She opened the gate at the foot of the lane, and then, swinging it shut behind her with a slam, waved her hand toward the porch. Her grandmother knew that slam; it always brought her hurrying out to greet her darling. Emmeline hastened toward the house.
"Hello!" she called eagerly. "Where are you?"
When no one answered, she called a little louder:—
"Grandmother!"
Still there was no response. Emmeline stopped in the grassy lane, startled.
"Grandmother!" she called again. Still there was no answer. Emmeline approached the door with hesitation. Here the dog and the cat usually met her; but now no friendly animals were to be seen. Moreover, the shutters were closed and there were no familiar crocks sunning themselves on the fence.
"Grandmother!" called Emmeline again, as she put her hand on the latch. "Grandmother, where are you?"
The latch did not yield. The door was locked! Emmeline shook it, pressed her body against it, and called again. It seemed to her suddenly that everything was mysteriously still, that the woods beyond the house were strangely dark, and that the sky was very far above her.
"Where are you?" she called. When no answer came, she ran down the slope to the barn.
The horse and the old-fashioned buggy were gone. Returning to the house, Emmeline sat down on the bench beside the door and thought.