Publisher's Synopsis
The first part of the Christmas holidays had gone with a roar. The Saxonfamily in conclave agreed that never before had they had so good a time.Invitations poured in; amusement after amusement filled up afternoon andevening; parents and friends alike seemed imbued with a wholly admirabledesire to make the season one gay whirl of enjoyment, and then, suddenly, just after the beginning of the New Year, the atmosphere becamemysteriously clouded.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 andbleached, and hid himself persistently in his study; Mrs Saxon sat at thehead 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 inresponse to their merry outbursts of laughter. Two days later Miss Bruce, the governess, was summoned hastily to return from her holiday-makingand take charge of the household, while Mr and Mrs Saxon set forth to pay amysterious visit to their country house, which as a rule was left severely tothe caretaker's mercies until spring was well advanc
