She knew very well what was going on behind her back.
Suddenly Tommy took to his heels, Elspeth after him.

He had seen the Painted Lady coming on her tip-toes to the window.

They saw the window open and a figure in a white shawl creep out of it, as she had doubtless escaped long ago by another window when the door was barred.

They lost sight of her at once.
"What will Grizel do now ?" Tommy whispered, and he would have returned to his watching place, but Elspeth pointed to the window.

Grizel was there closing it, and next moment the lamp was extinguished.