I was melting away fast when more of Mrs Major appeared through the curtains; in fact, the whole of her head, night-cap, papers and all, and the cracked voice shrieked-- "Monster, there's help at hand!--Alfred, Alfred, help! help!" and then the head disappeared; when I heard from inside the curtains a choking, stifling noise; and then came a succession of shrieks for aid. "For pity's sake, silence, madam!" I cried, running to the door; but the next moment I ran back. "Open this door, here!--open!" roared the Major, kicking and thundering, so that the panels cracked. "Matilda, my angel, I am here." "Don't, don't; pray don't scream, ma'am," I implored. "Oh! oh! oh! help, help, help! murder!" shrieked Mrs Major. "Here, hi! oh! villain! A man's voice! Break in the door; smash it off the hinges. I am here, Matilda, I am here. Broxby, what is this?" roared the Major; and then the door cracked and groaned beneath the blows thundered upon it. "Oh! oh! oh!" shrieked Mrs Major. "What shall I do?" I muttered, wringing my hands and trembling like a leaf. I ran to the bed to implore Mrs Major to be still, but she only shrieked the louder. I ran to the door, but fled again on hearing the thunderings and roarings of the Major, who beat frantically, louder and louder. "Sir, sir," I cried, "it's a mistake." "Oh! villain," he shrieked. "Here, here, a poker; my pistols. Broxby, there'll be murder done." "Madam, oh! madam," I cried, in agony, "have pity, and hear me." "Oh! oh! oh! help! help!" shrieked the wretched woman; when I heard the door going crack, crack; the panel was smashed in, and the sounds of the hubbub of voices entered the room, wherein I could detect that of the Major, more like a wild beast than anything, when, dashing to the window, I pushed back the fastener, threw up the sash, and crept out, lowered myself down till I hung by my hands, when, with my last look, I saw an arm reaching through the broken panel, the bolt slipped, the key turned, and a rush of people into the room; when, losing my hold, I fell crash into a tree, and then from branch to branch to the ground, where I lay, half-stunned, upon the cold snow. "There he is," shouted a voice from above me, whose effect was like electricity to my shattered frame, for I leaped up, and gaining the pathway, fled to the road, and then on towards the station, only pausing once to listen for the sounds of pursuit and to tie my handkerchief round my head to screen it from the icy breeze. I ran till I was breathless, and then walked, but only to run again, and this I kept on till I had passed the six miles between Broxby's Beat and Ancaster, where I arrived just before the night mail came in, at a quarter to four.