There was some perturbation in her face.

She had been worried about the unusual duration of Mary's absence.

Mary had not come back with the market basket which contained the children's dinner.

At one o'clock the four elder ones would be upon her, ravening.

What on earth had become of Mary?
The poor woman had not realised how much she depended on Mary, since Mary was always present and always willing to take the burdens off her stepmother's thin, stooped shoulders on to her own.
Now she caught sight of the market-basket.