A small round table stood in the middle of the room; she caught at the edge of it and rested so for a moment, for the walls seemed to be swaying and she durst not lift her hands to shut out the roars of laughter.

They rang in her ears and shouted and stunned her.

Her whole body writhed.
The hubbub below sank to a confused murmur.

She heard footsteps in the corridor--the firm tramp of the orderly followed by the shuffle of list slippers.
"Number Two-six-seven-two is outside, ma'am.

Am I to show him in ?" She bent her head and moved towards the fireplace.