Page 908 - of-human-bondage-

For several days Mr. Carey continued without change.
His appetite which had been excellent left him, and he
could eat little. Dr. Wigram did not hesitate now to still the
pain of the neuritis which tormented him; and that, with
the constant shaking of his palsied limbs, was gradually
exhausting him. His mind remained clear. Philip and Mrs.
Foster nursed him between them. She was so tired by the
many months during which she had been attentive to all
his wants that Philip insisted on sitting up with the patient
so that she might have her night’s rest. He passed the long
hours in an arm-chair so that he should not sleep soundly,
and read by the light of shaded candles The Thousand and
One Nights. He had not read them since he was a little boy,
and they brought back his childhood to him. Sometimes he
sat and listened to the silence of the night. When the effects
of the opiate wore off Mr. Carey grew restless and kept him
constantly busy.
At last, early one morning, when the birds were chatter-
ing noisily in the trees, he heard his name called. He went
up to the bed. Mr. Carey was lying on his back, with his
eyes looking at the ceiling; he did not turn them on Philip.
Philip saw that sweat was on his forehead, and he took a
towel and wiped it.
‘Is that you, Philip?’ the old man asked.
Philip was startled because the voice was suddenly
changed. It was hoarse and low. So would a man speak if he
was cold with fear.
‘Yes, d’you want anything?’
There was a pause, and still the unseeing eyes stared at

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