caused a great crowd to congregate there. She waited a long time,
getting more and more wet, but it was impossible to get near the
cars. She thought of a cab, but could see none, they too having all
been pressed into service.

She determined, desperately, to start and walk. Soon she would
surely get either a cab or a car. And so she started, staunchly,
though she was wet through now, and trembling with cold and
nervousness.

As she hurried through the driving rain she faced things fearlessly.
Oh yes, she understood--everything. But if he were not well--should
he not have her with him? If he had that thing to fight, did he not
need her help? What did men think women were like? Did he think she
was one to sit down and reason out what would be advantageous?
Better a little while with him on a slippery plank than forever safe
and desolate upon the shore!

She never questioned her going; were not life and love too great to
be lost through that which could be so easily put right?

The buildings were reeling, the streets moving up and down--that
awful rain, she thought, was making her dizzy. Labouriously she
walked on--more slowly, less steadily, a pain in her side, that
awful reeling in her head.

Carriages returning to the city were passing her, but she had not
strength to call to them, and it seemed if she walked to the curbing
she would fall. She was not thinking so clearly now. The thing which
took all of her force was the lifting of her feet and the putting