The younger brother sometimes talked of visiting the sisters, and bringing back news of them to the father at home; but Charles never desired to leave the homestead.

He was a singularly affectionate husband and father, and had been an excellent son to the fine old man, who now had his time of ease by the hearth in the winter weather, though during a great part of the year he toiled in the fields with a right good will, and with much of his old fire and energy.
Humphrey was nearing home now, and started whistling a favourite air which generally heralded his approach, and brought the children tumbling out to meet him in a rush of merry welcome.

But there was no answering hubbub to be heard from the direction of the house, no patter of little feet, no lowing of kine.
Humphrey stopped suddenly short in his whistling, and bent his ear forward as though to listen.

A faint, muffled, strangled cry seemed to be borne to his ears.

Under his bronze his face suddenly grew white.