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.
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