There had been Aunt Amy, who had had measles, and the wife of the Dean, who had had something, and even the Bishop once...

But now he was frightened.

There was some perception, coming to him now for the first time in his life, that this world was not absolutely stable--that people left it, people came into it, that there was change and danger and something stronger....

Gradually this perception was approaching him as though it had been some dark figure who had entered the house, and now, with muffled step and veiled face, was slowly climbing the stairs towards him.

He only knew that his mother could not go; she could not go.