She stood torn with indecision.
Joan's distress pleaded on the one side, dread of some tragic mystery upon the other.

For the first time in her life Joan was in some desperate crisis of destiny.

Her feet and hands twitched as though she were bound fast in the coils of a net she could not break.

What wisdom of experience could she bring to help her to escape?
On what wild and hopeless venture might she not be set?
"Yes, yes," Joan urged eagerly.

"I have thought it all out.