He was ghastly pale, and shuddered all over.
"Oh, Norman, Norman, speak! What is it ?" He groaned, but could not speak; he rested his head against her, and gasped.

She was terribly frightened.

"I'll call--" and she would have gone, but he held her.
"No--no--they can't!" He was prevented from saying more, by chattering teeth and deadly faintness.

She tried to support him, but could only guide him as he sank, till he lay at full length on the floor, where she put a pillow under his head, and gave him some water.

"Is it--oh, tell me! Are they much hurt?
Oh, try to say!" "They say Margaret is alive," said Norman, in gasps; "but--And papa--he stood up--sat--walked--was better-" "Is he hurt--much hurt ?" "His arm--" and the tremor and fainting stopped him again.
"Mamma ?" whispered Ethel; but Norman only pressed his face into the pillow.
She was so bewildered as to be more alive to the present distress of his condition than to the vague horrors downstairs.