He had seen her do so before, a few times.
When she saw Jerome she stopped short and screwed up her face before him as if to receive a blow.

She did not ask a question.
"I met the team comin' home," said Jerome.
Still his mother said nothing, but kept that cringing face before a coming blow.
"Father wa'n't on it," said Jerome.
Still his mother waited.
"I hitched the horse," said Jerome, "and then I went up to the ten-acre lot, and I looked everywhere.

He ain't there." Suddenly Ann Edwards seemed to fall back upon herself before his eyes.

Her head sank helplessly; she slipped low in her chair.
Jerome ran to the water-pail, dipped out some water, and sprinkled his mother's face.

Then he rubbed her little lean hands with his hard, boyish palm.