But they must be curious chaps to be afraid of wasps.

Brown opened the door and entered, partly of his own volition, partly because he was pushed by the stout woman.

Then he gasped in astonishment.
The wasps were there, dozens of them, and they had built a nest in the upper corner of the room.

But they were not the astonishing part of the picture.

A young woman was there, also; a young woman with dark hair and eyes, the sleeves of a white shirtwaist rolled above her elbows, and a wet towel in her right hand.