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“It’s swollen already,” he said with a note of reproof in his voice.”I’ll get some witch-hazel.” But Mrs. Markey had lost her temper.

“I don’t see anything funny about a child being hurt!” she said in a trembling voice.

Little Ede meanwhile had been looking at her mother curiously. She noted that her own laugh had produced her mother’s and she wondered if the same cause would always produce the same effect. So she chose this moment to throw back her head and laugh again.

To her mother the additional mirth added the final touch of hysteria to the situation. Pressing her handkerchief to her mouth she giggled irrepressibly. It was more than nervousness — she felt that in a peculiar way she was laughing with her child — they were laughing together.

It was in a way a defiance — those two against the world.

While Markey rushed up-stairs to the bathroom for ointment, his wife was walking up and down rocking the yelling boy in her arms.

“Please go home!” she broke out suddenly.”The child’s badly hurt, and if you haven’t the decency to be quiet, you’d better go home.”

“Very well,” said Edith, her own temper rising.”I’ve never seen any one make such a mountain out of –“

“Get out!” cried Mrs. Markey frantically.”There’s the door, get out — I never want to see you in our house again. You or your brat either!”

Edith had taken her daughter’s hand and was moving quickly toward the door, but at this remark she stopped and turned around, her face contracting with indignation.

“Don’t you dare call her that!”

Mrs. Markey did not answer but continued walking up and down, muttering to herself and to Billy in an inaudible voice.

Edith began to cry.

“I will get out!” she sobbed, “I’ve never heard anybody so rude and c-common in my life. I’m glad your baby did get pushed down — he’s nothing but a f-fat little fool anyhow.”

Joe Markey reached the foot of the stairs just in time to hear this remark.

“Why, Mrs. Andros,” he said sharply, “can’t you see the child’s hurt? You really ought to control yourself.”

“Control m-myself!” exclaimed Edith brokenly.”You better ask her to c-control herself. I’ve never heard anybody so c-common in my life.”

“She’s insulting me!” Mrs. Markey was now livid with rage.”Did you hear what she said, Joe? I wish you’d put her out. If she won’t go, just take her by the shoulders and put her out!”

“Don’t you dare touch me!” cried Edith.”I’m going just as quick as I can find my c-coat!”

Blind with tears she took a step toward the hall. It was just at this moment that the door opened and John Andros walked anxiously in.

“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?”