"When is there a train in the morning?" I asked him then.
"There's one at eight-fifteen."
"Well, I suppose we'll go by that one," I said.
And so we left the station.
We went back to the hotel. We were startled for a second when the registration forms were handed to us; we hadn't decided on a name or address. I took the forms and filled them with a Belfast address, put the one for Barney in front of him, placing the pencil on the name so that he would know what to sign. After signing we were shown to our rooms. I went to bed immediately as I was completely tired out. I was roused from a heavy sleep by a knocking on the door, and a voice saying something I couldn't distinguish. I thought it was the "Boots" wakening me for breakfast, and turned over to finish my sleep. Some time later I was again wakened by a loud knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" I called out.
"Barney," was the answer.
"What is wrong?" I asked when I had opened the door.
"The manageress came to me," said Barney, "and said, 'Mr. Williams, go to your sister, I am afraid she is either dead or has fainted with the shock.'"
"What shock?" I asked, peering into the black darkness but failing to see anything.