doctor. A dishevelled woman with a child at her dirty, bare breast had
got in and was talking loudly.

"Just outside the court it was," she proclaimed, "an' I saw it. If
she'd bin 'erself it couldn't 'ave 'appened. 'No time for 'osspitles,'
ses I. She's not twenty breaths to dror; let 'er die in 'er own bed,
pore thing!" And both she and her baby breaking into wails at one and
the same time, other women, some hysteric, some maudlin with gin, joined
them in a terrified outburst.

"Get out, you women," commanded the doctor, who had forced his way
across the threshold. "Send them away, officer," to the policeman.

There were others to turn out of the room itself, which was crowded with
morbid or terrified creatures, all making for confusion. Glad had
seized the child and was forcing her way out into such air as there was
outside.

The bed--a strange and loathly thing--stood by the empty, rusty
fireplace. Drunken Bet lay on it, a bundle of clothing over which the
doctor bent for but a few minutes before he turned away.

Antony Dart, standing near the door, heard Miss Montaubyn speak to him
in a whisper.

"May I go to 'er?" and the doctor nodded.

She limped lightly forward and her small face was white, but expectant
still. What could she expect now--O Lord, what?