DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had housecleaners come to assess my needs and quote the cost of services. I asked that they wear masks in my home to protect against the spread of disease.
When they arrived, one of them had a mask on. The other put one on, but without covering his nose. I reminded him by saying, "Sir, it looks like your mask slipped."
He covered his nose, but then made very rude and demeaning comments about me and my wife, using profane language, though muttering. I asked them to leave, which they did, with the man still cursing. How should I have handled this?
GENTLE READER: Your would-be housecleaner no doubt saw your request as impinging on his right to -- something.
He might, equally unconvincingly, have argued that the constitutional ban against government interference with free speech empowered him to swear at you. Miss Manners would not have you do other than as you did, trusting that the loss of your business will be a harsh, but in this case, fair, teacher.