By nine o’clock the assembly which was gathered about Ted and Eunice in the living-room included Mr. and Mrs. George Babbitt, Dr. and Mrs. Howard Littlefield, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Escott, Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Thompson, and Tinka Babbitt, who was the only pleased member of the inquisition.
A crackling shower of phrases filled the room:
“At their age—” “Ought to be annulled—” “Never heard of such a thing in—” “Fault of both of them and—” “Keep it out of the papers—” “Ought to be packed off to school—” “Do something about it at once, and what I say is—” “Damn good old-fashioned spanking—”
Worst of them all was Verona. “Ted! Some way must be found to make you understand how dreadfully serious this is, instead of standing around with that silly foolish smile on your face!”
He began to revolt. “Gee whittakers, Rone, you got married yourself, didn’t you?”
“That’s entirely different.”
“You bet it is! They didn’t have to work on Eu and me with a chain and tackle to get us to hold hands!”
“Now, young man, we’ll have no more flippancy,” old Henry Thompson ordered. “You listen to me.”
“You listen to Grandfather!” said Verona.
“Yes, listen to your Grandfather!” said Mrs. Babbitt.