This I took to be Bess.

She had made no move at my entrance and she made no move now.

The woman with the skein appeared, on the contrary, as eager to see as the other seemed indifferent.

I had to buy something and I did so in as matter-of-fact a way as possible, considering that my attention was more given to the woman in the rear than to the articles I was purchasing.
"You have a very convenient place here," I casually remarked, as I handed out my money.

With this I turned squarely about and looked directly at her whom I believed to be Bess.
A voluble answer from the woman at my side, but not the wink of an eye from the one whose attention I had endeavored to attract.
"I live in the house opposite," I carelessly went on, taking in every detail of the strange being I was secretly addressing.
"Oh!" she exclaimed in startled tones, roused into speech at last.