She regarded Buttle with searching eyes.

She was wondering if any practical ability concealed itself behind his dullness.
If she gave him work, could he do it?
If she gave the whole village work, was it too far gone in its unspurred stodginess to be roused to carrying it out?
"There is a great deal to be done now," she said.

"All that can be done in the village should be done here.

It seems to me that the villagers want work--new work.

Do they ?" Work! New work! The spark of life in her steady eyes actually lighted a spark in the being of Joe Buttle.