"'BESSIE, YOU ARE TO TELL ME RIGHT OUT WHAT IS TROUBLING YOU.'"
"That he should take it himself"—putting her hands over her face to hide the tears.
"What else?"
"That you were not suitable."
"And what else? Why was I not suitable?"
But Bessie could not answer for crying.
"Tell me this"—and Phebe's voice was very strained—"was it because my husband had left me?"