For one deathly instant the two sat looking each into the other's white face—since even the priest changed colour at the sound. (While they had talked the dawn had begun to glimmer, and the windows showed grey and ghostly on the thin morning mist.) Then they rose together. Marjorie was the first to speak.
"You must come upstairs at once," she said. "All is ready there, as you know."
The priest's lips moved without speaking. Then he said suddenly:
"I had best be off the back way; that is, if it is what I think—"
"The house will be surrounded."
"But you will have harboured me—"
Marjorie's lips opened in a smile.
"I have done that in any case," she said. She caught up the candle and blew it out, as she went towards the door.
"Come quickly," she said.
At the door Janet met them. Her old face was all distraught with fear. She had that moment run downstairs again on hearing the noise. Marjorie silenced her by a gesture….