Crazy Laura, mumbling her toothless gums, her hag-like hands extended before her, shuffling along in the rear.

He heard them go far to the rear of the house, then descend more stairs.

And he went flat to his stomach on the floor, with his ear against a tiny chink that he might hear the better.
Squint still was talking in his loving tones.
"See, Honey," he was saying.

"I 've--I 've broken the spell by going in upstairs.

You should have told me.