"It was, in every way, a risky thing for him to have attempted.

I do not mean because of the odds that he might have to face, but because of the trouble that he might have got into, by forcing his way into a private house.

The scream might have come from a mad woman, or from a serving wench receiving a whipping for misconduct." "I never thought anything about it, Major.

A woman screamed for help, and it seemed to me that help should be given.

I did not think of the risk, either from armed men inside--for I had no reason to believe that there were such--or of civil indictment for breaking in.