And she abruptly seated herself on the big chintz-covered sofa beside the door.
"And it's a lovely child," pleaded Nora.

Her woman's instinct guided her straight to the secret of the conflict raging behind Mrs.Warham's unhappy face.
"The finest girl in the world," cried Stevens, well-meaning but tactless.
"Girl!" exclaimed Fanny, starting up from the sofa.

"Is it a _girl_ ?" Nora nodded.

The young man looked downcast; he was realizing the practical side of his victory for science--the consequences to the girl child, to all the relatives.
"A girl!" moaned Fanny, sinking to the sofa again.

"God have mercy on us!" Louder and angrier rose the wail.