And in that room, the room she had examined so carefully, so close as to seem almost at her very ear, a faint voice wailed agonizingly, "Oh, Lord!" Thankful went away.

She left the comforter and the lantern upon the floor and she did not stop to close the door of the little bedroom.
Through the black darkness of the long hall she rushed and down the creaky stairs.

Her entrance to the sitting-room was more noisy than her exit had been and Miss Howes stirred upon the sofa and opened her eyes.
"Auntie!" she cried, sharply.

"Aunt Thankful, where are you ?" "I'm--I'm here, Emily.

That is, I guess--yes, I'm here." "But why is it so dark?
Where is the lantern ?" "The lantern ?" Mrs.Barnes was trying to speak calmly but, between agitation and loss of breath, she found it hard work.