“Tell me. What is it?”

“It’s so obvious! What is she doing here?”

“She passed out last night and slept on the couch.”

“Yes, she told me that much.”

“You don’t think . . . You know better than that.”

“Do I?”

“Stop it. She passed out and slept on the couch. Why make something out of that?”

“Why? Because this isn’t a flophouse! Because she thinks she can do as she damn pleases here. She pulls out the grass as if she’s running the place, she decides what music everyone is going to hear, she doesn’t leave your side the whole night, she feels perfectly free to pass out on our floor, and then she has the gall to come into our room while you’re still in bed and to run her hand under the sheet. Now ask me what’s wrong!”

“Come sit next to me for a minute.”

“No, thanks, I’ll stand. I want her out of here. She has plenty of brass and you polish it for her. Don’t think she didn’t enjoy the fact that you said nothing to me about going to that convention.”

“I was going to tell you about it today.”

“Tell me? Obviously, then, we’re not going to discuss it. It’s all been decided.”

“I have to go, Irene. The bigger the number, the louder the voice. This is a chance for the people to show they won’t have policy pushed onto them.”

“Let’s start determining a little policy around here. First of all, this is not a place for self-appointed rebels to flop. If she wants to try moving in on you, let her do it at your office, not here.”

“She’s not moving in on me. She’s got a slight case of hero-worship, that’s all. She’s a little mixed up right now and she doesn’t quite know how to handle her emotions.”

“It’s not her emotions she wants to handle.”

“Will you stop being so hard on people? I told you last night what she’s going through—”

“I don’t want to hear any more about her ‘political conscience.’ She’s aggressive, presumptuous and ill-mannered. And I’ll tell you right now I don’t like the idea of your going off to that convention with her.”

“And I don’t like the idea of your not trusting me. Besides, eleven of us are going. Come on now, let’s not fight anymore.” He rolled to the edge of the bed and put his feet on the floor. “If you don’t like her, I’ll make sure she doesn’t come here anymore. I don’t want to fight with you.”

“I don’t want you to give in just because you don’t want to fight. I want you to understand what I’m saying about her.”