The fear of death paralysed her efforts to escape the gallows.

It seemed to her she had been staggering in that street for hours.

"I'll never get there," she thought.

"They'll find me knocking about the streets.

It's too far." She held on, panting under her black veil.
"The drop given was fourteen feet." She pushed the lamp-post away from her violently, and found herself walking.