I am so wretchedly nervous that I don't know what to do with myself, and you know, my dear," she said, appealing to her husband, "that I am not given to that sort of thing." Each man looked at his neighbour, for there was a sound in the air now a weird and awful sound like nothing else in nature.

To the south arose upon the ear a hollow quivering hum, which swelled rapidly into a roar beneath our feet; there was a sickening shake, a thump, a crash, and away went the earthquake, groaning off to the northward.
The women behaved very well, though some of them began to cry; and hearing a fearful row in the kitchen I dashed off there, followed by the Doctor.

The interior was a chaos of pots and kettles, in the centre of which sat the cook, Eleanor, holding on by the floor.

Every now and then she would give a scream which took all the breath out of her; so she had to stop and fetch breath before she could give another.

The Doctor stepped through the saucepans and camp-ovens, and trying to raise her said,-- "Come, get up, my good woman, and give over screaming.