"Oh, Gertie, can't we be friends? Can't we let bygones be bygones and start afresh? We both love Eddie—Ed I mean. He's your husband and he's the only relation I have in the world. Won't you let me be a real sister to you?"
"It's rather late to say all that now."
"But it's not too late, is it?" Nora went on eagerly. "I don't know what I do that irritates you so. I can see how competent you are, and I admire you so much. I know how splendid you've been with Eddie. How you've stuck to him through thick and thin. You've done everything for him."
Gertie struck her hands violently together and sprang from her chair.
"Oh, don't go on patronizing me. I shall go crazy!"
"Patronizing you?"
"You talk to me as if I were a naughty child. You might be a school teacher." Nora wrung her hands. "It seems perfectly hopeless!"
"Even when you're begging my pardon," Gertie went on, "you put on airs. You ask me to forgive you as if you was doing me a favor!"
"I must have a most unfortunate manner." Nora laughed hysterically.
"Don't you dare laugh at me," said Gertie furiously.