"But I am so sure that Mrs. Ocksreider is the very person who would be very glad to receive her for the night."
"You up and tell me to my face you'd disgrace us like that!"
"But where would the disgrace come in?" asked Margaret innocently.
"Where would the disgrace come in?" repeated Jennie hotly. "Don't you see any disgrace in telling Mrs. Ocksreider that we won't leave our mother (even if she is our step-mother) sleep at our place over night?"
"Then you admit that you are acting disgracefully in turning her out?"
"You wait till Danny comes home and he'll show you if you can go against me like this in his house!" Jennie violently threatened, more furious than ever at being trapped by her own words. "Now you leave Mom be till I take her out to the car!"
"No, Jennie, if she goes I go with her—to our friend, Mrs. Ocksreider. Therefore, it behooves you——"
But it was just at this instant that the sitting-room door opened and Daniel walked into their midst.
"Margaret! I've got an automobile at the door. Get your hat——"
He stopped short in astonishment at sight of his step-mother, at Margaret's attitude of shielding her against the evidently furious antagonism of Jennie and the cold disapproval of Sadie.