She sat down and fretted at this delay.

And then, as the baroness appeared to be very animated, Rose went to the keyhole, and listened.

Their mother was telling Josephine how she had questioned Rose, and how Rose had told her an untruth, and how she had made that young lady write to Edouard, etc.; in short, the very thing Rose wanted to conceal from Josephine.
Rose lost all patience, and determined to fly through the room and out before anybody could stop her.

She heard Jacintha come in with some message, and thought that would be a good opportunity to slip out unmolested.

So she opened the door softly.