One day my father, solicitous about my future, spoke to me of several careers among which he allowed me to choose.

I was leaning on the window-sill, looking at a solitary poplar-tree that was swaying in the breeze down in the garden.

I thought over all the various occupations and wondered which one I should choose.

I turned them all over, one after another, in my mind, and then, not feeling inclined to any of them, I allowed my thoughts to wander.

Suddenly it seemed to me that I felt the earth move, and that a secret, invisible force was slowly dragging me into space and becoming tangible to my senses.