Yours too, you know.
Mrs. Beeler enters, alone, from the hall. She is in a state of vague alarm. Her husband hastens to help her.
Mrs. Beeler.
What is it? What is the matter? I thought I heard—
She breaks off, as a murmur of voices rises outside. There is a sound of stumbling and crowding on the outer steps, and violent knocking. The outer door is forced open, and a crowd of excited people is about to pour into the room. Beeler, the Doctor, and the Preacher are able to force the crowd back only after several have made an entrance.
Beeler.
Keep back! You can't come in here.
As he pushes them roughly back, excited voices speak together.
Voices in the Crowd.
Where is he?—They say he's gone away. We seen his boy makin' for the woods.—Oh, it's not true! Make him come out.