came
a short cracking sound, and two or three snaps, as of parting cords.

Dudley Venner called all his household together.

"We are in danger here, as I think, to-night," he said,--"not very
great danger, perhaps, but it is a risk I do not wordnetdesire you to run.
These heavy rains have loosed some of the rocks above, and they may
come down and endanger the house.  Harness the horses, Elbridge, and
take all the family away.  Miss Darley will go to the Institute; the
others will pass the night at the Mountain House.  I shall stay here,
myself: it is not at all likely that anything will come of these
warnings; but if there should, I choose to be there and take my
chance."

It needs little, generally, to frighten servants, and they were all
ready enough to go.  The poor relation was one of the timid sort, and
was terribly uneasy to be got out of the house.  This left no
alternative, of course, for Helen, but to go also.  They all urged
upon Dudley Veneer to go with them: if there was danger, why should
he remain to risk it, when he sent away the others?

Old Sophy said nothing until