Almost in tears, Virginia put out her hand, pleading to him to desist.

“Stop, please!” she cried.  “Don’t you see how nervous and tired I am?”

At that instant Fanny re-entered with the tea things, in time to hear her sister’s cry of distress.  Turning indignantly to her husband, she said: 

“You behave yourself!  What have you been saying to her, anyway?”

He shrugged his shoulders as he replied carelessly: 

“I’ve been telling her things for her own good.”  Almost viciously he added:  “And I’m going to keep on telling her.”

Virginia rose, her face flushed.  With some spirit she cried: 

“No—­you’re not!”

“Who’s going to stop me?” he demanded.

“I am,” she said firmly.  “I’m doing what I think is right and you’re not going to bully me into doing what I think is wrong.  If you ever mention my going back to my husband again, I’ll—­I’ll—­”

“I suppose you’ll leave us as well?” he said sarcastically.

Fanny, meantime, was making frantic signs to her husband to desist.  Angrily she exclaimed: 

“Jimmie—­will you stop?”

She was about to put her hand over her husband’s mouth to silence him when Virginia interfered.  In a resigned tone, she said weakly: 

“Let him talk.  No, I couldn’t leave you.  I’ve got to have some one to love.  And you know I love you, don’t you?”

“I should say so,” exclaimed Fanny, embracing her.

Taking her sister’s hand Virginia turned towards her brother-in-law.  The look of anger and defiance had died out of her face.  In its place was a peaceful expression of patient resignation.  Gently she said: 

“And I love the baby—­dearly!  Yes, and you as well, Jimmie!  Oh, you don’t know how hard this has been for me!  You see, I’ve not only had my own sorrows and troubles—­and they’ve been quite enough for any woman—­”

Fanny tenderly embraced her sister.  Placing a cup of tea in front of her she said soothingly: 

“Never mind, dearie—­everything will come out all right.”

Virginia shook her head.  Mournfully she said: 

“But I’ve had yours as well—­to know Jimmie lost his position because of me.  To have you come down in the world like this—­because of me; to know Jimmie is just where he started!  To see you—­breaking your back—­at the washing—­”

Standing over her, Fanny stroked her hair, trying to reassure her.  Cheerily she said: 

“Don’t you worry about me.  I’m all right.”

“It’s been dreadfully hard,” went on Virginia tearfully.  “At times I’ve felt that I just couldn’t bear it—­that I should—­have—­to go back, because, after all, I’m only human I And I may have to go back yet—­I may—­” She stopped abruptly and threw back her head.  With spirit she exclaimed:  “No, I won’t go back.  I won’t!” Then, her tone changing again, she said pleadingly:  “But please don’t talk about it any more.  I’m so tired!”