'_I_ know how these unforetold misfortunes happen.

Some one always comes--and then it's broken to the family.' '_What_ is ?' she asked.
'The misfortune,' said Philip breathlessly.

'Oh, Helen, I'm not a baby.
Do tell me! Have we lost our money in a burst bank?
Or is the landlord going to put bailiffs into our furniture?
Or are we going to be falsely accused about forgery, or being burglars ?' All the books Philip had ever read worked together in his mind to produce these melancholy suggestions.

Helen laughed, and instantly felt a stiffening withdrawal of her brother from her arm.
'No, no, my Pippin, dear,' she made haste to say.

'Nothing horrid like that has happened.' 'Then what is it ?' he asked, with a growing impatience that felt like a wolf gnawing inside him.
'I didn't want to tell you all in a hurry like this,' she said anxiously; 'but don't you worry, my boy of boys.