Her father was dead.

The cook and the maid were sunk in heavy slumber at the other end of the house.

There was no one to help her.

She was alone, and it seemed to her that in the shock of that discovery she realised that she would always be alone now, for the rest of her life.
"What is it, Uncle Mathew ?" she said again.

Her voice was steady, although her heart hammered.