No harm tryin'." He pressed a big thumb against the bell Matilda had indicated.
They all sat down, the two officers' oilskins guttering water all over Mrs.De Peyster's Kirmanshah rug and parquet floor.

But Mrs.De Peyster was unconscious of this deluge.

She gave Matilda a glance of reproachful dismay; then she edged into the dimmest corner of the dusky room and turned her chair away from the door through which this new disaster was about to stalk in upon her, and unnoticed drew down her veil.
There was a long, sickening wait.

Plainly William had gone to bed, and had to dress before he could answer the bell.
At length, however, William appeared.

He started at sight of the four figures; then his gaze fastened on Matilda and grew hard.