[General] How do I understand this sentence?

[cubezero3]

Hello, everyone.

This is a paragraph abstracted from a short novel called A Rose To Emily.

It's a sad yet beautifully told story.

But I have no idea how I should construe the sentence in bold.

And as soon as the old people said, “Poor Emily,” the whispering began. “Do you suppose it’s really so?” they said to one another. “Of course it is. What else could . . .” This behind their hands; rustling of craned silk and satin behind jalousies closed upon the sun of Sunday afternoon as the thin, swift clop-clop-clop of the matched team passed: “Poor Emily.”
A Rose for Emily

I'd like to hear your opinions.

Many thanks

 

[5jj]

And as soon as the old people said, “Poor Emily,” the whispering began. “Do you suppose it’s really so?” they said to one another. “Of course it is. What else could . . .” This was said behind their hands; rustling of craned silk and satin behind jalousies closed upon the sun of Sunday afternoon as the thin, swift clop-clop-clop of the matched team of horses passed: “Poor Emily.”

rustling of craned silk and satin: The reference is to women in high-necked silk and satin dresses, “craning” their necks to spy on Miss Emily and Homer Barron.

Faulkner's Short Stories: Summary and Analysis: "A Rose for Emily": Glossary - CliffsNotes

 

[charliedeut]

This is a paragraph abstracted from a short novel called A Rose To Emily.

Hi cube,

Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe the paragraph is extracted, not abstracted, from 'A Rose For Emily'. Maybe someone else will confirm this for us.

charliedeut

 

[tzfujimino]

Or "excerpted".
:-D

 

[charliedeut]

Or "excerpted".
:-D

Funny, Macmillan does not note the existence of 'excerpt' as a verb. Just as a noun (excerpt - definition of excerpt by Macmillan Dictionary).

charliedeut

PS: Other dictionaries (Collins, Cambridge, et al. do, certainly)