"For—uh—consolidation," from Maud grandly.
"For—well—some general benefit," from Selina hesitatingly.
"It's in the air," from Maud authoritatively. She'd heard Mrs. Bruce say it was.
Little Judy, quiet as a rule of late, spoke here so suddenly and so unexpectedly, they all started. There seemed no haziness about it to Juliette. They hardly knew her these days.
"Culpepper ... leaned over the back of her chair and spoke softly to her."
"It's an impelling," she said passionately. "We're all feeling it. Woman, I mean. It's driving us. We don't know where it's taking us. But it's mandatory. I wouldn't say it's not instinct."
"What is?" asked Mr. Cannon breaking the silence which this astounding outbreak from Juliette left behind it momentarily.
The young ladies, two of them at any rate, were indignant at his levity. Figuratively they turned their backs on Mr. Cannon and refused to answer him, and went on talking about the morning and its revelations and purposes to the others.