mother and child disappeared promptly into the shadows under the trees , and a certain amount of confusion ensued , with mrs. sherston explaining disjointedly to a gathering crowd of interested onlookers that she had just become so distraught , hearing reports of the battle , so terrible , and she feared ... but mr. rutherford 's slave had come to say all was well ... and she thought perhaps ... and so ... and the child would not give over shrieking ... so ... jamie and the governor , shaken out of their nose to nose confrontation , had also retired to the shadows ; i could see them , two stiff shadows , one tall and one shorter , standing close together .