It all arose from his laughing at the girls' high schools, declaring they were useless, while she defended them.

He had spoken slightingly of women's education in general, and had said that Hannah, Anna's English protegee, had not the slightest need to know anything of physics.

This irritated Anna.

She saw in this a contemptuous reference to her occupations.

And she bethought her of a phrase to pay him back for the pain he had given her.