They soon ceased.
"She ain't half whipped 'em," Mrs.Lowe, who was listening downstairs, said to herself.
The lawyer was in his office; he had intrenched himself there as soon as possible, covering his retreat with the departure of his guests.
Mrs.Field and Lois, removed from it all the distance of tragedy from comedy, were walking up the street to the Maxwell house.

Mrs.Field stalked ahead with her resolute stiffness; Lois followed after her, keeping always several paces behind.

No matter how often Mrs.Field, sternly conscious of it, slackened her own pace, Lois never gained upon her.
When they reached the gate at the entrance of the Maxwell grounds, and Mrs.Field stopped, Lois spoke up.
"What place is this ?" said she, in a defiantly timorous voice.
"The Maxwell house," replied her mother, shortly, turning up the walk.
"Are you going in here ?" "Of course I am." "Well, I ain't going in one step." Mrs.Field turned and faced her.

"Lois," said she, "if you want to go away an' desert the mother that's showin' herself willin' to die for you, you can." Lois said not another word.

She turned in at the gate, with her eyes fixed upon her mother's face.
"I'll tell you about it when we get up to the house," said her mother, with appealing conciliation.
Lois slunk mutely behind her again.