The doctor's wife raised the brass knocker. "Well, I'd just as
lieves," said she, resignedly. "She'd ought to be told, anyway; the
doctor said so." The knocker fell with a clang of brass.
Deborah opened the door at once. "Good-afternoon," said she.
"We thought we'd come over a few minutes, it's so pleasant this
afternoon," said the doctor's wife.
"Walk in," said Deborah. She aided them in through the kitchen to the
north parlor. She always entertained guests there on warm afternoons.
The north parlor was very cool and dark; the curtains were down, and
undulated softly like sails. Deborah placed the big haircloth
rocking-chair for the doctor's wife, and Mrs. Ray sat down on the
sofa.
There was a silence. The doctor's wife flushed red. Mrs. Ray's sharp
face was imperturbable. Deborah, sitting erect in one of her best
flag-bottomed chairs, looked as if she were alone in the room.
The doctor's wife cleared her throat. "Mis' Thayer," she began.
Deborah looked at her with calm expectation.
"Mis' Thayer," said the doctor's wife, "Mis' Ray and I thought we
ought to come over here this afternoon. Mis' Ray heard something last
night, an' she came over an' told the doctor, an' he said you ought
to know--"
The doctor's wife paused, panting. Then the door opened and Caleb
peered in. He bowed stiffly to the two guests; then, with
apprehensive glances at his wife, slid into a chair near the door.
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