Eva Laurence had no appetite for breakfast, and lingered about home long after she should have been at her duties at the store. There was something so unusual in her mother’s going out very early in the morning with a strange man, that both the girls were greatly disturbed, though each strove to hide her anxiety from the other.
Once Eva put on her bonnet, and went as far as the gate, on her way down town; but, after lingering there a minute, she came back again.
“I cannot go, Ruthy,” she said, with keen anxiety in her voice and manner. “Where has she gone? It is now two hours! What can have become of her?”
Ruth could hardly answer. Her eyes were full of trouble; her delicate form trembled all over. She clutched nervously at the cushions, but still persisted in saying,
“Oh, she will be home again before long. Nothing can have happened.”
“I will, at any rate, stay here till she comes,” said Eva, taking off the outer garments she had put on. “I wonder where James is? Mrs. Smith ought not to keep him all night so often. She might reflect how lonesome we are without him.”
“It is strange; he is always sure to run in during the morning,” said Ruth, shaking like a flower in the wind, with weird terror of some unknown evil. “What is that?”
Eva ran to the window—the gate had opened. It might be her mother. No, it was Mr. Ross coming leisurely up the walk. He saw Eva, and smiled. She could not answer this pleasant greeting, but hurried to the door, anxious and breathless.
“Oh, Mr. Ross, do you bring us any news? We are so anxious.”
“About what, my child?”