Therewasnohallwayhereattheheadoftheladder-likestairs，justasortofnarrowplatforminfrontoftheatticdoor。RhodaGray，gropingoutwithherhandsagain，feltforthedoor，andknockedsoftlyuponit。Therewasnoanswer。Sheknockedagain。
Stillreceivingnoreply，shetriedthedoor，founditunlocked，and，openingit，stoodforaninstantonthethreshold。Alamp，almostempty，ill-trimmedandsmokingbadly，stoodonachairbesideacheapironbed；itthrewadull，yellowglowaboutitsimmediatevicinity，andthrewtheremainderofthegarretintodeep，impenetrableshadows；butalsoitdisclosedthemotionlessformofawomanonthebed。
RhodaGray’seyesdarkened，assheclosedthedoorbehindher，andsteppedquicklyforwardtothebedside。Foramomentshestoodlookingdownattherecumbentfigure；atthemattedtangleofgray-streakedbrownhairthatstraggledacrossapillowwhichwasnonetooclean；attheheavy-lensed，old-fashioned，steel-bowedspectacles，awrynow，thatwerestillgrotesquelyperchedonthewoman’snose；atthesallowface，streakedwithgrimeanddirt，asthoughithadnotbeenwashedformonths；atahand，asill-caredfor，whichlayexposedonthetornblanketthatdiddutyforacounterpane；atthedirtyshawlthatenvelopedthewoman’sshoulders，andwhichwastightlyfastenedaroundGypsyNan’sneck-andfromthewomanhereyesshiftedtoanemptybottleonthefloorthatprotrudedfromunderthebed。
“Nan！“shecalledsharply；and，stoopingover，shookthewoman’sshoulder。“Nan！“sherepeated。Therewassomethingaboutthewoman’sbreathingthatshedidnotlike，somethinginthequeer，pinchedconditionoftheother’sfacethatsuddenlyfrightenedher。“Nan！“shecalledagain。
GypsyNanopenedhereyes，staredforamomentdully，then，inacuriouslyquick，desperateway，jerkedherselfuponherelbow。