She lived always in a state of dread of some disaster or disgrace, and instinct told her that one or the other had come.
The man went down the steps to meet her.

Jessie stood waiting at the door; she would have gone forward too, but that she was shaking so, she felt she should never get down the steps.

So she stood there supporting herself by the door, and watched her mother's face, and saw the shocked look that came over it.

She could not hear all that was said, but she caught fragments of sentences, "Come at once"-- "alive when I left." "Searching him for his name and address, but I knew Harry--and came along to prepare you.

He's at St.Mary's." Mrs.Lang came up to the door to Jessie, holding out her basket and umbrella for her to take.