It appears that he's on a pleasure party of some kind, and he's not written her a line since he started; so of course she does not know where he is." But to Lois Mrs.Forsythe's illness was something beside interest and occupation.

The horror of her possible death hung over the young girl, and seemed to sap her youth and vigor.

Her face was drawn and haggard, and her pleasant gray eyes had lost their smile.

Somehow Mr.Denner's danger, which to some extent she realized, did not impress her so deeply; perhaps because that was, in a manner, the result of his own will, and perhaps, too, because no one quite knew how much the little gentleman suffered and how near death he was.
Lois had heard Gifford's voice as she went into the sick-room, and his words of blame rung again in her ears.

They emphasized Mrs.Forsythe's despair about her son's future.