Why did you say promise?
and what did you mean by looking at me so?
Shall I come out to you ?" "Not just yet," said Rose; she then glided into the corridor, and passed her mother's room and the doctor's, and listened to see if all was quiet.

While she was gone Josephine opened her door; but not seeing Rose in the sitting-room, retired again.
Rose returned softly, and sat down with her head in her hand, in a calm attitude belied by her glancing eye, and the quick tapping of her other hand upon the table.
Presently she raised her head quickly; a sound had reached her ear,--a sound so slight that none but a high-strung ear could have caught it.

It was like a mouse giving a single scratch against a stone wall.
Rose coughed slightly.
On this a clearer sound was heard, as of a person scratching wood with the finger-nail.

Rose darted to the side of the room, pressed against the wall, and at the same time put her other hand against the rim of one of the panels and pushed it laterally; it yielded, and at the opening stood Jacintha in her cloak and bonnet.
"Yes," said Jacintha, "under my cloak--look!" "Ah! you found the things on the steps ?" "Yes! I nearly tumbled over them.

Have you locked that door ?" "No, but I will." And Rose glided to the door and locked it.