The night was very large, and very strange, stretching its hoary distances infinitely.

And out of the silver-grey fog of darkness came sounds vague and hoarse: a corncrake not far off, sound of a train like a sigh, and distant shouts of men.
Her quietened heart beginning to beat quickly again, she hurried down the side garden to the back of the house.

Softly she lifted the latch; the door was still bolted, and hard against her.

She rapped gently, waited, then rapped again.

She must not rouse the children, nor the neighbours.