“Jest up in the attic. I wanted ter see--” She stopped in apparent surprise. Ella and Jim had sprung to their feet.
“The attic!” they gasped.
“Yes, I--”
“But you mustn’t!--you ain’t strong enough!--you’ll fall!--there’s nothin’ there!” they exclaimed wildly, talking both together and hurrying forward.
“Oh, I guess ’t won’t kill me,” said the old woman; and something in the tone of her voice made them fall back. They were still staring into each other’s eyes when the hall door closed sharply behind her.
“It’s all--up!” breathed Jim.
Fully fifteen minutes passed before the old woman came back. She entered the room quietly, and limped across the floor to the chair by the window.
“It’s real pretty,” she said. “I allers did like gray.”
“Gray?” stammered Ella.
“Yes!--fer coffins, ye know.” Jim made a sudden movement, and started to speak; but the old woman raised her hand. “You don’t need ter say anythin’,” she interposed cheerfully. “I jest wanted ter make sure where ‘twas, so I went up. You see, Jed’s comin’ home, an’ I thought he might feel--queer if he run on to it, casual-like.”