That was true. They could not have this going on. They considered what to do. But every time Emily thought of the child saying that—of those words "Richard Quin is getting a divorce"—as if the words came fresh out of glory, she had to hold her breath to keep from sobbing. The poor, silly, inexperienced girl, caught in this trap of pain. They sat there bewilderedly, trying to plan—to hope—
Then Johnnie Benton knocked on the screen and walked into the room, as he often did. He was embarrassed about something and dead in earnest. He saw at once that Emily had been crying.
"Oh!" he began apologetically. "I didn't—— I want to see Martha."
Bob, intending naturally to hide the family sorrow from sight, got up and went to the stairs and called up:
"Martha, here's Johnnie."
He got no answer, and repeated it shouting.
Martha opened her door and answered:
"I'm busy. I haven't got time to see him."
"Come in again later," Bob said to him. "She's dressing, or something."
But Johnnie wasn't satisfied.