He looked, and in a moment withdrew, and I heard whispering.

The door was gently closed.

Then all was still again.
But I was wide awake now, and thinking.

Clearly the people of the house wished to assure themselves that I was asleep and safely out of the way.
As clearly, it was to my interest to be in the way.

Giving place to the temptation, I rose quietly, and, stooping below the level of the windows, slipped round the east end of the house, passing between it and the great yew hedge.