"We demand to be treated as equals. The same as the girls in this house," Clarissa said boldly, standing.
Eugenia could feel the cold blood in her veins change to a slow boiling. "And what could you be speaking of?" she asked quietly, trying to not let her voice tremble, showing her heightened rage.
Clarissa began to walk around the room, touching everything with her semidark fingers. "We want to live here. With the other girls. Just the way Iris did before she moved." She swung around and faced Eugenia, showing hate in her dark, flashing eyes. "Before she moved in with you at The Towers," she snapped angrily.
Eugenia could see the reasoning behind all of this. Clarissa felt a deep resentment, jealousy, for not being able to return to The Towers herself even though she had behaved in such an immoral manner when she lived there.
"Now all you girls know there's a space problem," Eugenia said, gathering her skirt up in her arms to sit down in a chair opposite them all. "I only have room for the ones I house already. What can you expect of me?"
Clarissa went to Eugenia and stood over her, glaring. "We can double up. Put each one of us in a room with each one of them. It could work."
"Yes. It would work until the men arrived," Eugenia hissed. "Then where would you each entertain? Out in the hallway?"
"We could all take turns. You know it could be done," Clarissa answered. "Did you know we've been having trouble with rats in that house where we… entertain… as you call it?"
Eugenia gasped as she put her hands to her throat. "Rats?" she uttered softly.
"Yes. Rats," Clarissa said. "Now. Can't you think of any better reason for us wanting to live in this house? I'm sure you don't have rats. And I'm sure you keep much warmer in the winter. The snows are just around the corner. You know that."
Eugenia rose, pushing Clarissa aside. Something was stirring in her brain. She had just begun to realize that what Clarissa was truly after was a way to get back in The Towers.
"Clarissa, don't you think I can see through what you're doing?" she snapped angrily.
Clarissa smirked. "I don't know what you mean, Madam Eugenia." Even her voice mocked.
"Yes you do," Eugenia said, setting her mouth firmly. "You know that you've stirred up this trouble with the girls, knowing there isn't enough room here. You think I'll be talked into using The Towers instead of this house. Well, it won't work. I should have seen it coming. I've heard the whispers. Now I know who was behind it. No, it won't work."
"Then we all refuse to accept any more men," Clarissa said stubbornly, placing her hands on her hips. She glanced quickly toward the other colored girls, who had yet to speak one word of protest. "Isn't that right, girls?" she added, giving them a threatening look.
Silently, they each rose and began to cower away from Eugenia and Clarissa, watching wide-eyed until they fled into the foyer, leaving Eugenia and Clarissa alone, to face one another.
Eugenia waited until the sound of their scuffling feet faded away with the banging of the front door. Then she swung around and pointed toward the path the others had just taken.
"Clarissa, if you don't get out of my sight right now I don't know what I might do to you."
Clarissa's eyes snapped back at Eugenia in defiance. "I'll get even with you somehow. Someday," she hissed as she turned to leave the room.
Eugenia followed close behind her. "And don't stop when you get outside my door," she added angrily, feeling the hate for Clarissa eating away at her insides. "You get what meager possessions you have and just continue on your way. I've tried to be kind to you, but can no longer tolerate your interference in my life."
Clarissa swung around and faced Eugenia. "It is you who have interfered in my life," she growled. "If you hadn't come along, it would be I living in The Towers right now. Not you."
"Just you remember that last statement, that it is I, not you, who is the mistress of The Towers. By doing so, you'll be reminded of your place in life. Now, please leave my house. I wish to witness no more of your pettiness."
One loud swish of her skirt and petticoats, and Eugenia was left standing alone. She exhaled deeply, sighing with relief. She only hoped this would be the last she'd ever see of Clarissa. The real trouble was all that Clarissa stood for. Then Eugenia's thoughts went to the other colored girls. Now that Clarissa would no longer be among them to keep the dissatisfaction festering, surely they would settle down and accept the way of life that they had grown accustomed to. But she would see to it that each room got fresh wallpaper and new, small coal stoves. And rats? She hoped that had only been a ploy of Clarissa's. No one had ever complained of rats, of anything, until Clarissa.
"Eugenia?"
Eugenia turned and found Alison standing in the doorway. Alison who was her friend and ally. Alison who had proven to be one of the nicest, most sincere people Eugenia had yet to meet. Her mouth still drooped occasionally, showing a sullen side to her nature that Eugenia remembered well, but since having been given more responsibility in the house, Alison had appeared more relaxed, more responsible.
"You've sent Clarissa away?" Alison asked.
"Yes," Eugenia answered. "And I hope forever."
"And the other girls?"
"It'll be all right. The girls will return to their normal duties with Clarissa gone."
"Do you think she'll stay away?"