The Splendid Folly

y-side-the next, and the silence was split by a shattering roar and the shock of riven plates, the clash

as though a thick black curtain had descended, blotting out the whole world, while from behind it, immeasurab

e framework of the window, and in an instant she was clinging to it, pressing up against it with her body, her fingers gripping and clutchi

What's happened?

est idea of what she was saying. When a stinging pain shot through her arm, as a jagged point of b

ed and held by a pair of arms, and a v

. . . My God,

ller. He was here, close to her, something alive and human in the midst of

distorted. "You're hurt-?" And she felt his hands s

o-

under his breath. Th

lf together. We mu

s he lit a bundle of matches together. In the brief illumination she could see the floor of the compartment steeply tilt

and pulling her forward towards that yawning space. "We

kness, she could discern figures running to and fro, and lanterns flashing, whi

er. "I'll let myself down,

at him fr

o-don't

elf roughly from h

's pluck," he said, "an

nd twisted flooring of the carriage, and a second afterwards she heard him drop. Peeri

" he c

from the drop i

sobbed helple

ch close at hand flashed onto his uplifted face. She cou

ried furiously. "Do w

recklessly, out into the night. There was one endless moment of uncertainty, an

ly as though he had been running; she could feel his chest

enly everything seemed to be spinning round her. The lights of the torches bobbed up and down in a confused blur of twinkling stars, the sound of voices and the trampling of feet came faintly to her ears as fro

sk held to her lips, while a familiar voice com

" the voice insist

ity of gainsaying that peremptory voice, she opened her lips

w?" querie

complete consciousness

ht now-reall

e voice regarde

tay where you are. I'm going along to see if

he moment, and then the full horror of what had occurred came back to her. She began to cry weakly. But the tears did her good, bringing with them relief from the awful shock which had strained her nerves almost to

he starlit sky. No one took any notice of her; all who were unhurt were working to save and help those who had been less fortun

working classes, her plump face sagging and mottled with t

" she kept on muttering.

t Devon dialect smote on Diana's ears with a sense of dear familia

asked. "Have you

vaguely, bewildered by

. Aw, my li'l, li'l chiel!" And she rocked to an

ild had both been taken unhurt out of a third-class carriage-of the te

years old and wearing a little red coat, did you say? I'll find him for you; you sit down here." And she pushed the poor distrau

ile came face to face with her fellow traveller, carrying a c

business here. Go back-you'll only see some ghastly sights if you

na paid

arms. "The mother's nearly out of her mind-she thinks

. All right, then, I'll

you leave

of the child she leapt up and clutched him in her arms, half crazy with joy and gratitude, and a few sympathetic

r drew her arm br

at-that hell again. Do yo

s were torn and dishevelled. Here and there his coat was stained with dar

below?" And she pointed to where the injured were being borne along on roughly improvised stretchers. A sob climbed to her throat

nd then we shall get away-those that are left of us. But what's this?"-he felt her sleeve-"Your arm is all wet." He pushed up the loose coat-sleeve and swung the light of hi

! Why didn't

ut it against the glass of the car

t it. Here, ta

ng a nasty red gash on the slender arm. It was only a surface wound however, and

g the wristband with deft fingers. "The emergency train will be here directly, so I'm going back t

a la

of such things as a forgotten coat and a dress

re." And he disappeared into the darkness, returning presently w

ndly, careful hands into the ambulance compartment. The train drew slowly away from the scene of the accident, gradually

his belongings together preparatory to departure. She sprang up and slipping off the overc

rm enough?" he a

and there they'll meet me with plenty of wraps." She hesitated a moment

"It was little enough.

standstill, and sh

" she said

d the throng of people on the platform. And it was not until the train had steame

e blood-stained square of linen on her knee, proceeded to examine each corne