"
"No, NO."
"You ain't going to make small of me this time. Give me that money."
"NO."
"For the last time, will you give me that money?"
"No."
"You won't, huh? You won't give me it? For the last time."
"No, NO."
Usually the dentist was slow in his movements, but now the alcohol had
awakened in him an ape-like agility. He kept his small eyes upon her,
and all at once sent his fist into the middle of her face with the
suddenness of a relaxed spring.
Beside herself with terror, Trina turned and fought him back; fought for
her miserable life with the exasperation and strength of a harassed cat;
and with such energy and such wild, unnatural force, that even McTeague
for the moment drew back from her. But her resistance was the one thing
to drive him to the top of his fury. He came back at her again, his eyes
drawn to two fine twinkling points, and his enormous fists, clenched
till the knuckles whitened, raised in the air.
Then it became abominable.
In the schoolroom outside, behind the coal scuttle, the cat listened to
the sounds of stamping and struggling and the muffled noise of blows,
wildly terrified, his eyes bulging like brass knobs. At last the sounds
stopped on a sudden; he heard nothing more.
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