Blind with tears she took a step toward the hall. It was just at this moment that the door opened and John Andros walked anxiously in.
"John!" cried Edith, and fled to him wildly.
"What's the matter? Why, what's the matter?"
"They're—they're putting me out!" she wailed, collapsing against him. "He'd just started to take me by the shoulders and put me out. I want my coat!"
"That's not true," objected Markey hurriedly. "Nobody's going to put you out." He turned to John. "Nobody's going to put her out," he repeated. "She's——"
"What do you mean 'put her out'?" demanded John abruptly. "What's all this talk, anyhow?"
"Oh, let's go!" cried Edith. "I want to go. They're so common, John!"
"Look here!" Markey's face darkened. "You've said that about enough. You're acting sort of crazy."
"They called Ede a brat!"
For the second time that afternoon little Ede expressed emotion at an inopportune moment. Confused and frightened at the shouting voices, she began to cry, and her tears had the effect of conveying that she felt the insult in her heart.