About ten o'clock
she said once ; but I made no answer . Towards evening I heard her footsteps perambulating the long passage , and softly turned the key in the lock without Gladys noticing the movement . Gladys noticed very little in that sweet dreamy mood that had come to her ; her own thoughts occupied her ; her lover 's letter had more than contented her . About ten o'clock I went in search of Chatty , and came face to face with Miss Darrell . She was in her crumpled yellow dressing-gown , and her dark hair hung over her shoulders ; her eyes looked bright and strange . I moved back a step and laid my hand on the handle . She greeted this action with a disagreeable laugh .