Theheadoftheparishcommitteestalkedintothestudyandthedoorclosedbehindhim。Arumbleofvoicesinanimatedconversationsucceeded。
Mrs。Coffinwentoutintothekitchenandresumedherbusinessofmakingadried-applepie。Therewasahotfireinthestoveandsheopenedthebackdoortoletinthefreshair。Sheworkedbriskly，rollingoutthedough，fillingthedeepdish，andpinkingtheedgesoftheuppercrustwithafork。Shewasthinkingassheworked，butnotoftheministerorhisvisitor。
Sheputthepieintheovenandsetthedamper。And，asshekneltbythestove，somethingstruckherlightlyonthebackoftheneck。
Shelookedupandabouther，buttherewasnooneinsight。Thenshepickeduptheobjectwhichhadstruckher。Itwasacranberry，witheredandsoftenedbythewinterfrosts。
Shelookedatthecranberry，thenattheopendoor，andhereyestwinkled。Runningquicklytothethresholdshepeeredout。Thebackyardwas，apparently，empty，saveforafewhensbelongingtonearneighbors，andthesehadstoppedscratchingforalivingandwerehuddlednearthefence。