Mercy's first emotion was one of great indignation: her second was a quick flash of comprehension of the whole thing.

A great wave of rosy color swept over her face; and, without knowing what she was doing, she looked appealingly at Stephen.
Already there was between them so subtle a bond that each understood the other without words.

Stephen knew all that Mercy thought in that instant, and an answering flush mounted to his forehead.

Mrs.White saw both these flushes, and compressed her lips still more closely in a grimmer silence than before.

Poor, unsuspecting Mrs.Carr kept on and on with her meaningless and childish remarks and inquiries; and Mercy and Stephen were both very grateful for them.