Explore "The Spiral Staircase" by Ethel Lina White on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The sound brought Helen to her feet and sent her rushing to the door, even while she knew that she was too late. She tugged at the handle and battered on the panels, to relieve her feelings, rather than with any hope of release.
It was a humiliating situation, and indignation was her strongest emotion. She had been thrown about, as though she were a dummy in a film. Worst of all, she had failed again in a position of trust. The thought quickened her sense of responsibility and made her rack her brain for some method of arousing the household--only to be forced back on the hopeless expedient of ringing the bell.