"All nex' day, all day after, day after that, day----" Mrs.Silk eyed him softly.

"Why would you like to sit here all that time ?" she inquired, in a low voice.
"B'cause," said Mr.Wilks, simply, "b'cause I don't feel's if I can stand.

Goo'-night." He closed his eyes on the indignant Mrs.Silk and fell fast asleep.

It was a sound sleep and dreamless, and only troubled by the occasional ineffectual attempts of his hostess to arouse him.

She gave up the attempt at last, and taking up a pair of socks sat working thoughtfully the other side of the fire-place.
The steward awoke an hour or two later, and after what seemed a terrible struggle found himself standing at the open door with the cold night air blowing in his face, and a voice which by an effort of memory he identified as that of Edward Silk inviting him "to go home and lose no time about it." Then the door slammed behind him and he stood balancing himself with some difficulty on the step, wondering what had happened.
By the time he had walked up and down the deserted alley three or four times light was vouchsafed to him and, shivering slightly, he found his own door and went to bed..