Do you hear?
I'm orderin' you to come out." There was an instant of silence; then a voice from within made answer, a man's voice, and its tone indicated embarrassment.
"Madam," it said, "I--I am--I will be out in another minute.

If you will just be patient--" Grace interrupted with a smothered shriek.

Keziah brandished the broom.
"Patient!" she repeated sharply.

"Well, I like that! What do you mean by--Open that door! Grace, run out and get the--the constable." This command was delivered entirely for effect.

The office of constable in Trumet is, generally speaking, a purely honorary one.