Supernatural murmurs trembled round the house in the moaning of the winter wind.

She was afraid to look behind her.

On a sudden she felt her own cold hands covering her face, without knowing when she had lifted them to it, or why.
Still helpless, under the horror that held her, she suddenly heard footsteps--a man's footsteps--in the corridor outside.

At other times the sound would have startled her: now it broke the spell.

The footsteps suggested life, companionship, human interposition--no matter of what sort.