"I will not ask you if you thought I was dishonorable, or simply a fool," she says, ice tinkling off each syllable.

"But if I must be drawn into this conflict, I will ask you instead: why do you fear her so? I thought at first she had given offense, and that was no great surprise. I myself both give and take offense quite easily, I find."

"But it seems to me that although you say you do not want an enemy, you are determined to make her into one."