She stopped and looked round again with an uneasy feeling.

She could see no one, hear no one, but she began to tremble, and, overcome, she fell on her knees before the door, and, with her fingers on the foot of the little cross, prayed passionately; for herself, for Monsieur.
Suddenly she heard footsteps inside the church.

They were coming towards the doorway, nearer and nearer.

At first she was so struck with terror that she could not move.

Then with a little cry she sprang to her feet, rushed to the gate, threw it open, ran out into the road, ind wildly on towards home.