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The Egotist Considers
Backatthehotelhefeltbetter,butashewalkedintothebarber-shop,intendingtogetaheadmassage,thesmellofthepowdersandtonicsbroughtbackAxia’ssidelong,suggestivesmile,andhelefthurriedly.Inthedoorwayofhisroomasuddenblacknessflowedaroundhimlikeadividedriver.
Whenhecametohimselfheknewthatseveralhourshadpassed.Hepitchedontothebedandrolledoveronhisfacewithadeadlyfearthathewasgoingmad.Hewantedpeople,people,someonesaneandstupidandgood.Helayforheknewnothowlongwithoutmoving.Hecouldfeelthelittlehotveinsonhisforeheadstandingout,andhisterrorhadhardenedonhimlikeplaster.Hefelthewaspassingupagainthroughthethincrustofhorror,andnowonlycouldhedistinguishtheshadowytwilighthewasleaving.Hemusthavefallenasleepagain,forwhenhenextrecollectedhimselfhehadpaidthehotelbillandwassteppingintoataxiatthedoor.Itwasrainingtorrents.
OnthetrainforPrincetonhesawnooneheknew,onlyacrowdoffagged-lookingPhiladelphians.Thepresenceofapaintedwomanacrosstheaislefilledhimwithafreshburstofsicknessandhechangedtoanothercar,triedtoconcentrateonanarticleinapopularmagazine.Hefoundhimselfreadingthesameparagraphsoverandover,soheabandonedthisattemptandleaningoverwearilypressedhishotforeheadagainstthedampwindow-pane.
