He looked about once more. On the faces of Sula’s mother and Caleb Stemmel was complacency, on the face of Mrs. Myers astonished approval, on the faces of the citizens of Millerstown—except the very oldest—there was amazement, but no dismay. There had never been a divorce in Millerstown; persons quarreled, sometimes they separated, sometimes they lived in the same house without speaking to each other for months and years, but they were not divorced. Was this the beginning of a new order?
If there were to be a new order, it would not come during the two months before the squire started on his long journey! He shook his fist, his eyes blazing.
'There is to be no such threatening in this court,' he cried; 'and no talking about divorce while I am here. Sula! Maria! Sally! Are you out of your heads?'
'There are higher courts,' said Mrs. Hill.
Millerstown gasped visibly at her defiance. To its further amazement, the squire made no direct reply. Instead he went toward the door of the back office.
'Adam,' he commanded, 'come here.'
Adam rose without a word, to obey. He had some respect for the majesty of the law.
'Sula, you come, too.'
For an instant Sula held back.
'Don’t you do it, Sula,' said her mother.