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startling flashes caused her； only made her more conscious of her
own courage and its contrast with the uneasiness of Gertrude； who
at last； shrinking from a forked zigzag of blue flame； said：
〃Let us go back to bed； Agatha。 I feel sure that we are not safe
here。〃
〃Quite as safe as in bed； where we cannot see anything。 How the
house shakes！ I believe the rain will batter in the windows
before〃
〃Hush；〃 whispered Gertrude； catching her arm in terror。 〃What was
that？〃
〃What？〃
〃I am sure I heard the bellthe gate bell。 Oh； do let us go back
to bed。〃
〃Nonsense！ Who would be out on such a night as this？ Perhaps the
wind rang it。〃
They waited for a few moments； Gertrude trembling； and Agatha
feeling； as she listened in the darkness； a sensation familiar to
persons who are afraid of ghosts。 Presently a veiled clangor
mingled with the wind。 A few sharp and urgent snatches of it came
unmistakably from the bell at the gate of the college grounds。 It
was a loud bell； used to summon a servant from the college to
open the gates； for though there was a porter's lodge； it was
uninhabited。
〃Who on earth can it be？〃 said Agatha。 〃Can't they find the
wicket； the idiots？〃
〃Oh； I hope not！ Do come upstairs； Agatha。〃
〃No； I won't。 Go you； if you like。〃 But Gertrude was afraid to go
alone。 〃I think I had better waken Miss Wilson； and tell her；〃
continued Agatha。 〃It seems awful to shut anybody out on such a
night as this。〃
〃But we don't know who it is。〃
〃Well； I suppose you are not afraid of them； in any case；〃 said
Agatha； knowing the contrary； but recognizing the convenience of
shaming Gertrude into silence。
They listened again。 The storm was now very boisterous； and they
could not hear the bell。 Suddenly there was a loud knocking at
the house door。 Gertrude screamed； and her cry was echoed from
the rooms above； where several girls had heard the knocking also；
and had been driven by it into the state of mind which
accompanies the climax of a nightmare。 Then a candle flickered on
the stairs； and Miss Wilson's voice； reassuringly firm； was
heard。
〃Who is that？〃
〃It is I； Miss Wilson； and Gertrude。 We have been watching the
storm； and there is some one knocking at the〃 A tremendous
battery with the knocker； followed by a sound； confused by the
gale； as of a man shouting； interrupted her。
〃They had better not open the door；〃 said Miss Wilson； in some
alarm。 〃You are very imprudent； Agatha； to stand here。 You will
catch your death ofDear me！ What can be the matter？ She hurried
down； followed by Agatha； Gertrude； and some of the braver
students； to the hall； where they found a few shivering servants
watching the housekeeper； who was at the keyhole of the house
door； querulously asking who was there。 She was evidently not
heard by those without； for the knocking recommenced whilst she
was speaking； and she recoiled as if she had received a blow on
the mouth。 Miss Wilson then rattled the chain to attract
attention； and demanded again who was there。
〃Let us in；〃 was returned in a hollow shout through the keyhole。
〃There is a dying woman and three children here。 Open the door。〃
Miss Wilson lost her presence of mind。 To gain time； she replied；
〃II can't hear you。 What do you say？〃
〃Damnation！〃 said the voice； speaking this time to some one
outside。 〃They can't hear。〃 And the knocking recommenced with
increased urgency。 Agatha； excited； caught Miss Wilson's dressing
gown； and repeated to her what the voice had said。 Miss Wilson
had heard distinctly enough； and she felt； without knowing
clearly why； that the door must be opened； but she was almost
over…mastered by a vague dread of what was to follow。 She began
to undo the chain； and Agatha helped with the bolts。 Two of the
servants exclaimed that they were all about to be murdered in
their beds； and ran away。 A few of the students seemed inclined
to follow their example。 At last the door； loosed； was blown wide
open； flinging Miss Wilson and Agatha back； and admitting a
whirlwind that tore round the hall； snatched at the women's
draperies； and blew out the lights。 Agatha； by a hash of
lightning； saw for an instant two men straining at the door like
sailors at a capstan。 Then she knew by the cessation of the
whirlwind that they had shut it。 Matches were struck； the candles
relighted； and the newcomers clearly perceived。
Smilash； bareheaded； without a coat； his corduroy vest and
trousers heavy with rain； a rough…looking； middle…aged man；
poorly dressed like a shepherd； wet as Smilash； with the
expression； piteous； patient； and desperate； of one hard driven
by ill…fortune； and at the end of his resources； two little
children； a boy and a girl； almost naked； cowering under an old
sack that had served them as an umbrella； and； lying on the
settee where the two men had laid it； a heap of wretched wearing
apparel； sacking； and rotten matting； with Smilash's coat and
sou'wester； the whole covering a bundle which presently proved to
be an exhausted woman with a tiny infant at her breast。 Smilash's
expression； as he looked at her； was ferocious。
〃Sorry fur to trouble you； lady；〃 said the man； after glancing
anxiously at Smilash； as if he had expected him to act as
spokesman； 〃but my roof and the side of my house has gone in the
storm； and my missus has been having another little one； and I am
sorry to ill…convenience you； Miss； butbut〃
〃Inconvenience！〃 exclaimed Smilash。 〃It is the lady's privilege
to relieve youher highest privilege！〃
The little boy here began to cry from mere misery； and the woman
roused herself to say； 〃For shame； Tom！ before the lady；〃 and
then collapsed； too weak to care for what might happen next in
the world。 Smilash looked impatiently at Miss Wilson； who
hesitated； and said to him：
〃What do you expect me to do？〃
〃To help us；〃 he replied。 Then； with an explosion of nervous
energy； he added： 〃Do what your heart tells you to do。 Give your
bed and your clothes to the woman； and let your girls pitch their
books to the devil for a few days and make something for these
poor little creatures to wear。 The poor have worked hard enough
to clothe THEM。 Let them take their turn now and clothe the
poor。〃
〃No； no。 Steady； master；〃 said the man； stepping forward to
propitiate Miss Wilson； and evidently much oppressed by a sense
of unwelcomeness。 〃It ain't any fault of the lady's。 Might I make
so bold as to ask you to put this woman of mine anywhere that may
be convenient until morning。 Any sort of a place will do； she's
accustomed to rough it。 Just to have a roof over her until I find
a room in the village where we can shake down。〃 Here； led by his
own words to contemplate the future； he looked desolately round
the cornice of the hall； as if it were a shelf on which somebody
might have left a suitable lodging for him。
Miss Wilson turned her back decisively and contemptuously on
Smilash。 She had recovered herself。 〃I will keep your wife here；〃
she said to the man。 〃Every care shall be taken of her。 The
children can stay too。〃
〃Three cheers for moral science！〃 cried Smilash； ecstatically
breaking into the outrageous dialect he had forgot