...of comprehension

And now she said it straight and clearly. "Joe Saul, I'm going to have a baby - we're going to have a baby."

He did not hear at first because he had not been listening for it, but the words repeated themselves silently in his ears. His face set, looking at her, and the words repeated themselves again deep in his brain. For a moment Joe Saul fought his trembling chin. And then he put his head down on his arms and wept.

[Burning Bright, Steinbeck, J.]