ly as he could.

'Is it Emma?'

'Yes.'

Both were silent. Mutimer forgot all about his danger; that at this
moment he should meet Emma Vine, that it should be she who saved him,
impressed him with awe which was stronger than all the multitude of
sensations just now battling within him. For it was her name that had
roused the rabble finally against him. For his wrong to her he knew that
he would have suffered justly; yet her hand it was that barred the door
against his brutal pursuers. A sudden weakness shook his limbs; he had
again to lean upon the wall for support, and, scarcely conscious of what
he did, he sobbed three or four times.

'Are you hurt?' Emma asked.

'No, I'm not hurt, no.'

Two children had come down the stairs, and were clinging to Emma, crying
with fright. For the noise at the door was growing terrific.

'Who is there in the house?' Mutimer asked.

'No one, I think. The landlady and two other women who live here are
outside. My sister is away somewhere.'

'Can I get off by the back?'

'No. There's a little yard, but the walls are far too high.'

'They'll break the door through. If they do, the devils are as likely to
kill you as me. I must go upstairs to a window and speak to them. I may
do something yet. Sooner than put you in danger I'll go out and let them
do their worst Listen to them! That's the People, that is! I deserve
killing, fool that I am, if only for the lying good I've said of them.
Let me go up into your room, if it has a window in the front.'

He led up the stairs, and Emma showed him the door of her room--the same
in which she had received the visit of Daniel Dabbs. He looked about it,
saw the poverty of it. Then he looked at Emma.

'Good God! Who has hit you?'

There was a great cut on her cheek, the blood was running down upon her
dress.

'Somebody threw a stick,' she answered, trying to smile. 'I don't feel
it; I'll tie a handkerchief on it.'

Again a fit of sobbing seized him; he felt as weak as a child.

'The cowardly roughs! Give me the handkerchief--I'll tie it. Emma!'

'Think of your own safety,' she replied hurriedly. 'I tell you I don't
feel any pain. Do you think you can get them to listen to you?'

'I'll try. There's nothing else for it. You stand at the back of the
room; they may throw something at me.'

'Oh, then, don't open the window! They can't break the door. Some help
will come.'

'They _will_ break the door. You'd be as safe among wild bea