Mary Erskine was frightened to find herself alone.

The tranquillity and happiness which she had experienced a few hours ago were all gone, and her mind was filled, instead, with an undefined and mysterious distress and terror.

She went to the fire-place and built a new fire, for the sake of its company.

She took the baby from the cradle and sat down in the rocking-chair, determining not to go to bed again till morning.

She went to the window and looked out at the stars, to see if she could tell by them how long it would be before the morning would come.