It gets worse and worse." Her calmness deceived her into thinking herself perfectly sane and sober, perfectly aware of what she was about.

She had left her hat and her bundle behind the door.

She put on the hat in the darkness of the hall with steady fingers, took up the well-filled shawl strap and went forth, closing the door behind her.

In the morning they would find the door unlocked but that would not cause much talk, as Sutherland people were all rather careless about locking up.

They would not knock at the door of her room until noon, perhaps.