly. You just say that to make
people sorry. I believe you re proud of it. I don t believe it! If you
were a nice boy it might be true but you re too nasty!
In spite of his invalid back Colin sat up in bed in quite a healthy
rage.
Get out of the room! he shouted and he caught hold of his pillow and
threw it at her. He was not strong enough to throw it far and it only
fell at her feet, but Mary s face looked as pinched as a nutcracker.
I m going, she said. And I won t come back!
She walked to the door and when she reached it she turned round and
spoke again.
I was going to tell you all sorts of nice things, she said. Dickon
brought his fox and his rook and I was going to tell you all about
them. Now I won t tell you a single thing!
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