A rumble of voices in animated conversation succeeded.
Mrs.Coffin went out into the kitchen and resumed her business of making a dried-apple pie.

There was a hot fire in the stove and she opened the back door to let in the fresh air.

She worked briskly, rolling out the dough, filling the deep dish, and pinking the edges of the upper crust with a fork.

She was thinking as she worked, but not of the minister or his visitor.
She put the pie in the oven and set the damper.

And, as she knelt by the stove, something struck her lightly on the back of the neck.