“ One of the children sick in there ? ” he asked ask , nodding nod toward the partition .

The old woman pointed point upwards interrogatively and , on my aunt ’s nodding nod , proceeded to toil toil up the narrow staircase before us , her bowed head being scarcely above the level of the banister-rail .

He did not say this , but she understood understand it , and laughed laugh , nodding nod good-by to him .