r. In a moment there
was a thick crowd rushing round, amid which Maud was crushed and swayed
without possibility of disengaging herself. The screams of the one
woman, and the terrific objurgations of the other, echoed through the
street. From the words of those about her, Maud understood that the two
women were mother and daughter, and that it was no rare occurrence for
the younger woman to fall just short of killing her parent. But only
for a moment or two could Maud understand anything; horror and physical
oppression overcame her senses. Her fainting caused a diversion in the
crowd, and she was dragged without much delay to the nearest doorstep.

She was not long unconscious, and presently so far recovered as to know
that she was being helped to enter a cab. The cab began to drive off.
Then she saw that some one was sitting opposite her. "Who is it?" she
asked, trying to command herself, and to see clearly by the light of
the street lamps. At the sound of the voice which answered, she
started, and, looking again, at length recognised Waymark.

"Do you feel better?" he asked. "Are you able to go on homewards?"

"Quite able," she answered, leaning back again, and speaking with
strange calmness.

"What on earth is the meaning of this?" was Waymark's next inquiry.
"How came you here at this time?"

"Curiosity brought me," Maud answered, with the same unnatural
composure.

"Had you been there long?"

"No; I had asked my way to Litany Lane, and all at once found myself in
the crowd."

"Thank goodness I happened to be by! I had just been looking up a
defaulting tenant. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you lying in
that doorway. Why didn't you ask me to come with you, and show you
these places?"

"It would have been better," she said, with her eyes closed. Waymark
leaned back. Conversation was difficult in the noise of the vehicle,
and for a long time neither spoke.

"I told the man to drive to Edgware Road," Waymark said then. "Shall he
go on to the house?"

"No; I had rather walk the last part."

They talked brokenly of the Lane and its inhabitants. When at length
Maud alighted Waymark offered his arm, and she just laid her hand upon
it.

"I have seen dreadful things to-night," she said, in a voice that still
trembled; "seen and heard things that will haunt me."

"You give too much weight to the impressions of the moment. That world
is farther removed from yours than the farthest star; you must forge