"Well, what have you got her for—to eat, or to wait on you?" Again he thundered: "Annie!"
"Don't be so cross," protested Laura. "What do you want?"
"I want the paper," he growled, pouring out one half-glass of water from a bottle.
"I will get it for you," she said, with quiet dignity.
Wearily she got up and went to the table where there were other morning papers. Taking the Recorder, she handed it to him, and, returning to her seat, reopened the Chronicle. He relapsed into a sulky silence, and for a few minutes there was peace. Suddenly Annie entered the room from the sleeping apartments.
"Do yuh want me, suh?" she asked, with the ludicrous grin characteristic of her race.
"Yes!" snapped the broker. "I did want you, but don't now. When I'm at home I have a man to look after me, and I get what I want——"
Laura looked up angrily. Her patience was exhausted.
"For Heaven's sake, Will, have a little patience!" she said. "If you like your man so well, you had better live at home, but don't come around here with a grouch and bulldoze everybody——"
"Don't think for a moment that there's much to come around here for. Annie, this room's stuffy."