He dared not go back into the kitchen, into which the few neighbors they had were apt to come, on their morning's way to Combehurst, to ask if they could do any errands there for Mrs.Browne or Nancy.

Perhaps a quarter of an hour or so had elapsed since the first alarm, when, as Maggie was trying to light the parlor fire, in order that the doctor, when he came, might find all as usual, she heard the click of the garden gate, and a man's step coming along the walk.

She ran up stairs to wash away the traces of the tears which had been streaming down her face as she went about her work, before she opened the door.

There, against the watery light of the rainy day without, stood Mr.Buxton.He hardly spoke to her, but pushed past her, and entered the parlor.

He sat down, looking as if he did not know what he was doing.