believe it, sitting in that, hut; he scarcely could), a student of natural philosophy,
and had attended lectures; but he had run wild, misused his opportunities, gone
down, and never risen again. He had no complaint to offer about that. He had
made his bed and he lay upon it. It was far too late to make another.
All that I have here condensed, he said in a quiet manner, with his grave dark
regards divided between me and the fire. He threw in the word 'Sir' from time to
time, and especially when he referred to his youth: as though to request me to
understand that he claimed to be nothing but what I found him. He was several
times interrupted by the little bell, and had to read off messages, and send
replies. Once, he had to stand without the door, and display a flag as a train
passed, and make some verbal communication to the driver. In the discharge of
his duties I observed him to be remarkably exact and vigilant, breaking off his
discourse at a syllable, and remaining silent until what he had to do was done.
In a word, I should have set this man down as one of the safest of men to be
employed in that capacity, but for the circumstance that while he was speaking to
me he twice broke off with a fallen colour, turned his face towards the little bell
when it did NOT ring, opened the door of the hut (which was kept shut to exclude
the unhealthy damp), and looked out towards the red light near the mouth of the
tunnel. On both of those occasions, he came back to the fire with the inexplicable
air upon him which I had remarked, without being able to define, when we were
so far asunder.
Said I when I rose to leave him: 'You almost make me think that I have met with a
contented man.'
(I am afraid I must acknowledge that I said it to lead him on.)
'I believe I used to be so,' he rejoined, in the low voice in which he had first
spoken; 'but I am troubled, sir, I am troubled.'
He would have recalled the words if he could. He had said them, however, and I
took them up quickly.
'With what? What is your trouble?'
'It is very difficult to impart, sir. It is very, very difficult to speak of. If ever you
make me another visit, I will try to tell you.'
'But I expressly intend to make you another visit. Say, when shall it be?'
'I go off early in the morning, and I shall be on again at ten to-morrow night, sir.'
'I will come at eleven.'
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