Annie saw that Margaret carried a suit-case, which had probably somewhat hindered her movements.

"Let me go, I shall miss the ten-thirty train," Margaret said in her breathless voice.
"Where are you going ?" "I am going." "Where ?" "Anywhere,--away from it all." The two struggled together as far as Alice's gate, and to Annie's great relief, a tall figure appeared, Alice herself.

She opened the gate and came on Margaret's other side.
"What is the matter ?" she asked.
"I am going to take the ten-thirty train," said Margaret.
"Where are you going ?" "To New York." "Where in New York ?" "I am going." "You are not going," said Alice Mendon; "you will return quietly to your own home like a sensible woman.

You are running away, and you know it." "Yes, I am," said Margaret in her desperate voice.

"You would run away if you were in my place, Alice Mendon." "I could never be in your place," said Alice, "but if I were, I should stay and face the situation." She spoke with quite undisguised scorn and yet with pity.
"You must think of your husband and children and not entirely of yourself," she added.
"If," said Margaret, stammering as she spoke, "I tell Wilbur, I think it will kill him.