"No, it hasn't," Adelle rejoined in her imperious tone. "Fix it some other way."
But the mason continued to pat his rock, looking around for the next one to lay upon it.
"Do what I say!" Adelle ordered, almost angrily, irritated by the man's obstinacy.
Then the mason rose, and with his trowel tapping the rock said slowly and emphatically,—
"I'm laying this wall—and I don't take no orders from you!"
Whereupon, after another shot from his hard blue eyes, he turned back to the wall.
At first Adelle was speechless; then she asked in a less peremptory tone,—
"Don't you know who I am?"
"Yes," the mason called back over his shoulder. "You're the boss up there." He indicated the unfinished house with a wave of his trowel, and went on with his work. He seemed indifferent to the fact that he was dealing with the mistress of Highcourt, and Adelle helplessly retreated.
"I will have you discharged!" she said as she walked away.