and felt for something that would tell her that she was still at home.
Her feet made no sound, and only her hurried breathing broke the
silence.

Through the open door to the sitting-room, and down the wall to the
right-on and on she crept.

Here and there a familiar chair or stand met her groping hands and held
them hesitatingly for a moment, only to release them to the terror of an
unfamiliar corner or window-sill.

The blind woman herself had long since lost all realization of what she
was doing. There was only the frenzied longing to find her own. She did
not hesitate even at the outer door of the apartment, but turned the key
with shaking hands and stepped fearlessly into the hall. The next moment
there came a scream and a heavy fall. The Whitmore apartment was just at
the head of the stairs, and almost the first step of the blind woman had
been off into space.

* * * * *

When Mrs. Whitmore regained consciousness she was alone in her own bed.

Out in the sitting-room, Margaret, Katherine, and the doctor talked
together in low tones. At last the girls hurried into the kitchen, and
the doctor turned and entered the bedroom. With a low ejaculation he
hurried forward.

Mrs. Whitmore flung out her arm and clutched his hand; then she lay back
on the pillow and closed her eyes.