But the front door was locked as well as chained, and the key was in Mrs.Bolton's own pocket.

She sat perfectly silent, rigid, without a motion.

She had known that he would come and show himself; and she had determined that she would be rigid, silent, and motionless.

She would not move or speak unless Hester should endeavour to make her way down into the kitchen.

But just in the passage which led to the top of the kitchen stairs stood the cook,--strong, solid, almost twice the weight of Hester,--a pious, determined woman, on whom her mistress could depend that she would remain there impervious.
They could talk to each other now, Hester and Caldigate, each explaining or suggesting what had been done or should be done; but they could converse only so that their enemies around them should hear every word that was spoken.