About ten o'clock
The light went on burning until its final struggle with the darkness began , when it died with many a flickering throb . Unable at last to endure the suspense , now growing to fear , any longer , they stole across the street , opened the door , and went in . Over the kitchen fire , like an evil spirit of the squabby order , crouched Mrs Catanach , waiting for Jean ; no one else was to be found . About ten o'clock the same evening , as Mr Graham sat by his peat fire , some one lifted the latch of the outer door and knocked at the inner . His invitation to enter was answered by the appearance of Miss Horn , gaunt and grim as usual , but with more than the wonted fire gleaming from the shadowy cavern of her bonnet . She made no apology for the lateness of her visit , but seated herself at the other side of the deal table , and laid upon it a paper parcel , which she proceeded to open with much deliberation and suppressed plenitude . Having at length untied the string with the long fingers of a hand which , notwithstanding its evident strength , trembled so as almost to defeat the attempt , she took from the parcel a packet of old letters sealed with spangled wax , and pushed it across the table to the schoolmaster , saying -- `` Hae , Sandy Graham !