His eyes closed, and he sank quietly into a long dreamless sleep.
It was late when he woke, so late that the winter sky was fully lit.

The wind, whose first gusts had lulled him to sleep, had risen to a gale, and the rain, mixed with salt spray, beat fiercely against his window and on the roof.

He listened, expecting to hear his father moving in the room below, but within the house there was no sound.

He rose, vaguely anxious, and without waiting to dress went into the kitchen.

Everything lay untouched, just as he had left it the night before.