Hist! there's a star falling outside." He picked himself up and crawled upon the window-seat, clutching at the red curtains to keep his footing.
"Jemmy, she'll die! What was it that old fool said to-day?
The door's closing on us both.

To think of our marching up, just now, with those two letters; and the very sun in heaven cracking his cheeks with laughter at us--us two poor scarecrows making love thirty years after the time!" His wry head dropped forward on his chest.
After this the two kept silence.

The rest of the house had long since gone to rest, and the sound of muffled snoring alone marked the time as it passed, except when Captain Jemmy, catching up another oak log, drove it into the fire with his heel; or out in the street the watch went by, chanting the hour; or a tipsy shouting broke out in some distant street, or the noise of dogs challenging each other from their kennels across the sleeping town.
A shudder of light ran across the heavens, and over against the window Captain Barker saw the east grow pale.

For some while the stars had been blotted out and light showers had fallen at intervals.
Heavy clouds were banked across the river, behind Shotley; and the roofs began to glisten as they took the dawn.
Footsteps sounded on the roadway outside.

He pushed open the window and looked out.