Yet even in that moment she realized that this was only what she had been expecting every time that she had returned from an absence all the winter through.

But to-day found her so shaken and unfit for strain that it was not wonderful she broke down, feeling that this last disaster was too great to be borne.

A moment she clung there sick and faint, while the ground under her feet seemed to rise up like the waves of the sea; then the frightened wailing of Beth and Lotta reached her ears, and steadied her nerves to meet the demands upon her.
"Poor mites, how frightened they must be!" she murmured to herself, then stumbled forward again, crossing the store and entering the kitchen.
'Duke Radford lay on the floor.

Doubtless he had fallen so, and Mrs.Burton had been unable to lift him; but there was a pillow under his head and a rug laid over him.

He was breathing still, otherwise Katherine would have believed him already dead.
"Oh, Nellie, this is dreadful! Whatever shall we do ?" she cried, her voice sharp with pain.
"If only we could get a doctor I wouldn't mind so much," sobbed Mrs.Burton.