She paused and smiled brightly. “Good evening,” she said. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Before Clancy could reply, Arym’s voice said from behind him, “You can wipe that smile off your insipid face.”
Clancy couldn’t believe his cars. He looked around wildly, his mouth gaping.
The nurse tossed her head. “If it comes to that,” she said, “your face isn’t so much, and from the sound of your voice you should be shuffled and dealt again.”
As she passed Clancy there came the sound of a sharp slap. The nurse gave a convulsive start and stifled a scream. For a moment she stood rigid and then turned, her face scarlet.
“That wasn’t a nice thing to do,” she said. “Do you call yourself a gentleman?”
Clancy blinked at her. “I ain’t done nothing,” he said uneasily.
“It may seem nothing to you,” the nurse returned. “But, I’ll have you know that back in my home-town gentlemen don’t do such things.”
Clancy began to get mad. “You’re not the only one who has a home-town,” he snapped.
“I shouldn’t like to visit yours, if you’re a specimen of what comes out of it,” the nurse returned, putting her hands carelessly behind her and edging away.