The rain and wind continued; six o'clock came, and Seth should have returned an hour before, but there was no sign of him.

He wondered if Mrs.Bascom had returned.

He had not seen the carriage, but she might have come while he was inside the house.

The lightkeeper's nonappearance began to worry him a trifle.
At seven, as it was dark, he took upon himself the responsibility of climbing the winding stairs in each tower and lighting the great lanterns.

It was the first time he had done it, but he knew how, and the duty was successfully accomplished.