He started up, and put both his hands to his ears as if he heard something dreadful, and was trying to deafen himself to it.

I ran to the door to call for help.

He stopped me; he spoke in faint, gasping tones, forbidding me to call any one in to witness what he suffered.

It was not the first time, he said; it would soon be over.

If I had not courage to remain with him I could go, and return when he was himself again.