"I would like to speak to your husband upon a little matter of business." "He is not at home yet.

I left him in the shop." Almost before the words were out of her mouth, Schmidt had turned and was running down the stairs, two at a time.

Akulina called him back.
"Wait a minute!" she cried, advancing to the hand-rail on the landing.
"What in the world are you in such a hurry about ?" "Oh--nothing--nothing especial," answered the man, suddenly stopping and looking up.
Akulina set her fat hands on her hips and held her head a little on one side.

She had plenty of curiosity in her composition.
"Well, I must say," she observed, "for a man who is not in a hurry about anything, you are uncommonly brisk with your feet.

If it is only a matter of business, I daresay I will do as well as my husband." "Oh, I daresay," admitted Schmidt, scratching his head.