These guns did not often speak now.
Then, during a lull, there came to her the careless humming of a British voice, the free, confident tread of British feet, approaching her door.
She caught her breath as a hand rapped smartly upon the panel.

She knew who the visitor was, but she could not bring herself to bid him enter.

A sudden awful fear was upon her.

She could neither speak nor move.

She lay, listening intently, hoping against hope that he would believe her to be sleeping and go away.
The knock was not repeated.