"You keep your hands off this case!" Bob cried at her, looking at Emily.
She faced about angrily towards him.
"I'm going to have an understanding with that man!" But she too stopped to look at Emily.
"You leave this to me! It's none of your business!" Bob commanded, excitedly.
"It certainly is my business, and I'm going to see about it!" She turned defiantly to go.
But Emily rushed between her and the door, and she was desperate. If Cora Benton knew all the truth, would she dare to ask for an apology?
"This is my case!" she cried, "If you take it up I'll never speak to you again as long as I live! I'll go over to French! I'll go over to the other side! And if you promise me now—that you won't—not say a word to him till we think it over, I tell you I'll never let Martha marry Johnnie! I'll get him to go back to college! I'll persuade him! Honestly, Cora! Bob, go and stop Johnnie! Find out where he is! Don't let him do anything!"
He obeyed. Standing at the screen door, the two women watched him hurry down the street. Emily turned her head suddenly, hearing a strange noise. Could Mrs. Benton be sniffling? Yes. Into those kingly black eyes suddenly tears came springing.
"Emily—I feel—bad about this! I'm sorry for you! I know how I felt when I saw—about Johnnie—in that paper. And it's worse for a girl!"
"Cora, honestly, I don't think Martha intends marrying Johnnie. I only wish she did!"