Chapter 4

           Thesightwhichmetmyeyeshadthehorrorofadreamwithinadream,withthecertaintyofrealityadded.TheroomwasasIhadseenitlast;exceptthattheshadowylookhadgoneintheglareofthemanylights,andeveryarticleinitstoodstarkandsolidlyreal.

           BytheemptybedsatNurseKennedy,asmyeyeshadlastseenher,sittingboltuprightinthearm-chairbesidethebed.Shehadplacedapillowbehindher,sothatherbackmightbeerect;butherneckwasfixedasthatofoneinacataleptictrance.Shewas,toallintentsandpurposes,turnedintostone.Therewasnospecialexpressiononherface—nofear,nohorror;nothingsuchasmightbeexpectedofoneinsuchacondition.Heropeneyesshowedneitherwondernorinterest.Shewassimplyanegativeexistence,warm,breathing,placid;butabsolutelyunconsciousoftheworldaroundher.Thebedclothesweredisarranged,asthoughthepatienthadbeendrawnfromunderthemwithoutthrowingthemback.Thecorneroftheuppersheethunguponthefloor;closebyitlayoneofthebandageswithwhichtheDoctorhaddressedthewoundedwrist.Anotherandanotherlayfurtheralongthefloor,asthoughformingacluetowherethesickmannowlay.Thiswasalmostexactlywherehehadbeenfoundonthepreviousnight,underthegreatsafe.Again,theleftarmlaytowardthesafe.Buttherehadbeenanewoutrage,anattempthadbeenmadetoseverthearmclosetothebanglewhichheldthetinykey.