At the same moment a voice came from the banisters of the landing above.

"Who's there ?" "It's I, mother." "I thought so.

And it's like Edward to bring you and sneak off in that fashion." Mrs.Blandford gave a quick sigh of relief.

Demorest's flight had been mistaken for her husband's habitual evasion.

Knowing that her mother would not refer to the subject again, she did not reply, but slowly mounted the dark staircase with an assumption of more than usual hesitating precaution, in order to recover her equanimity.
The clocks were striking eleven when she left her mother's house and re-entered her own.