CHAPTER XVI 146
" I did get up this morning when I thought you were coming," he answered, without looking at her. " I made them put me back in bed this afternoon. My back ached and my head ached and I was tired. Why didn ' t you come?"
" I was working in the garden with Dickon," said Mary. Colin frowned and condescended to look at her.
" I won ' t let that boy come here if you go and stay with him instead of coming to talk to me," he said.
Mary flew into a fine passion. She could fly into a passion without making a noise. She just grew sour and obstinate and did not care what happened.
" If you send Dickon away, I ' ll never come into this room again!" she retorted.
" You ' ll have to if I want you," said Colin. " I won ' t!" said Mary. " I ' ll make you," said Colin, " They shall drag you in."
" Shall they, Mr. Rajah!" said Mary fiercely. " They may drag me in but they can ' t make me talk when they get me here. I ' ll sit and clench my teeth and never tell you one thing. I won ' t even look at you. I ' ll stare at the floor!"
They were a nice agreeable pair as they glared at each other. If they had been two little street boys they would have sprung at each other and had a rough-and-tumble fight. As it was, they did the next thing to it.
" You are a selfish thing!" cried Colin.
" What are you?" said Mary. " Selfish people always say that. Any one is selfish who doesn ' t do what they want. You ' re more selfish than I am. You ' re the most selfish boy I ever saw."