So absolutely still
and motionless was he that in spite of the moon they might well have
overlooked him were it not for that tell-tale light behind.
"Good heaven!" gasped Bertha, "it is a burglar."
But her sister set her mouth grimly and shook her head. "We shall see,"
she whispered. "It may be something worse."
Swiftly and furtively the man stood suddenly erect, and began to push
the window slowly up. Then he put one knee upon the sash, glanced round
to see that all was safe, and climbed over into the room. As he did so
he had to push the blind aside. Then the two spectators saw where the
light came from. Mrs. Westmacott was standing, as rigid as a statue, in
the center of the room, with a lighted taper in her right hand. For an
instant they caught a glimpse of her stern face and her white collar.
Then the blind fell back into position, and the two figures disappeared
from their view.
"Oh, that dreadful woman!" cried Monica. "That dreadful, dreadful
woman! She was waiting for him. You saw it with your own eyes, sister
Bertha!"
"Hush, dear, hush and listen!" said her more charitable companion. They
pushed their own window up once more, and watched from behind the
curtains.
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