She led the way into the kitchen. The boy followed at her heels.
A lamp was lighted on the center table. The one window was uncurtained. Through the naked spot of it the evening glow poured shimmeringly into the room.
Inside the doorway they both paused.
"You set down, Benny."
He pulled a chair up to the table.
She took a steaming pot from the stove and emptying it into a plate, placed the dish before him.
He fell to eating silently.
She came and sat opposite him. She watched him cautiously. She did not want him to know that she was watching him. Whenever he glanced up she hurried her eyes away from his face. In the stillness the only live things were those two pair of eyes darting away from each other.
"Benny—!" She could not stand it any longer. "Benny—just—you—just—you—"
He gulped down a mouthful of food.