The rifts in the driving clouds were growing larger, and the edges were torn.

I left off roaming up and down my room, like some entrapped creature, and sank down on the floor by the window, looking out for the pale, sad blue of the sky which gleamed now and then through the clouds, till the night had quite set in.

I did not cry, for I am not given to overmuch weeping, and my heart was too sore to be healed by tears; neither did I tremble, for I held out my hand and arm to make sure they were steady; but still I felt as if I were sinking down--down into an awful, profound despondency, from which I should never rally; it was all over with me.

I had nothing before me but to give up, and own myself overmatched and conquered.

I have a half-remembrance that as I crouched there in the darkness I sobbed once, and cried under my breath, "God help me!" A very slight sound grated on my ear, and a fresh thrill of strong, resentful feeling quivered all through me; it was the hateful click of the key turning in the lock.