When her mind, anticipating the answering ring of the conductor's ticket-puncher, realized the mistake, she raised her head, then twisted back, electrically, as though some current had been passed through her body.

Seated on the bench at the other side of the passage-way, was the man whom she had found in King Street outside the premises of Bonsfield & Co.
Her first thought was to get off the 'bus.

She made a preparatory movement, leaning forward with her hand upon the back of the seat in front of her.

Possibly the man saw it and had no desire to be foiled a second time.

Whatever may have been his purpose, he moved nearer to her and held out the umbrella with which he was sheltering himself.
"You'd better let me lend you an umbrella--hadn't you ?" he said.
There is a quality of voice that commands.