a bunch of lice that don't think you're good enough to invite out with them." He strode to the bedroom angrily and slammed the door.
It was a very impressive exit, he thought, and expedient, too. It saved him two dollars.
In the living-room the five sat silent. Anna wept very daintily into her handkerchief. The men looked pensively out the window at nothing at all. Louise and Lillian smoked.
Billy said, "Let's shove off. We're in wrong."
Lillian smiled at him pleasantly. "No," she said. "You know how Hubert is when he gets back from the family. They drive him nearly crazy. He'll be fine again tomorrow."
"I don't want no friends," said Billy, "who are fine one day and call me a louse the next."
He got his coat and Louise got hers. Billy said good night shortly. Louise kissed Lillian and assured her that she would not hold Hubert's outburst against her.
"It positively won't make any difference," she promised. "You weren't responsible for it." The Fishers went home.
The Sullivans followed as soon as Anna was able to patch up her blighted complexion. They left feeling certain that Hubert was not himself and charging Lillian to call them as soon as he was.
Lillian closed the door upon them, turned out the lights, and went to the bedroom. Hubert was in bed but not asleep.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked his hand as she spoke to him.
