He half expected a repulse , for the tall , grim old woman had a rather stern and forbidding look , but after gazing at him a moment in a somewhat scrutinizing manner she said briefly , `` You may , if you like . '' Alan took the pails and followed her , the path not being wide enough for two . She strode on before him at a rapid , vigorous pace until they came out into the yard by the house . Alan felt his heart beating foolishly . Would he see Lynde Oliver ? Would -- `` You may carry the water there , '' the old woman said , pointing to a little outhouse near the pines . `` I 'm washing -- the spring water is softer than the well water . Thank you '' -- as Alan set the pails down on a bench -- `` I 'm not so young as I was and bringing the water so far tires me . Lynde always brings it for me when she 's home . '' She stood before him in the narrow doorway , blocking his exit , and looked at him with keen , deep-set dark eyes . In spite of her withered aspect and wrinkled face , she was not an uncomely old woman and there was about her a dignity of carriage and manner that pleased Alan . It did not occur to him to wonder why it should please him . If he had hunted that feeling down he might have been surprised to discover that it had its origin in a curious gratification over the thought that the woman who lived with Lynde had a certain refinement about her . He preferred her unsmiling dourness to vulgar garrulity . `` Are you the young minister up at Rexton ? '' she asked bluntly . `` Yes . '' `` I thought so . Lynde said she had seen you on the shore once . Well '' -- she cast an uncertain glance over her shoulder at the house -- `` I 'm much obliged to you . ''
Alan had an idea that that was not what she had thought of saying , but as she had turned aside and was busying herself XXXXX the pails , there seemed nothing for him to do but to go .
If as at for in near over than to with