They suspected her, then.

A short time ago this would have given no concern to a woman of her common-sense.

But she had a haunting reason to be superstitious now; and she had been seized with sudden dread that this Conjuror Trendle might name her as the malignant influence which was blasting the fair person of Gertrude, and so lead her friend to hate her for ever, and to treat her as some fiend in human shape.
But all was not over.

Two days after, a shadow intruded into the window- pattern thrown on Rhoda Brook's floor by the afternoon sun.

The woman opened the door at once, almost breathlessly.
'Are you alone ?' said Gertrude.