i didnt even hear her make any sound . i dont know , she said , not really wanting to have a conversation yet . the old house settled around them with comfortable squeaks and groans ; in the evening silence she could hear the crickets chirping outside the window , but the familiar noises did n't reassure her . we ate together and i cleaned up after him but i was just another ghost that followed him . was there someone at home , waiting for him ? his crude comment slows the dock-hands down to a crawl . 