her, in a sort of fear. ''You must not say such things, in here. You must be good. Don''t you know, that they have ways of taking you, of binding you— That they have water—''
''Water,'' murmured Mrs Price, in a shuddering way.
''That''s enough!'' Nurse Bacon said. ''And you, Miss Muffet''—she meant me—''stop stirring up the ladies.''
And again, she showed her fist.
So then we all fell silent. Betty worked the grease in for another minute or two, then put the jar away and went back to her bed. Miss Wilson bent her head and her gaze grew dark. Mrs Price now and then let out a murmur or a moan from behind her veil of hair. From the room next door there came a burst of ragged shrieking. I thought of Mr Ibbs''s sister. I thought of all my home, and all the people in it. I began, again, to sweat. I felt suddenly I think as a fly must feel, when wrapped in the thread of a spider. I got to my feet and walked from one wall of the room to the other, and back.
''If only there was a window!'' I said. ''If only we might see out.'' And then: ''If only I had never left the Borough!''
''Will you sit down?'' said Nurse Bacon.
Then she cursed. There had come a knocking at the door, and she must get up from her chair to answer it. It was another nurse, with a paper. I waited until their heads were close together, then stole back to Miss Wilson. Desperation was beginning to make me sly.