"A queer cat!" she muttered, then slammed the door.
It seemed certain to Ronicky that she must have seen him, yet he knew that the blackness of the cellar had probably half blinded her.
Besides, he had drawn as far as possible to one side of the steps, and in this way she might easily have overlooked him.
In the meantime it seemed that this way of entering the house was definitely blocked.

He paused a moment to consider other plans, but, while he stayed there in thought, he heard the rattle of pans.

It decided him to stay a while longer.

Apparently she was washing the cooking utensils, and that meant that she was near the close of her work for the evening.

In fact, the rim of light, which showed between the door frame and the door, suddenly snapped out, and he heard her footsteps retreating.
Still he delayed a moment or two, for fear she might return to take something which she had forgotten.