When Barney had gone he drew a chair up close to the hearth, and sat there, bent over, with his elbows on his knees.

Mrs.Sloane sat down on the foot of the bed, close to the door of the other room, as if she were mounting guard over it.

She kept looking at William, and smiling, and opening her mouth to speak, then checking herself.
"It's a pretty cold day," she said, finally.
William grunted assent without looking up.

Then he motioned with his shoulder towards the door of the other room.

"Ain't it cold in there ?" he half whispered.
"I rolled her all up in my shawl; I guess she won't ketch cold; it's thick," responded the woman, effusively, and William said no more.