She held the wooden mixing-bowl in her lap, and stirred with as desperate resolution, compressing her lips painfully, as if she were stirring the dregs of her own cup of sorrow.
Pretty soon there were voices outside and steps on the path.

The door opened, and two women came in.

One was Paulina Maria, Adoniram Judd's wife; the other was Belinda, the wife of Ozias Lamb.
Belinda Lamb spoke first.

She was a middle-aged woman, with a pretty faded face.

She wore her light hair in curls, which fell over her delicate, thin cheeks, and her blue eyes had no more experience in them than a child's, although they were reddened now with gentle tears.