"That man was very rude," said Marcia.
Miss Eagen looked at her coolly. "I'm sorry," she said, obviously not meaning sorry at all.
Marcia wet her lips. "I asked you a question before," she said evenly. "About you and the captain."
"You did," said Sue Eagen. "Please don't."
"And why not?"
"Because," said Miss Eagen, and in that moment she looked almost as drawn as Jack had, "I'm supposed to be of service to the passengers at all times no matter what. If I have feelings at all, part of my job is to keep them to myself."
"Very courteous, I'm sure. However, I want to release you from your sense of duty. I'm most interested in what you have to say."
Miss Eagen's arched nostrils seemed pinched and white. "You really want me to speak my piece?"
In answer Marcia leaned back against the bulkhead and folded her arms. Miss Eagen gazed at her for a moment, nodded as if to herself, and said, "I suppose there always will be people who don't pay attention to the rules. Jaywalkers. But out here jaywalkers don't have as much margin for error as they do crossing against a traffic light on Earth." She looked Marcia straight in the eye. "What makes a jaywalker isn't ignorance. It's a combination of stupidity and stubbornness. The jaywalker does know better. In your case...."