'What's the time ?' 'It's only just after ten,' was the reply.

'You'll soon run home.' 'After ten?
Oh, I must go at once!' She left her place, and as quickly as possible made her way through the crowd.

Just at the door she saw a face that she recognised, but a feeling of faintness was creeping upon her, and she could think of nothing but the desire to breathe fresh air.

Already she was on the stairs, but her strength suddenly failed; she felt herself falling, felt herself strongly seized, then lost consciousness.
She came to herself in a few minutes in the bar-parlour; the landlady was attending to her, and the door had been shut against intruders.

Her first recognition was of Luke Ackroyd.
'Don't say anything,' she murmured, looking at him imploringly.