“Go back and tell him I’ll be down in a minute.”
“Yassum. I spec he kill me dis time.”
Stella finished her hair, sat down by the window and read a novel for ten minutes and then slowly descended the stairs.
The Judge sat slouching low in his chair, and Larkin rose with the instinctive impulse of a gentleman on Stella’s appearance.
The girl stared coldly at her father, noted his dressing-gown, turned hastily toward the stairs and began to ascend.
“Excuse me,” she said to him with pointed insolence, “I thought you were waiting to receive me.”
“Look here, my child, I’ve no time for silly nonsense!” the Judge exclaimed, adjusting the folds of his slouchy robe.
“When you have completed your toilet,” she said with a sneering little smile, “I’ll come at once. Please let me know.”
“Stella!” sternly called her father.
The girl continued without turning her head and disappeared on the floor above.