The great thing was to get out of the place, as another shell might follow, the enemy having seen, from the falling masonry, how efficacious the last had been.

So, feeling somewhat dazed, but really not alarmed, as the whole thing had been too quick for fear, I groped my way downstairs.

Outside we were surrounded by more frightened people, whom we quickly reassured.

The woman cook, who had been sitting in her bomb-proof, was quite sure _she_ had been struck, and was calling loudly for brandy; while the rest of us got some soda-water to wash out our throats--a necessary precaution as far as I was concerned, as mine had only the day previously been lanced for quinsy.

By degrees the cloud of dust subsided, and then in the fading light we saw what an extraordinary escape we had had.