MS-UoR-2935-3-8

[0001] One night as he sat at his table head on hands he saw himself rise
and go.[0002] One day or night or day.[0003] For when his own light went out he was not
left in the dark.[0004] Light of a kind came then from the one window set high
in the wall.[0005] Under it a ^{still the} stol^ol on which until he could or would no more he
used to mount ^simply to see the sky.[0006] Why he did not crane out to see what lay
beneath was because the window would not ^{was not made to op} open or because he ^{could or} would ^or not open
it.

[0007] Perhaps he knew only too well what lay beneath and did not wish to see
it again.[0008] So he would simply stand there hight above the earth on the stool
with his hands flat against the wall and see through the clouded pane the
cloudless sky.[0009] Its faint unchanging light unlike any lgⁱght he could remember
from the days and nights when day succeeded ^{followed fast on} night and night ^on day.

[0010] This ^outer light
from without then ^{when his own went out} became his only light till it in its turn went out and left
him in the dark.[0011] Till it in is ^its turn went out.[0012] One night or day then as he sat
at his table head on hands he saw himself rise and go.[0013] First rise and stand
clinging to the table.[0014] Then sit again.[0015] Then rise again and stand clinging to
the table again.[0016] Then start to go.[0018] On unseen feet to go.[0019] So slow that only
change of place to show he went.

[0020] As when he disappeared only to reappear
later at another place.[0021] Then disappeared again only to reappear again later
at another place again.[0022] So again and again disappeared again only to reappear
again later at another place again.[0023] Another place in the place where he sat
at his table head on hands.[0024] The same place and table as when Darly for example
died and left him.[0025] As when others ^too in their turn before and since.[0026] As when
others would too in their turn and leave him till he too in his turn.

[0027] Head
on hands half hoping when he disappeared again that he would not reappear
again and half fearing that he would not.[0028] Or merely wondering.[0028] Wondering if
he would or would not.[0029] Or merely waiting.[0030] Waiting to see if he would or would
not.[0031] Leave him or not alone again waiting for nothing again.

[0032] Seen always from behind whithersoever he goes ^{he went}.[0032] Whitherwardsoever.[0033] Same
hat and coat as of old when he walked the roads.[0034] The back roads.[0035] And now as
one in s^a a^strange place seeking the way ^out.[0036] In the ^new dark.[0037] In a strange place blindly
in the ^new dark of day or night seeking the way out.[0038] A way out.[0039] To the roads.[0040] The back
roads.

[0041] A clock afar struck the hours and half-hours half hours.[0042] The same as when
among others Darly once died and left left him.[0043] Strokes now clear as if carried
by the wind and now faint i^on the still air.[0044] Cries afar now faint now clear.
[0045] Head on hands half hoping when the hours struck that the half hour would not
and half fearing that it would not.[0046] Similarly when the half hour struck? struck.
[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 r^lift his head enough to see his hands.[0052] ^{What was of them to be seen.}[0053] One laid
on the table. T ^{and t}he other laid on it.[0054] At rest after all ^what they did. [0055] Lift his Lift
his past head a moment to see his past hands.[0056] Then lay it back on them to rest
it too.[0057] After all ^what it did.

[0058] The same place as when left day after day for the roads.[0059] The back roads.
[0060] Returned to night after night.[0061] Paced from wall to wall in the dark.[0062] The passing ^fleeting
dark of night.[0063] Now as if strange to him seen rise and start to go.[0064] Disappear and
reappear ay^t another place.[0065] Disappear again and 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 the same 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.[0074] Rise and start to go in the same place as ever.[0075] Disappear and re-
appear 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 cries since he was last disappeared seen that perhaps
he would not be seen again.}[0081] ^{Then so many cries since the clock last struck was last heard Then so many cries since the clock was last heard
that perhaps it would not be heard again.}[0082] ^{Leaving nothing to suggest
when the cries last ceased that Then such silence since the cries were last heard that perhaps even they would not be heard again.}