"IcomefromMawandMeggins。
"
Theoldladystarted。
"Isanythingthematter?
"sheaskedbreathlessly。
"HasanythinghaenedtoHerbert?Whatisit?Whatisit?
"
Herhusbandinterosed。
"There,there,mother,
"hesaidhastily。
"Sitdown,anddontjumtoconclusions。Youvenotbroughtbadnews,Imsure,sir。
"andheeyedtheotherwistfully。
"Imsorry…
"beganthevisitor。
"Ishehurt?
"demandedthemother。
Thevisitorbowedinassent。
"Badlyhurt,
"hesaidquietly,
"butheisnotinanyain。
"
"Oh,thankGod!
"saidtheoldwoman,clasingherhands。
"ThankGodforthat!Thank…
"
Shebrokeoffsuddenlyasthesinistermeaningoftheassurancedawneduonherandshesawtheawfulconfirmationofherfearsintheothersavertedface。Shecaughtherbreath,andturningtoherslower-wittedhusband,laidhertremblingoldhanduonhis。Therewasalongsilence。
"Hewascaughtinthemachinery,
"saidthevisitoratlength,inalowvoice。
"Caughtinthemachinery,
"reeatedMr。White,inadazedfashion,
"yes。
"