But , slowly , slowly , as the Carrier sat brooding on his hearth , now cold and dark , other and fiercer thoughts began to rise within him , as an angry wind comes rising in the night . The Stranger was beneath his outraged roof . Three steps would take him to his chamber door . One blow would beat it in . `` You might do murder before you know it , '' Tackleton had said . How could it be murder , if he gave the villain time to grapple with him hand to hand ? He was the younger man . It was an ill-timed thought , bad for the dark mood of his mind . It was an angry thought , goading him to some avenging act , that should change the cheerful house into a haunted place which lonely travellers would dread to pass by night ; and where the timid would see shadows struggling in the ruined windows when the moon was dim , and hear wild noises in the stormy weather . He was the younger man ! Yes , yes ; some lover who had won the heart that he had never touched . Some lover of her early choice , of whom she had thought and dreamed , for whom she had pined and pined , when he had fancied her so happy by his side . Oh , agony to think of it ! She had been above-stairs with the Baby ; getting it to bed . As he sat brooding on the hearth , she came close beside him , without his knowledge -- in the turning of the rack of his great misery , he lost all other sounds -- and put her little stool at his feet . He only knew it when he felt her hand upon his own , and saw her looking up into his face . With wonder ? No . It was his first impression , and he was fain to look at her again , to set it right . No , not with wonder .
With an eager and inquiring look ; but not XXXXX wonder .
as at beneath beside by into that to upon with