His first emotion was not alarm.

It was awe, as pure and solemn as the high-priest may have felt in the holy place.

Everything pertaining to Julia had a curious sacredness, and this room was a temple into which it was sacrilege to intrude.

But a more practical question took his attention soon.

The family had come in below, except Jonas and Cynthy Ann--who had walked slowly, planning a meeting for August--and Mr.
Samuel Anderson, who stood at the front-gate with a neighbor.