She called, softly, "Mis' Field!" There was no response.

She advanced then resolutely over the stretch of carpet toward the bedroom door.
She opened it, then gave a little embarrassed grunt, and began backing away.
Mrs.Field was in there, kneeling beside the bed, praying.
She started and looked up at Mrs.Babcock with a kind of solemn abashedness, her long face flushed.

Then she got up.
"Good-afternoon," said she.
"Good-afternoon," returned Mrs.Babcock.She tried to smile and recover her equanimity.

"I've been into Mandy Pratt's," she went on, "an' I thought I'd jest look in here a minute before I went home, but I wouldn't have come in so if I'd known you was--busy." "Come out in the other room an' sit down," said Mrs.Field.
Mrs.Babcock's agitated bulk followed her over the gray carpet, and settled into the rocking-chair at one of the front windows.

Mrs.
Field seated herself at the other.
"It's been a pleasant day, ain't it ?" said she.
"Real pleasant.