"Aw, Benny—. That was different. Honest, it was. He warn't the only one in his family. There was two brothers."
The boy got to his feet.
"Why won't you let me go?" He asked it passionately. "Why d'you keep me here? You know I ain't happy! You know all the men've gone from these here parts. You know I ain't happy! Ain't you going to see how much I want to go? Ain't you able to know that I want to fight for my country? The way he did his fighting?"
The boy jerked his head in the direction of the figure standing waist deep in the corn field; standing rigidly and faintly outlined beneath the haunting flood of moonlight.
"Naw, Benny. You can't go. Naw—!"
"Why, maw? Why d'you keep saying that and saying it?"
"I'm all alone, Benny. I've gave all my best years to make the farm pay for you. You got to stay, Benny. You got to stay on here with me. You just plain got—to! You'll be glad some day, Benny. Later—on. You'll be right glad."
She saw him thrust his hands hastily into his trouser pockets.
"Glad?" His voice sounded tired. "I'll be shamed. That's what I'll be. Nothing, d'you hear, nothing—but shamed!"
She started to her feet.