There was an unsuspected listener to this conversation . Lawrence had come in from the field for a drink , and was standing in the open kitchen doorway , within easy earshot of the women 's shrill tones . He had never doubted his mother 's word at any time in his life , but now he knew beyond doubt that there had been crooked work somewhere . He shrank from believing his mother untrue , yet where else could the crookedness come in ? When Mrs. Eastman had gone to the kitchen to prepare dinner , Maggie Hatfield was startled by the appearance of Lawrence at the low open window of the sitting-room . `` Mercy me , how you scared me ! '' she exclaimed nervously . `` Maggie , '' said Lawrence seriously , `` I want to ask you a question . Did Bessy Houghton ever say anything to you about me or did you ever say that she did ? Give me a straight answer . '' The dressmaker peered at him curiously . `` No . Bessy never so much as mentioned your name to me , '' she said , `` and I never heard that she did to anyone else . Why ? '' `` Thank you . That was all I wanted to know , '' said Lawrence , ignoring her question , and disappearing as suddenly as he had come . That evening at moonrise he passed through the kitchen dressed in his Sunday best . His mother met him at the door . `` Where are you going ? '' she asked querulously .
XXXXX looked her squarely in the face with accusing eyes , before which her own quailed .
Bessy Eastman Houghton Lawrence Maggie crookedness dressmaker earshot moonrise sitting-room