“Well,” said Mrs. Field vaguely, “mebbe I'd better.” She fumbled her way unsteadily toward her bedroom door.
“You go help her; it's dark as a pocket,” said Mrs. Babcock imperatively to Lois; and the girl followed her mother.
“They act dreadful queer, seems to me,” whispered Mrs. Babcock, when the bedroom door was closed.
“I guess it's jest because they're so surprised to see us,” Mrs. Green whispered back.
“Well, if I ain't wanted, I can go back to where I come from, if I do have to throw the money away,” Mrs. Babcock said, almost aloud. “I think they act queer, both on 'em. I should think they might seem a little mite more pleased to see three old neighbors so.”
“Mebbe it's the thunder-shower that's kind of dazed 'em,” said Amanda. She herself was much afraid of a thunder-shower. She had her feet well drawn up, and her hand over her eyes.
“It's a mercy Mis' Field wa'n't killed out in it,” said Mrs. Green.
“I don't see what in creation she stayed out so in it for,” rejoined Mrs. Babcock. “She must have seen the cloud comin' up. This is a pretty big house, ain't it? An' I should think it was furnished nice, near's I can see, but it's terrible old-fashioned.”
Amanda huddled up in her chair, looked warily at the strange shadows in this unfamiliar room, and wished she were at home.
The storm increased rather than diminished. When Mrs. Field and Lois returned, all the women, at Mrs. Babcock's order, drew their chairs close together in the middle of the room.