She had an irrepressible longing for a few minutes' change of scene after her night of watching.

She felt that the crisis was over; and the relief to her mind made her conscious of every bodily feeling and irritation, which had passed unheeded as long as she had been in suspense.
She slowly opened the door.

Ruth sprang upright at the first sound of the creaking handle.

Her very lips were stiff and unpliable with the force of the blood which rushed to her head.

It seemed as if she could not form words.