Everything she had taken this evening seemed only to stimulate her senses and her apprehensions to new vividness.

Her heart beat violently, and she heard every sound in the house.
At last, when it was twelve, she heard Mr.Budd go out; she heard the door slam.

Dempster had not moved.

Was he asleep?
Would he forget?
The minute seemed long, while, with a quickening pulse, she was on the stretch to catch every sound.
'Janet!' The loud jarring voice seemed to strike her like a hurled weapon.
'Janet!' he called again, moving out of the dining-room to the foot of the stairs.
There was a pause of a minute.
'If you don't come, I'll kill you.' Another pause, and she heard him turn back into the dining-room.

He was gone for a light--perhaps for a weapon.