Mrs. Dent gave a strange, long, half-lidded glance at her. She was
finishing her coffee.

"Why?" she asked.

"I'm going over there and find out if they have heard anything from
her daughter and Agnes since they went away. I don't like what I
heard last night."

"You must have been dreaming."

"It don't make any odds whether I was or not. Does she play 'The
Maiden's Prayer' on the piano? I want to know."

"What if she does? She plays it a little, I believe. I don't
know. She don't half play it, anyhow; she ain't got an ear."

"That wasn't half played last night. I don't like such things
happening. I ain't superstitious, but I don't like it. I'm going.
Where do the Slocums live?"

"You go down the road over the bridge past the old grist mill, then
you turn to the left; it's the only house for half a mile. You
can't miss it. It has a barn with a ship in full sail on the cupola."

"Well, I'm going. I don't feel easy."

About two hours later Rebecca returned. There were red spots on
her cheeks. She looked wild. "I've been there," she said, "and
there isn't a soul at home. Something HAS happened."