He made a feeble rush for it in vain.
Hannah marched back into the kitchen, listening instinctively first to him left outside, and then for any sound there might be from upstairs.

In a minute or two she heard uneven steps going away; but there was no movement in the room overhead.

Louie was sleeping heavily.

As for Hannah, she sat down again with a fierce decision of gesture, which seemed to vibrate through the kitchen and all it held.

Who could find fault with her?
It would be a lesson to him.
It was not a cold night, and there was straw in the stable--a deal better lying than such a boy deserved.