She knew exactly where the coffin was; she knew that to avoid touching it in the diminutive room was all but impossible.

And touch it she did.

Her anguish uttered itself, not in a mere sound of terror, but in a broken word or two of a prayer she knew by heart, including a name which sounded like a charm against evil.

She had reached the mantel-piece; oh, she could not, could not find the matches I Yes, at last her hand closed on them.

A blind rush, and she was out again in the passage.