Read the following excerpt from a novel. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze how the author uses evidence to develop the theme of isolation. Refer to specific moments in the excerpt to support your analysis.
Excerpt: "The old house stood at the end of a long, winding road, shrouded in mist. No laughter echoed from its walls, nor did the chime of a doorbell ever disturb the stillness that enveloped it. Each window, dark and vacant, mirrored the emptiness that surrounded it, as if time had forgotten the place altogether."
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