"No, take me, mother!"
Cora's voice, at last, dominated the rest.
"Hush! Mother, can't you make them hush? I wanta say something!"
Martha checked the tumult with a warning hand. "Cora has the floor, childern. Let her have her say, an' then you can have yours."
"Silence in the court-house, the cat's goin' to preach!" Sammy disrespectfully whispered in Francie's ear.
"I think it's nice mother'n father 're goin' down to New York," Cora announced. "It seemed kinda funny, firstoff, but I think it's nice. An' they'll have a good time. I'm glad they're goin'."
Sam senior and Martha exchanged a look.
"Good for you, Cora! You're a good girl!" said Sam.
With the eldest sister approving, and praised for doing so, the ground was cut from under the younger children's feet. They had nothing to say.
"Well, Ma?" suggested Martha.