With a faint, wailing cry, she dropped into a chair; her head fell forward on the table, and she burst passionately into tears.
Captain Wragge was on his feet in a moment.

She shuddered as he came near her, and waved him back vehemently with her hand.

"Leave me!" she said; "leave me a minute by myself!" The compliant Wragge retired to the front room; looked out of the window; and whistled under his breath.
"The family spirit again!" he said.

"Complicated by hysterics." After waiting a minute or two he returned to make inquiries.
"Is there anything I can offer you ?" he asked.

"Cold water?
burned feathers?
smelling salts?
medical assistance?
Shall I summon Mrs.
Wragge?
Shall we put it off till to-morrow ?" She started up, wild and flushed, with a desperate s elf-command in her face, with an angry resolution in her manner.
"No!" she said.