"A strapping big chap like you ain't afraid of a little whiskey." "Well, I--I--I got to go right afterwards," protested McTeague.
About half an hour after the dentist had left to go down town, Maria Macapa had come in to see Trina.

Occasionally Maria dropped in on Trina in this fashion and spent an hour or so chatting with her while she worked.

At first Trina had been inclined to resent these intrusions of the Mexican woman, but of late she had begun to tolerate them.

Her day was long and cheerless at the best, and there was no one to talk to.
Trina even fancied that old Miss Baker had come to be less cordial since their misfortune.

Maria retailed to her all the gossip of the flat and the neighborhood, and, which was much more interesting, told her of her troubles with Zerkow.
Trina said to herself that Maria was common and vulgar, but one had to have some diversion, and Trina could talk and listen without interrupting her work.