She made a furious gesture, and the cup she was in the act of wiping flew out of her hand, crashing in a thousand pieces on the floor, just as Gertie returned.
"Butter fingers!"
"I'm so sorry," said Nora in a colorless tone. She was raging inwardly at having allowed that beast of a man to put her in such a temper. Why couldn't she control herself? How undignified to bandy words with a person she so despised. It was hardly the moment for Gertie to take her to task for carelessness. But Gertie was not the person to consider other moods than her own.
"You clumsy thing! You're always doing something wrong."
"Oh, don't worry; I'll pay for it."
"Who wants you to pay for it? Do you think I can't afford to pay for a miserable cup! You might say you're sorry: that's all I want you to do."
"I said I was sorry."
"No, you didn't."
"I heard her, Gertie," broke in Ed.
"She said she was sorry as if she was doing me a favor," said Gertie, turning furiously on the would-be peacemaker.