She kept on down the street, and she stopped at every door and said, "I ain't Esther Maxwell." Now and then somebody tried to delay her to question her and obtain an explanation, but she broke away.

There was about her a terrible mental impetus which intimidated.

People stood instinctively out of her way, as before some rushing force which might overwhelm them.
Daniel Tuxbury followed her out to the street; then he fell back.
Mrs.Jane Maxwell caught hold of her dress, but she let go, and leaned trembling over her iron gate looking after the relentless black figure speeding to the next door.
She went on and on, all the summer afternoon, and canvassed the little village with her remorse and confession of crime.

Finally the four words which she said at the doors seemed almost involuntary.
They became her one natural note, the expression of her whole life.
It was as if she had never said any others.

At last, going along the street, she repeated them to everybody she met.