The little dressmaker was continually turning about in her place, inquiring of the children if they wanted for anything; inquiries they rarely answered other than by stare, fixed, ox-like, expressionless.
Suddenly the little dressmaker turned to Old Grannis and exclaimed: "I'm so very fond of little children." "Yes, yes, they're very interesting.

I'm very fond of them, too." The next instant both of the old people were overwhelmed with confusion.
What! They had spoken to each other after all these years of silence; they had for the first time addressed remarks to each other.
The old dressmaker was in a torment of embarrassment.

How was it she had come to speak?
She had neither planned nor wished it.

Suddenly the words had escaped her, he had answered, and it was all over--over before they knew it.
Old Grannis's fingers trembled on the table ledge, his heart beat heavily, his breath fell short.

He had actually talked to the little dressmaker.