"Why, who is that ?" she cried, nervously.
"It's Tommy Smith from Gray & Snow's with some groceries I ordered," said Mrs.Ayres, tersely.

She left the room to admit the boy at the side door.

Then Sylvia Whitman heard voices in excited conversation.
At the same time she began to notice that the road was filled with children running and exclaiming.

She herself hurried to the kitchen door, and Mrs.Ayres turned an ashy face in her direction.

At the same time Lucy Ayres, with her fair hair dishevelled, appeared at the top of the back stairs listening.