It came from the barn, a creaking noise.

She looked that way, and saw in the shadowed side a deeper shadow moving to and fro.

A revulsion to astonishment and anger took place in her.
"Land o' Bungay! If he ain't paintin' that barn, like a perfect old idiot, in the night." Uncle Ethan, working desperately, did not hear her feet pattering down the path, and was startled by her shrill voice.
"Well, Ethan Ripley, whaddy y' think you're doin' now ?" He made two or three slapping passes with the brush, and then snapped, "I'm a-paintin' this barn--whaddy ye s'pose?
If ye had eyes y' wouldn't ask." "Well, you come right straight to bed.

What d'you mean by actin' so ?" "You go back into the house an' let me be.

I know what I'm a-doin'.
You've pestered me about this sign jest about enough." He dabbed his brush to and fro as he spoke.