In the doorway now he stopped short; then instinctively he stepped back into the shadow.

In the kitchen a kerosene light was burning.

It showed Mrs.
Holly crying at the table, and Mr.Holly, white-faced and stern-lipped, staring at nothing.

Then Mrs.Holly raised her face, drawn and tear-stained, and asked a trembling question.
"Simeon, have you thought?
We might go--to John--for--help." David was frightened then, so angry was the look that came into Simeon Holly's face.
"Ellen, we'll have no more of this," said the man harshly.

"Understand, I'd rather lose the whole thing and--and starve, than go to--John." David fled then.