This horror, of course, was not long to be endured.

Yet, even so, with increasing myriads of Them all about, rustling and whispering their awful laughs and cries--it was no ignominious rout.

With considerable deliberation he folded the carpet, placed it in the box with his other treasure, and started at a pace which may, perhaps, have quickened a little, yet was never undignified--never more than a moderately fast trudge.
He wondered sadly if Clytie would get up to unlock the door for him so late at night.

As for Penny, things could never be the same between them again.
He was astounded to see lights burning and the house open--how weird for them to have supper at such an hour! He concealed his box in the grape-arbour and slunk through the kitchen into the dining-room.

Probably they had gotten up in the middle of the night, out of tardy alarm for him.
It served them right.