About eleven o'clock
Almost unconsciously he directed his steps to Owen 's house , and afterwards the two men went to every place where they thought it possible she might have gone , but without finding any trace of her . Her father lived a short distance outside the town , and this was one of the first places they went to , although Easton did not think it likely she would go there , for she had not been on friendly terms with her stepmother , and as he had anticipated , it was a fruitless journey . They sought for her in every conceivable place , returning often to Easton 's house to see if she had come home , but they found no trace of her , nor met anyone who had seen her , which was , perhaps , because the dreary , rain-washed streets were deserted by all except those whose business compelled them to be out . About eleven o'clock Nora was standing at the front door waiting for Owen and Easton , when she thought she could discern a woman 's figure in the shadow of the piers of the gate opposite . It was an unoccupied house with a garden in front , and the outlines of the bushes it contained were so vague in the darkness that it was impossible to be certain ; but the longer she looked the more convinced she became that there was someone there . At last she summoned sufficient courage to cross over the road , and as she nervously drew near the gate it became evident that she had not been mistaken . There was a woman standing there -- a woman with a child in her arms , leaning against one of the pillars and holding the iron bars of the gate with her left hand .