MS-UoR-2934

[0042] left him ^{died on him & left him.}
[0043] Strokes now clear as ^if carried by
the wind ^and now faint in the still air.[0044] Cries afar
now faint now clear.[0045] Head on hands half hoping
when the hour came that the half hour would not
would and half fearing that it would not.
[0046] Similarly when the half hour came.

[0047] Similarly
when the cries a moment ceased.[0048] Or merely
wondering.[0049] Or merely waiting.[0050] Waiting to hear.
[0051] There had been a time he would lift his head
enough to see his hands.[0053] One laid on the table.
The other laid on it.[0054] At rest after all they did.
[0055] Lift it ^{his past head} a moment to see those past hands.
[0056] Then lay it back on them to rest it too.
[0057] After all it did.

[0058] The same place as when they went & left him. The
as when left day after day for the roads.[0059] The back
roads.[0060] Returned to night after night.[0061] Paced back
& forth ^{from wall to wall} in the dark.[0062] The passing dark of night.[0063] Now
as if strange to him he saw ^{seen to} rise as seen and start
to go.[0064] Disappear to ^& reappear again & again
at another place.[0065] Disappear again & reappear
again at another place again.[0066] Or at the same.

[0067] Nothing to show not the same.[0068] No wall toward which
or from.[0069] No table back toward which or further from.
[0070] In that same now wallless place as when
paced from wall to wall all places as the same.
[0071] Or in another.[0072] Nothing to show not another.

[0073] Where never^. before.[0074] Rise & start to go in
the same place as ever.[0075] Disappear & reappear
in another where never.[0076] Nothing to show
not another where never.[0077] Nothing but the
clock.[0078] The cries.[0079] The same as ever.

[0080] Till so many strokes ^{and so many cries} since he last disappeared
that perhaps he would not reappear ^{be seen} again.
[0081] Then so many cries since the clock last struck
that perhaps it would not strike ^{be heard} again.
[0082] But ^{Leaving Leaving} nothing to suggest when the cries ^last ceased
that perhaps ^{sole sound even} they ^too would not be heard again.

[0083] Thus ^perhaps the end.[0084] Unless no more than a mere lull.
[0085] Then all as before.[0086] The strokes & cries as before & he
as before now there now gone now there again now
gone again.[0087] Then the lull ^yet again.[0088] Then all as before
again.[0089] So on ^{again & again}.[0090] And patience till the one true end
to time & grief & self & second self his own.