Eileen was sitting before the window, a big box of candy beside her, a magazine in her fingers.
Evidently she intended to keep her temper in case the coming interview threatened to become painful.
"I was half expecting you," she said, "you silly hothead.

I found the cheque I wrote you when I got home this afternoon.

That was a foolish thing to do.

Why did you tear it up?
If it were too large or if it were not enough why didn't you use it and ask for another?
Because I had to be away that was merely to leave you something to go on until I got back." Then Linda did the most disconcerting thing possible.

In her effort at self-control she went too far.