Then, “What does this mean, Peachy?” Ralph asked sternly.
Julia answered for Peachy.
“It means—rebellion,” she said. “It means that we have decided among ourselves that we will not permit you to cut Angela’s wings. It means that rather than have you do that, we will leave you, taking our children with us. If you will promise us that you will not cut Angela’s wings nor the wings of any child born to us, we in our turn will promise to return to our homes and take our lives up with you just where we left off.”
A confused murmur arose from the men. Ralph leaped to his feet. He made a movement in the direction of the women, involuntary but violent.
The women shrank closer to Julia. They turned white, but they waited. Julia did not stir.
“Go home, you—” Ralph stopped abruptly and choked something back.
“Go at once!” Billy added sternly.
“I’m ashamed of you, Clara,” Pete said.
“Better go back, girls,” Honey advised. He tried to make his tone authoritative. But in spite of himself, there lingered a little pleading in it. To make up, he unmasked the full battery of his coaxing smile, his quizzical frown, his snapping dimples. “We can’t let Angela fly after she’s grown up. It isn’t natural. It isn’t what a woman should be doing.”
Frank said nothing.