And, as she did so, she heard a groan.
There are always noises in an empty house, especially an old house.
Creaks and cracks and rustlings mysterious and unexplainable.

When the wind blows these noises are reenforced by a hundred others.

In this particular house on this particular night there were noises enough, goodness knows.

Howls and rattles and moans and shrieks.

Every shutter and every shingle seemed to be loose and complaining of the fact.