The night dews were falling upon the mother's head, and the night air penetrating her thin garments.

A shiver ran through her frame, and she felt a constriction of the chest as if she had inhaled sulphur.
Again she rung the bell.
"Does no one know of your being out ?" asked the watchman.
"All are asleep in the house," replied Mrs.Howland.
At this the watchman came up the steps, and struck two or three heavy blows upon the door with his mace, the sound of which went reverberating through the house, and startling Mr.Howland from his slumber.

But not perceiving immediately that his wife was absent from her place by his side, and thinking that his son had renewed his efforts to gain admission, the latter did not make a motion to rise.

In a few moments, however, the repeated strokes of the mace, to which was added the loud call of a man in the street below caused him to start up in bed.

He then perceived that his wife was not by his side.