John!’ cried Edith, and fled to him wildly.
‘What’s the matter? Why, what’s the matter?’
‘They’re — they’re putting me out!’ she wailed, collapsing against him. ‘He’d just started to take me by the shoulders and put me out. I want my coat!’
‘That’s not true,’ objected Markey hurriedly. ‘Nobody’s going to put you out.’ He turned to John. ‘Nobody’s going to put her out,’ he repeated. ‘She’s — ’
‘What do you mean “put her out”?’ demanded John abruptly. ‘What’s all this talk, anyhow?’
‘Oh, let’s go!’ cried Edith. ‘I want to go. They’re so common, John!’
‘Look here!’ Markey’s face darkened. ‘You’ve said that about enough. You’re acting sort of crazy.’
‘They called Ede a brat!’
For the second time that afternoon little Ede expressed emotion at an inopportune moment. Confused and frightened at the shouting voices, she began to cry, and her tears had the effect of conveying that she felt the insult in her heart.
‘What’s the idea of this?’ broke out John. ‘Do you insult your guests in your own house?’
‘It seems to me it’s your wife that’s done the insulting!’ answered Markey crisply. ‘In fact, your baby there started all the trouble.’
John gave a contemptuous snort. ‘Are you calling names at a little baby?’ he inquired. ‘That’s a fine manly business!’
‘Don’t talk to him, John,’ insisted Edith. ‘Find my coat!’
‘You must be in a bad way,’ went on John angrily, ‘if you have to take out your temper on a helpless little baby.’
‘I never heard anything so damn twisted in my life,’ shouted Markey. ‘If that wife of yours would shut her mouth for a minute — ’