“Miss Ottman,” she began quietly, “if I’ve done anything to offend you, I wish to apologize.”
Sara turned slowly to face Penny. “You owe me no apology,” she said in a cold voice.
“Then why do you dislike me? I always thought I was welcome around here until today. My father has given you considerable business.”
“I’m sorry I spoke to you the way I did,” Sara replied stiffly and with no warmth. “It was rude of me.”
“But why am I such poison?” Penny persisted. “What have I done?”
“You honestly don’t know?”
“Why, of course not. I shouldn’t be asking if I did.”
Sara stared at Penny as if wondering whether or not to accept her remarks as sincere.
“Do you only write for the papers?” she asked, a slight edge to her voice. “You never read them?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Penny was truly bewildered. “Has this misunderstanding something to do with the bridge dynamiting?”