Кінець рабства

           “Hecouldnotseemeatalloutofhisline,”VanWykthought,withasortofawe.Thengoingtotheheadofthestairs,heaskedalittletremulously—

           “Whatisitlike—likeamist—like...”

           CaptainWhalley,half-waydown,stopped,andturnedroundundismayedtoanswer.

           “Itisasifthelightwereebbingoutoftheworld.Haveyoueverwatchedtheebbingseaonanopenstretchofsandswithdrawingfartherandfartherawayfromyou?Itislikethis—onlytherewillbenofloodtofollow.Never.Itisasifthesunweregrowingsmaller,thestarsgoingoutonebyone.Therecan’tbemanyleftthatIcanseebythis.ButIhaven’thadthecouragetolookoflate...”HemusthavebeenabletomakeoutMr.VanWyk,becausehecheckedhimbyanauthoritativegestureandastoical—

           “Icangetaboutaloneyet.”

           Itwasasifhehadtakenhisline,andwouldacceptnohelpfrommen,afterhavingbeencastout,likeapresumptuousTitan,fromhisheaven.Mr.VanWyk,arrested,seemedtocountthefootstepsrightoutofearshot.Hewalkedbetweenthetables,tappingsmartlywithhisheels,tookupapaper-knife,droppeditafteravagueglancealongtheblade;thenhappeninguponthepiano,struckafewchordsagainandagain,vigorously,standingupbeforethekeyboardwithanattentivepoiseoftheheadlikeapiano-tuner;closingit,hepivotedonhisheelsbrusquely,avoidedthelittleterriersleepingtrustfullyoncrossedforepaws,cameuponthestairsnext,and,asthoughhehadlosthisbalanceonthetopstep,randownheadlongoutofthehouse.