Not receiving a reply, she puts on her heavy sack and remarks: "I am
going over to see Miss Porter, and will soon return; it is so damp and
foggy to-night that, I declare, it makes me feel sleepy too. I think I
will follow your example, and retire early. Good night, I suppose you
will be asleep by the time I get back;" and off she goes.

As the night is so very damp and disagreeable, all begin to feel sleepy
long before half-past eight, and go up to their rooms.

Before Dan goes up stairs, he takes the bucket and brings some fresh
water from the pump--which he, as usual, places on the kitchen
table--taking a large tin dipper about half full up to his room for the
children to drink during the night.

It is now about fifteen minutes to nine. Jane has just returned from her
visit, and has gone to her room, which is in the front of the house,
near the stairway, and directly next to Dan and Olive's room. She finds
Esther crying, as usual, for the girl has actually cried herself to
sleep every night since the fatal ride. After getting into bed, she
says: "Oh, my, I forgot to put the lamp out," rises immediately and
extinguishes the light, remarks to Esther that "it is very dark," bumps
her head against the bed post, and finally settles herself down for a
good sleep.

Esther, who has just stopped crying, remarks to Jane that "this is a
wretched night," and says, "somehow I can't get to sleep."

"No wonder," says Jane, "you went to bed too early."

"Jane, this is September the fourth, aint it?" asks Esther.