Could it be that the child still loved that man so? What else could it be?
"You mustn't say such things, Martie! Martha, why didn't you say to them you weren't trying to buy—anything. Were you?"
"Yes, yes. I've got to die."
Emily's hand was stroking her arms tenderly.
Suddenly Martha simply cried out, "Oh, can't you understand?"
"I may be stupid. I don't know what this means!"
"I'll say it, then. I'll say it to you!"
Finally she did say it.
"I'm going to have a baby. I can't——"
The arm that was around Martha fell away. The hand that was stroking her ceased its motion. Emily knelt there, against the coat, against the chair; she went on kneeling there, and moments passed.