She went to the front door and stood there with impatience, by turns angry and alarmed.
Her husband had never been so late.

She returned to the bedroom.
'Emily, are you awake, dear ?' The girl's eyes opened, but she did not speak.
'Do you know any reason why your father should stay away ?' A slight shake of the head was the reply.
The deepest stillness of night was upon the house.

As Mrs.Hood seated herself with murmured bewailing of such wretchedness, there sounded a heavy crash out on the staircase; it was followed by a peculiar ringing reverberation.

Emily rose with a shriek.
'My love--hush! hush!' said her mother.

'It's only the clock-weight fallen.