“Hush!” exclaimed the child, starting forward, with staring eyes, as the voices in the closed room sunk lower and became more bitter, intense and hissing.
“Come, come, honey, you must come to bed. ’Tain’t right to be listening, nohow!” expostulated Sophia, in virtuous indignation.
“Oh! I know it is not! I know it is not! And I can’t hear a word they say. I only want to know—want to know——Oh! I’m so afraid! I’m so afraid, ’Phia!” gasped the child, shuddering from head to foot.
“’Fraid o’ what?”
“Oh! ’fraid of something happening!” panted the little girl.
“You can’t help of what happens, so what’s the use o’ bein’ afeard?”
At that moment the voices in the closed room arose, both speaking together in violent, clashing frenzy.
“Oh, ’Phia! Let’s go in! Let’s go in and stand between them!” pleaded the child, springing up.
“Who?—me? No, I thank you, honey! I’m spunky enough, but I ain’t gwine to part a wolf from a wildcat, dere!”
“Then I will! I will!” cried the brave child, running and flinging herself against the closed door; but it was locked fast, and resisted all her efforts, while the angry voices within clashed together in rage.