There was a door-yard on one side of the house.

She touched the gate-latch as gently as if it had been a loaded gun, and crept noiselessly along to the side door.

Here she paused.

Her heart throbbed loudly; but, in spite of that, she could hear Norah walking about, and rattling the covers of the stove, as she put in coal.
Dotty's courage failed.

What if Norah should make believe she didn't know her, and shut the door in her face?
"I can't see Norah, and hear her say, 'What strange little girl is this?
It _looks_ like our Alice; but it can't be any such a child!' No, I can't see anybody.