He noticed at once that the parlors were unlit and that the whole building had a dark, unprosperous, unhappy appearance.

A servant woman admitted him, and almost simultaneously Lucy came running downstairs to meet him, for during the years that had passed since her marriage to Harry Hatton, Lucy had become a real sister to John and he had for her a most sincere affection.
They went into a parlor in which there had been a fire and stood talking for a few moments.

But the fire was nearly out, and the girl had only left a candle on the table, and Lucy said, "I was sitting upstairs, John, beside the children.

Harry told me it would be late when he returned home, so I went to the nursery.

You see children are such good company.