Meanwhile the darkness continued and the rain did not yet fall.

A breath of wind now and then brushed heavily past the house, and sunk into silence.

The minutes passed.
"It will be a happiness if they get here before it begins," said Dr.
Sandford; "it will come when it comes!" "Be there _more_ comin' ?" said the woman.
"A houseful.

We are only the beginning." She moved about now with somewhat of anxiety to get sundry things out of the way, which yet there seemed no other place for; a frying pan was set up in a corner; a broom took position by the fire place; a pail of water was lifted on the table; and divers knives and forks and platters hustled into a chimney cupboard.

Little room enough when all was done.
At last the woman caught up the sprawling baby and sat down with it opposite the broom, on the other side the fire, in one of the three chairs the place contained.