Her voice was gentle; she cleared her throat a little after she spoke.
"Good-morning," returned Lois, faintly.
"Is Mis' Maxwell to home ?" Lois stared at her.
"Is Mis' Maxwell to home?
I heard she'd come here to live," repeated the woman, in a deprecating way.

She smoothed down the folds of her over-skirt.

Lois started; the color spread over her face and neck.
"No, she isn't at home," she said sharply.
"Do you know when she will be ?" "No, I don't." The woman's face also was flushed.

She turned about with a little flirt, when suddenly a door slammed somewhere in the house.

The woman faced about, with a look of indignant surprise.
Lois said nothing.