It was quite dark, but there was a faint glimmer on the opposite wall as if the door of Mrs.Barker's bedroom were ajar to an eager listener.

She flew towards the glimmer, and pushed the door open: the room was empty.

Empty of Mrs.Barker, empty of her dressing-box, her reticule and shawl.

She was gone.
Still, Mrs.Horncastle lingered; the woman might have got frightened and retreated to some further room at the opening of the door and the coming out of her husband.

She walked along the passage, calling her name softly.