There was no sound from the kitchen.

Kyan, steadying himself with one hand on the pipe, waved the other wildly.
"S-s-sh! s-sh-h!" he hissed.

"Hush! be still! Don't get her in here.
Keziah, you're single and so am I.You ain't got nobody to take care of you and I ain't, neither--that is, I don't want to be took care of--I mean, I've been took care of too much." Mrs.Coffin took another step in the direction of the kitchen.
"He IS loony!" she exclaimed under her breath.

"I--" "No, no! I ain't loony.

I want to make a proposal to you.