He was long enough about it to have gone over it three times; then he looked at Leon, and his forehead creased in a deep frown.

The tears slid down mother's cheeks, but she didn't know it, or else she'd have wiped them away.

She was never mussy about the least little thing.
"Father!" she said.

"Father----!" That was as far as she could go.
"The man must have his money," said father, "but we'll look into this----" He pushed back the plates and tablecloth, and cleared his end of the table.

Mother never budged to stack the plates, or straighten the cloth so it wouldn't be wrinkled.