I did not look or pause, but flew on through the hall till I reached my own door.

My own door was just at the foot of the third-floor stairway.

I glanced back, and saw that it was Mr.Langenau who was behind me.

I pushed open my door and went half-way in the room; then with a vehement and sudden impulse came back into the hall and pulled it shut again and stood with my hand upon the latch, and waited for him to pass.

In an instant more he was near me, but not as if he saw me; he could not reach the stairway without passing so near me that he must touch my dress.