"Now see here!" Emma's voice rose and there was a convulsive sob in it.
"Barbara wasn't hungry, Tad isn't hungry, you aren't hungry--! What's
the matter with all of you! You've got to eat--you've _got_ to!"
Carefully, Joe put the plate and the cup of coffee on the ground. He
caught her in his arms and held her very close to him, and she leaned
against him, tense and trembling, without making a sound. His arms
tightened about her, and he whispered so even Tad couldn't hear,
"My darling! Oh my darling!"
"I--I'm sorry, Joe."
"Emma," his voice was firm, "I know it's hard. But we'll get out, and I
swear that to you by everything that's holy to me!"
Her eyes seemed like live coals as she looked at him.
Miserably Joe said, "Tad, you eat. If you're going to scout up more game
you'll have to."
Barbara, who had been putting the younger children to bed, jumped from
the wagon to stand comfortingly near her mother. Joe said gently,
"Your mother and I have some things to talk over, honey."