That was the casting
consideration. I decided to take my dilemma by the horns.
There had been a scraping of matches in the room over the
conservatory; the open window had shown for a moment, like an
empty picture-frame, a gigantic shadow wavering on the ceiling; and
in the next half-minute I remembered to tie my shoes. But the light
was slow to reappear through the leaded glasses of an outer door
farther along the path. And when the door opened, it was a figure
of woe that stood within and held an unsteady candle between our
faces.
I have seen old men look half their age, and young men look double
theirs; but never before or since have I seen a beardless boy bent
into a man of eighty, gasping for every breath, shaken by every
gasp, swaying, tottering, and choking, as if about to die upon his
feet. Yet with it all., young Medlicott overhauled me shrewdly, and
it was several moments before he would let me take the candle from
him.
"I shouldn't have come down - made me worse," he began whispering
in spurts. "Worse still going up again. You must give me an arm.
Pages:
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191