No, thanks."

"Sit down, child, and be comfy. Oh, would you mind opening that window?
Not supposed to smoke.... Poor Ma Fike--I just can't help deviling her.
Please don't think I'm usually as nasty as I am with her. She has to be
kept in her place or she'll worry you to death.... Thanks.... Do sit
down--woggle up the pillow on the bed and be comfy.... You look like a
nice kid--me, I'm a lazy, slatternly, good-natured old hex, with all the
bad habits there are and a profound belief that the world is a hell of a
place, but I'm fine to get along with, and so let's take a shot at
rooming together. If we scrap, we can quit instanter, and no bad
feelings.... I'd really like to have you come in, because you look as
though you were on, even if you are rather meek and kitteny; and I'm
scared to death they'll wish some tough little Mick on to me, or some
pious sister who hasn't been married and believes in pussy-footing
around and taking it all to God in prayer every time I tell her the
truth.... What do you think, kiddy?"

Una was by this cock-sure disillusioned, large person more delighted
than by all the wisdom of Mr. Wilkins or the soothing of Mrs. Sessions.
She felt that, except for Walter, it was the first time since she had
come to New York that she had found an entertaining person.

"Yes," she said, "do let's try it."

"Good! Now let me warn you first off, that I may be diverting at times,
but I'm no good. To-morrow I'll pretend to be a misused and unfortunate
victim, but your young and almost trusting eyes make me feel candid for
about fifteen minutes. I certainly got a raw deal from my beloved
husband--that's all you'll hear from me about him. By the way, I'm
typical of about ten thousand married women in business about whose
noble spouses nothing is ever said. But I suppose I ought to have bucked
up and made good in business (I'm a bum stenog. for Pitcairn, McClure &
Stockley, the bond house). But I can't. I'm too lazy, and it doesn't
seem worth while.... And, oh, we are exploited, women who are on jobs.
The bosses give us a lot of taffy and raise their hats--but they don't
raise our wages, and they think that if they keep us till two G.M.
taking dictation they make it all right by apologizing. Women are a lot
more conscientious on jobs than men are--but that's because we're fools;
you don't catch the men staying till six-thirty because the boss has
shystered all afternoon and wants to catch up on his correspondence