Outside , in the thickly gathering dusk , Caroline Holland and Sarah Spencer were at the dairy , straining the milk into creamers , for which Christopher was sullenly pumping water . The house was far from the road , up to which a long red lane led ; across the field was the old Holland homestead where Caroline lived ; her unmarried sister-in-law , Electa Holland , kept house for her while she waited on Naomi . It was her night to go home and sleep , but Naomi 's words haunted her , although she believed they were born of pure `` cantankerousness . '' `` You 'd better go in and look at her , Sarah , '' she said , as she rinsed out the pails . `` If you think I 'd better stay here to-night , I will . If the woman was like anybody else a body would know what to do ; but , if she thought she could scare us by saying she was going to die , she 'd say it . '' When Sarah went in , the sick room was very quiet . In her opinion , Naomi was no worse than usual , and she told Caroline so ; but the latter felt vaguely uneasy and concluded to stay . Naomi was as cool and defiant as customary . She made them bring Christopher in to say good-night and had him lifted up on the bed to kiss her . Then she held him back and looked at him admiringly -- at the bright curls and rosy cheeks and round , firm limbs . The boy was uncomfortable under her gaze and squirmed hastily down . Her eyes followed him greedily , as he went out . When the door closed behind him , she groaned . Sarah Spencer was startled . She had never heard Naomi Holland groan since she had come to wait on her . `` Are you feeling any worse , Naomi ? Is the pain coming back ? '' `` No . Go and tell Car ` line to give Christopher some of that grape jelly on his bread before he goes to bed .
She 'll find it in the cupboard XXXXX the stairs . ''
In across as for into like of than to under