Thankful reentered the house and stood in the middle of the kitchen floor, thinking.

Then she walked steadily to the foot of the back stairs, ascended them, and walked straight to the apartments so recently occupied by the schoolmistress.

Miss Timpson's trunks were there and the greater part of her belongings.

Mrs.
Barnes did not stop to look at these.

She crossed the larger room and entered the little back bedroom.
The clouds were breaking and the light of the November sun shone in.