Perhaps he was conscious of this fact, but, if so, it was only in a vague, general way.
His gaze wandered to Barbara, who, with Petunia, was curled up in a big old-fashioned rocker.
"And a child, too," he mused.

"I don't know when there's been a child in here.

Not since I was one, I guess likely, and that's too long ago for anybody to remember single-handed." But Mrs.Armstrong was interested in his previous remark.
"You have let others occupy this house then ?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am, one summer I did.

Let it furnished to some folks name of Davidson, from Chicago." "And you haven't rented it since ?" "No, ma'am, not but that once." She was silent for a moment.

Then she said: "I am surprised that it hasn't been occupied always.