Tom's building zeal had come to an end with the bed.
Some day he meant to fit in a door and windows, but these luxuries could wait till he got his clearing in better order.
On a stool by the bed stood a wooden bowl containing gruel.

The woman had not eaten for days, and the stuff had a thick scum on it.

The place was very stuffy, for it was a hot and sickly autumn day and skins which darkened the window holes kept out the little freshness that was in the air.

Beside the gruel was a tin pannikin of cold water which the boy Abe fetched every hour from the spring.

She saw the water, but was too weak to reach it.
The shining doorway was blocked by a man's entrance.