staggering , she felt her knees wobble , then buckle , and then she was sinking into a warm , wet tangle of bloodied nightclothes and torn flesh as a babel of voices swelled : she 's bleeding , she 's bleeding ; quick , fetch bandages ; i 'll need my bag ... someone fetch the surgeon ; hold her , hold her ; she 's a spitfire , sir , an alley cat ; hold her fast , do n't let her ... `` easy , miss elizabeth , easy . ''