“What did you do?”
“I just sat here waiting — then you came in.”
Bertha said angrily, “Damn it, why didn’t you go ahead and fire her then and there and get it over with?”
“Because I wasn’t certain I was going to discharge her at the time. I’d lost my temper and I wanted to think it over. I—”
“But you intended to fire her just as soon as she’d calmed down — just as soon as you could do it without making a scene?”
“I’m not certain that I did. To be frank with you, Mrs. Cool, I didn’t know exactly what to do.”
“You certainly didn’t intend to let her keep on working for you,” Bertha said.
“Well, I wasn’t certain but what I’d been at fault — at least partially.”
Bertha said with exasperation, “My God! How many times do I have to lead you up to the trough before you take a drink?”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand you, Mrs. Cool.”