“I do like her,” he said, “but — ”
“LIKE her!” said Mrs. Morel, in the same biting tones. “It seems to me you like nothing and nobody else. There’s neither Annie, nor me, nor anyone now for you.”
“What nonsense, mother — you know I don’t love her — I — I tell you I DON’T love her — she doesn’t even walk with my arm, because I don’t want her to.”
“Then why do you fly to her so often?”
“I DO like to talk to her — I never said I didn’t. But I DON’T love her.”