The Sowers by Henry Seton Merriman — Read

Etta did not move when Steinmetz approached, except, indeed, to push one foot farther out toward the warmth of the wood fire. She certainly was very neatly shod. Steinmetz was one of her few failures. She had never got any nearer to the man. Despite his gray hair and bulky person she argued that he was still a man, and therefore an easy victim to flattery -- open to the influence of beauty.

"I wonder why," she said, looking into the fire, "you hate me."