d through.

There she was, standing before the door of the oak parlor, fitting keys.
I knew it at my first glimpse, both from her attitude and the slight
noise which the keys made. Taken aback, for I had not expected this, I
sank out of sight, cloak and all, asking myself what I should do. I
finally decided to do nothing. I would listen, and if the least
intimation came to prove that she had succeeded in her endeavor, I would
then spring down the steps that separated us and hold her back by the
hair of her head. Meanwhile I congratulated myself that the lock of that
room was a peculiar one, and that the only key I knew of that would
unlock it was under the pillow of the bed I had just left.

She worked several minutes; then the moon came out. Instantly all was
still. I knew whither she had gone. Near the door she was tampering with
is a short passageway leading to another window. Into this she had
slipped, and I could look out now with impunity, sure that she would not
see me.

But I remained immovable. There was another cloud rushing up from the
south, and in another moment I was confident that I should hear again
the slight clatter of the key against the lock. And I did, and not only
once, but several times, which fact assured me that she had not only
brought a handful of keys with her, but that these keys must have come
from some more distant quarter than the town; that indeed she had come
provided to the Happy-Go-Lucky for this nocturnal visit, and that any
doubts I might cherish were likely to have a better foundation in fact
than is usual with women circumstanced like myself.

She did not succeed in her efforts. Had she brought burglar's tools I
hardly think she would have been able to open that lock; as it was,
there was no hope for her, and presently she seemed to comprehend this,
for the slight sounds ceased and, presently, I heard a step, and peering
recklessly from my corner, I perceived her gliding away toward the front
stairs. I smiled, but it could not have been in a way she would have
enjoyed seeing, and crept noiselessly to my own room, and our doors
closed simultaneously.

This morning I watched with some anxiety for her first look. It was
slightly inquiring. Summoning up my best smile, I gave her a cheerful
good-morning, and then observed:

"I am glad to see you look so well this morning! Your daughter seemed to
be concerned about you in the night because you had left your bed. But I
told her I