Did he hear a distant galloping or did he only make himself hear it?
He had bent his head, and Elspeth, looking affrighted into his face, whispered, "I hear it too, oh, Tommy, so do I!" And the Painted Lady had heard it.

She kissed her hand toward the Den several times, and each time Tommy seemed to hear that distant galloping.

All the sweetness had returned to her face now, and with it a surging joy, and she rocked her arms exultantly, but quickly controlled them lest Grizel should see.

For evidently Grizel must be cheated, and so the Painted Lady became very sly.

She slipped off her shoes to be able to make her preparations noiselessly, and though at all other times her face expressed the rapture of love, when she glanced at her child it was suspiciously and with a gleam of hatred.