Kenelm Parker had a local reputation for sleeping like the dead.

Otherwise Mr.Hammond would never have dared risk the noise he was making.
Even after the ladder had been placed in position, Miss Parker hesitated.

At first she flatly refused to descend, asserting that no mortal power could get her down that thing alive.

But Caleb begged and commanded in agonized whispers, and finally she was prevailed upon to try.

Mr.Hammond grasped the lower end of the ladder with a grip that brought the perspiration out upon his forehead, and the lady, with suppressed screams and ejaculations of "Oh, good Lord!" and "Heavens and earth! What shall I do ?" reached the ground safe and more or less sound.
They left the ladder where it was, and tiptoed fearfully out to the lane.
"Whew!" panted the exhausted swain, mopping his brow.