“Ay! not so late,” he replied out of the darkness. Already she could not see him at all.

“Good night,” she said.

“Good night, your Ladyship,” his voice.

She stopped and looked back into the wet dark. She could just see the bulk of him. “Why did you say that?” she said.

“Nay,” he replied. “Good night then, run!”

She plunged on in the dark-grey tangible night. She found the side door open, and slipped into her room unseen. As she closed the door the gong sounded, but she would take her bath all the same⁠—she must take her bath. “But I won’t be late any more,” she said to herself; “it’s too annoying.”