She had slept, by the mind's unconscious measurement, a good while, when she awoke again.

It startled her to see that a light came flickering through the cracks of her door from the kitchen.

She slipped out of bed and softly and quickly lifted the latch.

But it was not the house on fire.
The light came from Mrs.Landholm's candle dying in its socket; beyond the candle, on the hearth, was the mistress of the house on her knees.

Elizabeth would have doubted even then what she was about, but for the soft whisper of words which came to her ear.