I--I happened to be looking at it at the time, and suddenly the second-hand began to go slower and slower, and at last it stopped.

You can't think how frightened I was.

I couldn't help thinking that something must have happened at home.

I wrote to Sophie that I would come home the same afternoon.

Of course you know"-- here Cornelia interrupted the hurried and nervous flow of her words to force a laugh--"of course it wasn't any thing but that I'd been up late talking with Aunt Margaret, and had forgotten to wind it.