noon
Half a dozen eager voices interrupted each other to tell her . It seemed as if all the inmates of the tenement had gathered on the stairs and the landing to discuss the accident in sympathizing little groups . It was something which might have happened to any one of them . Dena Barowsky had come home from the factory at noon to fix a bite and sup for her old father , who was worse than usual , and while going down the rickety stairs to the cellar for some reason , had fallen . A loose board had tripped her , so that she pitched against the bannister , which was so rotten that it broke under her weight , and she fell headlong into the cellar . A doctor was in the room with her now , examining to find how badly she was hurt , Mrs. Donegan explained . The saints only knew what would become of the family if it should be so that she was laid up long .