"When?"
"About a' hour ago."
Sue paused; then she asked, "Was she dressed up, Rachel?"
"Yes'm—she got on her white dress."
"All right," Sue said, trying to keep the thickness out of her voice.
Sue put the corner of the house between her and the woman, and stood for a moment in confused thought. She was too terrified to think clearly; she could make no plan; she felt bewildered and helpless.... She would have to tell Coats—she dared not keep the thing to herself. He would have to be told in the end, anyway.... It was trouble again for Coats, desperate trouble. It was of Coats Sue was thinking, more than of Ann. She would rather have died than bring this thing on him, this long perspective of trouble for them all.
Sue went draggingly to the barn. Coats was in the wagon-shed, shifting the buggies and wagons so as to make room for a new hayrack.
He saw Sue come in, simply that she was there, in the doorway. "Time for supper?" he asked. "I didn't know it was so late." He was looking at the bare space he had made.
"Coats—"
At the husky note he turned quickly and saw her face. He reached her at a stride. "Sue!"