10 Chapter 10

"I've a thousand reasons and ways to make you."

"You can't. I'm my own mistress. You have no right over me at all. You have no claim on me. You haven't even had that ordinary brotherly affection, for you have never given me any, so you cannot expect it from me. We needn't make any pretence about it, I am not going to argue any more. I will not go back to Iwagakure."

"If you are afraid of being laughed at——" he sneered; but she took him up swiftly.

"I am not afraid of being laughed at. Only cowards are afraid of that, and I am not a coward."

"Hana, listen to reason!"

"Kiba! I have said my last word. Nothing will alter my determination to go on this trip. Your arguments do not convince me, who know you. It is your own considerations and not mine that are at the bottom of your objections. You do not deny it, because you can't, because it is true."

They were facing each other across the little table. An angry flush rose in Sir Kiba's face, and his eyeglasses fell with a little sharp tinkle as he slammed the table.

"You're a damned stubborn little devil!" he said furiously.

She looked at him steadily, her scornful mouth firm as his own. "I am what you have made me," she said slowly. "Why quarrel with the result? You have brought me up to ignore the restrictions attached to my gender; you now round them up on me and throw them at my face. All my life you have set me an example of selfishness and stubborness. How can you wonder that I have profited by it? You have made me as hard as yourself, and you now profess surprise at the determination your training has forced upon me. You are illogical. It is your fault, not mine. There was bound to be a clash some day. It has come sooner than I expected, that's all. Up till now my inclinations have gone with yours, but this seems to be the parting of the ways. As I reminded you before, I am my own mistress, and I won't let anyone or anything interfere with my business. Please understand that clearly, Kiba. I don't want to argue any more. I will join you in Lightning Country as I promised. I am not in the habit of breaking my promises, but my life is my own to deal with, and I will deal with it exactly as I wish and not as any one else wishes. I will do what I choose when and how I choose, and I will never obey any will but my own."