There he stopped short.
A woman was seated in the kitchen rocker; a stout woman, with her back toward him.

The room, in contrast to the bright sunshine without, was shadowy, and Seth, for an instant, could see her but indistinctly.
However, he knew who she must be--the housekeeper at the bungalow--"Basket" or "Biscuit" his helper had said was her name, as near as he could remember it.

The lightkeeper ground his teeth.

Another female! Well, he would teach this one a few things! He stepped across the threshold.
"Ma'am," he began, sharply, "perhaps you'll tell me what you--" He stopped.

The stout woman had, at the sound of his step, risen from the chair, and turned to face him.