What was the matter? Nobody knew. One day the sky was blue and serene—the next, the shadow was in possession. Mr. Saxon looked suddenly old and bleached, and hid himself persistently in his study; Mrs. Saxon sat at the head of the table with the air of one braced to perform a difficult task, listened vacantly to her children's prattle, and smiled a twisted smile in response to their merry outbursts of laughter. Two days later Miss Bruce, the governess, was summoned hastily to return from her holiday-making and take charge of the household, while Mr. and Mrs. Saxon set forth to pay a mysterious visit to their country house, which as a rule was left severely to the caretaker's mercies until spring was well advanced.
What in the world could have induced two people who were obviously worried and depressed to leave town and go down to that dull, deserted house in the depth of the winter? The Saxons discussed the subject with their wonted vivacity, and from the many divergent points of view with which they were accustomed to regard the world in general.

License information: nan
MPAA: G
Go to source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21118/21118-h/21118-h.htm