"Don't, Nan." He yanked at her hand.
"Wenny, you hurt me, you're spilling my coffee.... Look, are you drunk?"
"I swear to God I've never been so serious in my life."
"Hold your horses, Wenny boy, we are too old friends to carry on this way. It's too silly. Do talk sensibly."
"I've been holding myself in so long.... I can't do it any more. I'm going to live like a human being, do you understand, Nan? From this moment on you and I are going to live."
As he jumped to his feet his knee hit the table, bowling over the cream pitcher.
"O, the carpet, Wenny," said Nan in a whining little voice. "Have you no respect for my carpet?"
"Damn the carpet, Nan. I'm crazy about you. I want to kiss you."
He fell back into the chair and covered his face with his hands, his fingers writhed in his hair that was curly with sweat. Nan ran out into the kitchenette and was back with a cloth sopping up the white puddle of milk. She rubbed the carpet tensely as if everything depended on its being unspotted.
"Nan, I'm so sorry to give you all that trouble."