I feel more like a man already." "And you conclude I can be of no help, no assistance--" The cracked voice of Sallie came to us up the stairs, the unexpected sound startling both.
"I reckon you all better com' down an' eat." She stood in the light of the front door watching us, and we descended the flight of steps without exchanging a word.

The woman turned and walked in advance into the dining-room.
"Where is Coombs ?" I asked, looking about curiously.
"He done eat already, but I reckon he 'll be 'round 'gain after a while.

You all just help yerselves." We endeavored to talk as we sampled the meal, directing our conversation into safe channels, both obsessed with a feeling that whatever we said would be overheard.

The woman vanished into the dark passage leading toward the kitchen, but no sound of labor reached us from that direction, which made me suspicious that she lingered not far from where we sat.

I caught Mrs.Henley's eyes occasionally straying in that direction uneasily.