ishead,and,insteadofturningdownthestairs,heranacrossthelandingintotheroomopposite.Therehelaydownonthefloorbetweenthestoveandtheskirting-board.
Hissensesgrewsharper.HecouldhearGinocominginontiptoe.Heevenknewwhatwaspassinginhismind,hownowhewasatfault,nowhewashopeful,nowhewaswonderingwhetherafterallthevictimhadnotescapeddownthestairs.Therewasaquickswoopabovehim,andthenalowgrowllikeadog’s.Ginohadbrokenhisfinger-nailsagainstthestove.
Physicalpainisalmosttooterribletobear.Wecanjustbearitwhenitcomesbyaccidentorforourgood—asitgenerallydoesinmodernlife—exceptatschool.Butwhenitiscausedbythemalignityofaman,fullgrown,fashionedlikeourselves,allourcontroldisappears.Philip’sonethoughtwastogetawayfromthatroomatwhateversacrificeofnobilityorpride.
Ginowasnowatthefurtherendoftheroom,gropingbythelittletables.Suddenlytheinstinctcametohim.HecrawledquicklytowherePhiliplayandhadhimcleanbytheelbow.
Thewholearmseemedred-hot,andthebrokenbonegratedinthejoint,sendingoutshootsoftheessenceofpain.Hisotherarmwaspinionedagainstthewall,andGinohadtrampledinbehindthestoveandwaskneelingonhislegs.Forthespaceofaminuteheyelledandyelledwithalltheforceofhislungs.Thenthissolacewasdeniedhim.Theotherhand,moistandstrong,begantocloseroundhisthroat.
Atfirsthewasglad,forhere,hethought,wasdeathatlast.ButitwasonlyanewtortureperhapsGinoinheritedtheskillofhisancestors—andchildlikeruffianswhoflungeachotherfromthetowers.Justasthewindpipeclosed,thehandfelloff,andPhilipwasrevivedbythemotionofhisarm.Andjustashewasabouttofaintandgainatlastonemomentofoblivion,themotionstopped,andhewouldstruggleinsteadagainstthepressureonhisthroat.
Vividpicturesweredancingthroughthepain—Liliadyingsomemonthsbackinthisveryhouse,MissAbbottbendingoverthebaby,hismotherathome,nowreadingeveningprayerstotheservants.Hefeltthathewasgrowingweake