It was very dark by the time she left the house, for the night was drizzly; but she knew the windings of Glamerton almost as well as the way up her garret-stair.

Thomas's door was half open, and a light was shining from the kitchen.

She knocked timidly.

At the same moment she heard the voice of Thomas from the other end of this house, which consisted only of a _but and a ben_.

In the ben-end (the inner originally, hence better room) there was no light: Thomas often sat in the dark.
"Jean, come ben to worship," he cried roughly.
"Comin', Thamas," answered Jean.
Again Annie knocked, but again without result.