It was as though she was expected, as though they had known she was coming here.
Laura was terribly nervous.

Tossing the velvet ribbon over her shoulder, she said to a woman standing by, "Is this Mrs.Scott's house ?" and the woman, smiling queerly, said, "It is, my lass." Oh, to be away from this! She actually said, "Help me, God," as she walked up the tiny path and knocked.

To be away from those staring eyes, or to be covered up in anything, one of those women's shawls even.

I'll just leave the basket and go, she decided.

I shan't even wait for it to be emptied.
Then the door opened.