"You aren't worried about her, Emily?"
"Oh yes! I'm worried. I'm—sick—about this, Cora. Don't say a word to anyone yet! I'll tell you all about it. I'll tell you what to say to people for me—as soon as I can! I haven't had time—even to talk to her yet—since I saw it in the paper! Martha'll apologize to you, Cora; I'm sure she will!"
"Oh, don't worry about that, Emily! I know just how you feel! Haven't I cried myself to sleep often enough about that boy to understand!"
Emily had opened her red eyes in astonishment at this statement.
"You might be thankful she's a girl. I'll tell you now, Emily, since this has happened—that I've told Johnnie plainly if he doesn't settle down and do some work next term, I'll never leave him a cent. I'll leave my money to charity. I'd rather leave it to the town council to manage. When I think of the man my father was——" She spoke sniffling, wiping her eyes angrily. Emily had to comfort her.
"Oh, well, Cora, he's young yet."
"No, he isn't young. He's at least two years behind most boys. He ought to have finished college two years ago. Look at Jim Black. Look at Wilton! I tried to have a serious talk with him when he came home. If only he'd take something seriously. Why can't he take up medicine? I asked him why he wouldn't take up law and go into politics. And he said maybe he would. He said, Emily, 'Look where Landis got to by being a lawyer!'" She almost sobbed. "He meant that horrid federation of baseball clubs. He was serious about that."
"But, Cora, he is a good boy. He has a nice disposition."
"Oh yes. I know what people say. He needs it, they say, to live with me. But they never think what patience I need. Emily, I'd be ashamed to tell you how much he spent last year. I don't know what to do with him. I can't threaten to take him out of college—he doesn't want to go back, anyway. He'll have to go back! He's just got to get his degree. And now Bob goes and encourages him. He says he'll support him!"
"Cora, Bob was just excited. He didn't mean that. He wouldn't support him a minute, really. He lost his head, really."