And she always believed , so Gertrude said , that when she opened that door she let Death in . `` It was so ridiculous of me to feel so frightened . But I was distracted and worn out , and I simply felt for a moment that I dared not open the door -- that death was waiting outside . Then I remembered that I had no time to waste -- must not be so foolish -- I sprang forward and opened the door . `` Certainly a cold wind did blow in and filled the hall with a whirl of snow . But there on the threshold stood a form of flesh and blood -- Mary Vance , coated from head to foot with snow -- and she brought Life , not Death , with her , though I did n't know that then . I just stared at her . '' ' I have n't been turned out , ' grinned Mary , as she stepped in and shut the door . ' I came up to Carter Flagg 's two days ago and I 've been stormed-stayed there ever since . But old Abbie Flagg got on my nerves at last , and tonight I just made up my mind to come up here . I thought I could wade this far , but I can tell you it was as much as a bargain . Once I thought I was stuck for keeps . Ai n't it an awful night ? ' `` I came to myself and knew I must hurry upstairs . I explained as quickly as I could to Mary , and left her trying to brush the snow off . Upstairs I found that Jims was over that paroxysm , but almost as soon as I got back to the room he was in the grip of another . I could n't do anything but moan and cry -- oh , how ashamed I am when I think of it ; and yet what could I do -- we had tried everything we knew -- and then all at once I heard Mary Vance saying loudly behind me , ` Why , that child is dying ! ' `` I whirled around . Did n't I know he was dying -- my little Jims ! I could have thrown Mary Vance out of the door or the window -- anywhere -- at that moment .
There she stood , cool and composed , looking down at my baby , XXXXX those , weird white eyes of hers , as she might look at a choking kitten .
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