"We—are—not!"
"Oh, but we are," said Hedgerly. "And I'll tell you why."
Graydon smiled bitterly. "This," he said to Joan, "is going to be good." He looked at Hedgerly. "It had better be!"
Marie Baker shrugged her shapely shoulders and looked very puzzled. "I don't understand," she said.
"Miss Baker, please let me explain," pleaded Peter. She nodded, and Peter plunged into the explanation as completely as he could. Then—
"Peter," she said quietly and very sincerely, "I'd hate to hurt your feelings, but I'm afraid that ... that—" her magnificent voice trailed off weakly as she fumbled with the pint-sized diamond on her left hand.
Peter patted her shoulder. "I am glad you are a sensible woman," he told her. "I'm rather taken up with Joan, you know."
"Then what can we do?" cried Marie.
"I don't know," grumbled Peter. "This is the way I see it; he's ... uh ... our grandson, and—" he looked at her curiously. "Uh ... what's the matter?" he asked suspiciously.