He unlocked the door, passed through; he had removed the key. He locked it from without, and threw the key away among the bushes. For a few moments he stood irresolute what to do, in which direction to turn. He was unwilling, carrying the carpet-bag, to pass through the crowd of spectators, and he stayed to consider whether by any means he could reach the ferry unobserved. There was an open patch before the cottage, screened by bushes so as not to be overlooked from the down. He took a few steps in one direction on it, then halted――and took another. He had the carpet-bag in his hand. Meanwhile, within, Jane had heaved herself to her knees, and then to her feet. She staggered to the window. The table was before it. By an effort she succeeded in mounting the table, and then, with her bound hands she plucked at the curtain and drew it, next by a pull tore down the little blind. And now she could look out. Looking out she saw Dench standing irresolute――as one dazed. She saw something more. At that moment, the house swayed like a ship. The surface of the land broke up, and seemed transmuted into fluid, for in one place it heaved like a mounting billow, and in another sank like the trough of a wave. It was to Jane, peering through the little window as though she were looking at a tumbling sea through the porthole of a cabin. Again the house lurched, and so suddenly and to such an acute angle, that Jane fell from the table. CHAPTER XLIX RENT ASUNDER Winefred and her father were on their way to the down, passing up from Axmouth through Bindon, when Mrs. Jose appeared in the archway that gives access to the court, and saluted them. She was in a condition of considerable perturbation, as was perceptible in her face, which mirrored the state of her mind. Winefred, catching her hand, inquired breathlessly, 'What is the meaning of this? It is as though every one were on the cliffs. Surely not an invasion from France?' 'It is rabbits. They are running from the downs and the people are going on to it.' 'What is the matter?' 'I cannot tell. No one knows. Something is going to happen, and your mother has not returned.' 'My mother!' 'She went to the cottage with a carpet-bag to remove her knick-knacks, and has not come back. But perhaps she has got together men to carry the furniture and all the whole bag of tricks out of the house.' 'But why?' 'And all my men and maids have gone too. And Jose has toddled after them, he as don't care for phenomena, as the parson calls it, but only his pipe and ale.' 'But what is the matter?' 'The Lord only knows. The sea is boiling and throwing up mud, and they think that the rocks are about to fall. But I can't say. Lord preserve us all! It may be the Last Day coming on us in Axmouth and going on next to Seaton, and destroy it by instalments. If so, I wish it had begun t'other end of England.' 'Where is my mother――at the cottage?' 'That is just what I do not know, but want to find out.'