I could see my mother's astonished look as she opened the door, and heard me in the gruffest voice I could command asking her if she could tell me where Mrs.Rucker lived--and yet, I felt anxious.

Somehow a fear that all was not right grew in me; and when I reached the path leading up to the house I turned pale, I feel sure, to see that there was no light.
I tapped at the door; but there was no response.

I felt for the key in the place where we used to leave it, but no key was there.
There were no curtains, and as I looked into a room with windows at the opposite side, I saw no furniture.

The house was vacant.

I went to the little leanto which was used as a summer kitchen, and tried a window which I knew how to open.