From time to time she thought her ear was struck with the sound of feet; but the treading, if treading it were, was so soft, that she could never ascertain whether it were a real sound, or the mere creature of the fancy.

Then all was still, as if the universal motion had been at rest.

By and by she conceived she overheard a noise as of buzzing and low-muttered speech.

Her heart palpitated; for a second time she began to doubt the honesty of Grimes.

The suggestion was now more anxious than before; but it was too late.