Alice spied him, too, and the same thought flashed over both herself and Aunt Eunice.

"Something had befallen Hugh." Alice was the first upon the piazza, where she stood waiting till the rider came up, his horse covered with foam, and himself flurried and excited.
"Are you Miss Worthington ?" he asked, doffing his soft hat, and feeling a thrill of wonder at sight of her marvelous beauty.
"Miss Worthington is not at home," she said, going down the steps and advancing closer to him, "but I can take your message.

Is anything the matter with Mr.Worthington ?" Aunt Eunice had now joined her, and listened breathlessly while the young man told of Hugh's illness, which threatened to be the prevailing fever.
"They were bringing him home," he said--"were now on the way, and he had ridden in advance to prepare them for his coming." Aunt Eunice seemed literally stunned and wholly incapable of action, while the negroes howled dismally for Mas'r Hugh, who, Chloe said, was sure to die.
"She'd felt it all along.

She knew dem dogs hadn't howled for nothing, nor them deathwatches ticked in the wall.

Mas'r Hugh was gwine to die, and all the blacks would be sold--down the river, most likely, if Harney didn't get 'em," and crouching by the kitchen fire old Chloe bewailed the calamity she knew was about to befall them.
Alice alone was calm and capable of action.