But Grover was paying little attention. He was looking at Ruth.
"Mrs. Armstrong," he asked, "has he been saying—saying things he should not say about you? Is that the trouble?"
She answered without returning his look.
"Yes," she said, almost in a whisper. "About me and—and my— Yes, that was it."
The Major's eyes flashed. "Let go of him, Jed," he commanded. Jed hesitated.
"If I do he'll blow up again," he said.
"Let go of him."
Jed let go. Phineas caught his breath and opened his mouth. Major Grover stepped in front of him and leveled a forefinger straight at the crimson Babbitt nose.
"Stop!" he ordered, sharply.
"Stop? What right have you got to tell me to stop? By—"