As usual, she was running all at once into extremes.
And above all these was borne upon her, and for the first time in her life, that she was herself a woman! For a long time she sat quite still.

The train thrilled and roared on its way.

Crowded stations took and gave their quantum of living freight; but the young girl sat abstracted, unmoved, seemingly unconscious.

All the dominance and energy of her nature were at work.
If, indeed, she was a woman, and had to abide by the exigencies of her own sex, she would at least not be ruled and limited by woman's weakness.
She would plan and act and manage things for herself, in her own way.
Whatever her thoughts might be, she could at least control her acts.

And those acts should be based not on woman's weakness, but on man's strength!.