The unusual noise and confusion in the house had reached her ears, and she had been told what had happened without sufficient caution being exercised in preparing her to hear it.

In her weak, nervous state, the shock of the intelligence had quite prostrated her.

She had fallen into a swoon, and had been brought back to her senses with the greatest difficulty.

As to giving me or anybody else directions what to do under the embarrassing circumstances which had now occurred, she was totally incapable of the effort.
I waited till the middle of the day, in the hope that she might get strong enough to give her orders; but no message came from her.

At last I resolved to send and ask her what she thought it best to do.