CHAPTERI
INSOMNIA
Oneafternoon，atlowwater，Mr。Isbister，ayoungartistlodgingatBoscastle，walkedfromthatplacetothepicturesquecoveofPentargen，desiringtoexaminethecavesthere。HalfwaydowntheprecipitouspathtothePentargenbeachhecamesuddenlyuponamansittinginanattitudeofprofounddistressbeneathaprojectingmassofrock。Thehandsofthismanhunglimplyoverhisknees，hiseyeswereredandstaringbeforehim，andhisfacewaswetwithtears。
HeglancedroundatIsbister’sfootfall。Bothmenweredisconcerted，Isbisterthemoreso，and，tooverridetheawkwardnessofhisinvoluntarypause，heremarked，withanairofmatureconviction，thattheweatherwashotforthetimeofyear。
"Very，"answeredthestrangershortly，hesitatedasecond，andaddedinacolourlesstone，"Ican’tsleep。"
Isbisterstoppedabruptly。"No？"wasallhesaid，buthisbearingconveyedhishelpfulimpulse。
"Itmaysoundincredible，"saidthestranger，turningwearyeyestoIsbister’sfaceandemphasizinghiswordswithalanguidhand，"butIhavehadnosleep———nosleepatallforsixnights。"
"Hadadvice？"
"Yes。Badadviceforthemostpart。Drugs。Mynervoussystem……Theyareallverywellfortherunofpeople。It’shardtoexplain。Idarenottake……sufficientlypowerfuldrugs。"
"Thatmakesitdifficult，"saidIsbister。
Hestoodhelplesslyinthenarrowpath，perplexedwhattodo。Clearlythemanwantedtotalk。Anideanaturalenoughunderthecircumstances，promptedhimtokeeptheconversationgoing。"I’veneversufferedfromsleeplessnessmyself，"hesaidinatoneofcommonplacegossip，"butinthosecasesIhaveknown，peoplehaveusuallyfoundsomething——"
"Idaremakenoexperiments。"
Hespokewearily。Hegaveagestureofrejection，andforaspacebothmenweresilent。
"Exercise？"suggestedIsbisterdiffidently，withaglancefromhisinterlocutor’sfaceofwretchednesstothetouringcostumehewore。
"ThatiswhatIhavetried。Unwiselyperhaps。I
havefollowedthecoast，dayafterday——fromNewQuay。Ithasonlyaddedmuscularfatiguetothemental。
Thecauseofthisunrestwasoverwork——trouble。
Therewassomething——"
Hestoppedasiffromsheerfatigue。Herubbedhisforeheadwithaleanhand。Heresumedspeechlikeonewhotalkstohimself。
"Iamalonewolf，asolitaryman，wanderingthroughaworldinwhichIhavenopart。Iamwifeless——
childless——whoisitspeaksofthechildlessasthedeadtwigsonthetreeoflife？Iamwifeless，Ichildless——Icouldfindnodutytodo。Nodesireeveninmyheart。OnethingatlastIsetmyselftodo。
"Isaid，Iwilldothis，andtodoit，toovercometheinertiaofthisdullbody，Iresortedtodrugs。GreatGod，I’vehadenoughofdrugs！Idon’tknowif__you__
feeltheheavyinconvenienceofthebody，itsexasperatingdemandoftimefromthemind——time——
life！Live！Weonlyliveinpatches。Wehavetoeat，andthencomesthedulldigestivecomplacencies——
orirritations。Wehavetotaketheairorelseourthoughtsgrowsluggish，stupid，runintogulfsandblindalleys。Athousanddistractionsarisefromwithinandwithout，andthencomesdrowsinessandsleep。Menseemtoliveforsleep。Howlittleofaman’sdayishisown——evenatthebest！Andthencomethosefalsefriends，thoseThughelpers，thealkaloidsthatstiflenaturalfatigueandkillrest——
blackcoffee，cocaine——"
"Isee，"saidIsbister。
"Ididmywork，"saidthesleeplessmanwithaquerulousintonation。
"Andthisistheprice？"
"Yes。"
Foralittlewhilethetworemainedwithoutspeaking。
"YoucannotimaginethecravingforrestthatI
feel——ahungerandthirst。Forsixlongdays，sincemyworkwasdone，mymindhasbeenawhirlpool，swift，unprogressiveandincessant，atorrentofthoughtsleadingnowhere，spinningroundswiftandsteady——"
Hepaused。"Towardsthegulf。"
"Youmustsleep，"saidIsbisterdecisively，andwithanairofaremedydiscovered。"Certainlyyoumustsleep。"
"Mymindisperfectlylucid。Itwasneverclearer。
ButIknowIamdrawingtowardsthevortex。
Presently——"
"Yes？"
"Youhaveseenthingsgodownaneddy？Outofthelightoftheday，outofthissweetworldofsanity——
down——"
"But，"expostulatedIsbister。
Themanthrewoutahandtowardshim，andhiseyeswerewild，andhisvoicesuddenlyhigh。"Ishallkillmyself。Ifinnootherway——atthefootofyonderdarkprecipicethere，wherethewavesaregreen，andthewhitesurgeliftsandfalls，andthatlittlethreadofwatertremblesdown。Thereatanyrateis……sleep。"
"That’sunreasonable，"saidIsbister，startledattheman’shystericalgustofemotion。"Drugsarebetterthanthat。"
"Thereatanyrateissleep，"repeatedthestranger，notheedinghim。
IsbisterlookedathimandwonderedtransitorilyifsomecomplexProvidencehadindeedbroughtthemtogetherthatafternoon。"It’snotacert，youknow，"
heremarked。"There’saclifflikethatatLulworthCove——ashigh，anyhow——andalittlegirlfellfromtoptobottom。Andlivesto—day——soundandwell。"
"Butthoserocksthere？"
"Onemightlieonthemratherdismallythroughacoldnight，brokenbonesgratingasoneshivered，chillwatersplashingoveryou。Eh？"
Theireyesmet。"Sorrytoupsetyourideals，"saidIsbisterwithasenseofdevil—may—careishbrilliance。
"Butasuicideoverthatcliff（oranycliffforthematterofthat），really，asanartist——"Helaughed。
"It’ssodamnedamateurish。"
"Buttheotherthing，"saidthesleeplessmanirritably，"theotherthing。Nomancankeepsaneifnightafternight——"
"Haveyoubeenwalkingalongthiscoastalone？"
"Yes。"
"Sillysortofthingtodo。Ifyou’llexcusemysayingso。Alone！Asyousay；bodyfagisnocureforbrainfag。Whotoldyouto？Nowonder；
walking！Andthesunonyourhead，heat，fag，solitude，allthedaylong，andthen，Isuppose，yougotobedandtryveryhard——eh？"
Isbisterstoppedshortandlookedatthesuffererdoubtfully。
"Lookattheserocks！"criedtheseatedmanwithasuddenforceofgesture。"Lookatthatseathathasshoneandquiveredthereforever！Seethewhitespumerushintodarknessunderthatgreatcliff。Andthisbluevault，withtheblindingsunpouringfromthedomeofit。Itisyourworld。Youacceptit，yourejoiceinit。Itwarmsandsupportsanddelightsyou。
Andforme——"
Heturnedhisheadandshowedaghastlyface，bloodshotpallideyesandbloodlesslips。Hespokealmostinawhisper。"Itisthegarmentofmymisery。
Thewholeworld……isthegarmentofmymisery。"
IsbisterlookedatallthewildbeautyofthesunlitcliffsaboutthemandbacktothatfaceofdespairForamomenthewassilent。
Hestarted，andmadeagestureofimpatientrejection。
"Yougetanight’ssleep，"hesaid，"andyouwon’tseemuchmiseryouthere。Takemywordforit。"
Hewasquitesurenowthatthiswasaprovidentialencounter。Onlyhalfanhouragohehadbeenfeelinghorriblybored。Herewasemploymentthebarethoughtofwhichwasrighteousself—applause。Hetookpossessionforthwith。ItseemedtohimthatthefirstneedofthisexhaustedbeingwascompanionshipHeflunghimselfdownonthesteeplyslopingturfbesidethemotionlessseatedfigure，anddeployedforthwithintoaskirmishinglineofgossip。
Hishearerseemedtohavelapsedintoapathy；
hestareddismallyseaward，andspokeonlyinanswertoIsbister’sdirectquestions——andnottoallofthoseButhemadenosignofobjectiontothisbenevolentintrusionuponhisdespair。
Inahelplesswayheseemedevengrateful，andwhenpresentlyIsbister，feelingthathisunsupportedtalkwaslosingvigour，suggestedthattheyshouldreascendthesteepandreturntowardsBoscastle，allegingtheviewintoBlackapit，hesubmittedquietly。
Halfwayuphebegantalkingtohimself，andabruptlyturnedaghastlyfaceonhishelper。"Whatcanbehappening？"heaskedwithagauntillustrativehand。
"Whatcanbehappening？Spin，spin，spin，spin。Itgoesroundandround，roundandroundforevermore。"
Hestoodwithhishandcircling"It’sallright，oldchap，"saidIsbisterwiththeairofanoldfriend。"Don’tworryyourself。Trusttome。"
Themandroppedhishandandturnedagain。TheywentoverthebrowinsinglefileandtotheheadlandbeyondPenally，withthesleeplessmangesticulatingeverandagain，andspeakingfragmentarythingsconcerninghiswhirlingbrain。AttheheadlandtheystoodforaspacebytheseatthatlooksintothedarkmysteriesofBlackapit，andthenhesatdown。Isbisterhadresumedhistalkwheneverthepathhadwidenedsufficientlyforthemtowalkabreast。HewasenlarginguponthecomplexdifficultyofmakingBoscastleHarbourinbadweather，whensuddenlyandquiteirrelevantlyhiscompanioninterruptedhimagain。
"Myheadisnotlikewhatitwas，"hesaid，gesticulatingforwantofexpressivephrases。"It’snotlikewhatitwas。Thereisasortofoppression，aweight。
No——notdrowsiness，wouldGoditwere！Itislikeashadow，adeepshadowfallingsuddenlyandswiftlyacrosssomethingbusy。Spin，spinintothedarknessThetumultofthought，theconfusion，theeddyandeddy。Ican’texpressit。Icanhardlykeepmymindonit——steadilyenoughtotellyou。"
Hestoppedfeebly。
"Don’ttrouble，oldchap，"saidIsbister。"IthinkIcanunderstand。Atanyrate，itdon’tmatterverymuchjustatpresentabouttellingme，youknow。"
Thesleeplessmanthrusthisknucklesintohiseyesandrubbedthem。Isbistertalkedforawhilewhilethisrubbingcontinued，andthenhehadafreshidea。
"Comedowntomyroom，"hesaid，"andtryapipe。
IcanshowyousomesketchesofthisBlackapit。Ifyou’dcare？"
Theotherroseobedientlyandfollowedhimdownthesteep。
SeveraltimesIsbisterheardhimstumbleastheycamedown，andhismovementswereslowandhesitating。
"Comeinwithme，"saidIsbister，"andtrysomecigarettesandtheblessedgiftofalcohol。Ifyoutakealcohol？"
Thestrangerhesitatedatthegardengate。Heseemednolongerclearlyawareofhisactions。"I
don’tdrink，"hesaidslowly，comingupthegardenpath，andafteramoment’sintervalrepeatedabsently，"No——Idon’tdrink。Itgoesround。Spin，itgoes——spin——"
Hestumbledatthedoorstepandenteredtheroomwiththebearingofonewhoseesnothing。
Thenhesatdownabruptlyandheavilyintheeasychair，seemedalmosttofallintoit。Heleantforwardwithhisbrowsonhishandsandbecamemotionless。
Presentlyhemadeafaintsoundinhisthroat。
Isbistermovedabouttheroomwiththenervousnessofaninexperiencedhost，makinglittleremarksthatscarcelyrequiredanswering。Hecrossedtheroomtohisportfolio，placeditonthetableandnoticedthemantelclock。
"Idon’tknowifyou’dcaretohavesupperwithme，"hesaidwithanunlightedcigaretteinhishand——
hismindtroubledwithadesignofthefurtiveadministrationofchloral。"Onlycoldmutton，youknow，butpassingsweet。Welsh。Andatart，Ibelieve。"
Herepeatedthisaftermomentarysilence。
Theseatedmanmadenoanswer。Isbisterstopped，matchinhand，regardinghim。
Thestillnesslengthened。Thematchwentout，thecigarettewasputdownunlit。Themanwascertainlyverystill。Isbistertookuptheportfolio，openedit，putitdown，hesitated，seemedabouttospeak。
"Perhaps，"hewhispereddoubtfully。Presentlyheglancedatthedoorandbacktothefigure。Thenhestoleontiptoeoutoftheroom，glancingathiscompanionaftereachelaboratepace。
Heclosedthedoornoiselessly。Thehousedoorwasstandingopen，andhewentoutbeyondtheporch，andstoodwherethemonkshoodroseatthecornerofthegardenbed。Fromthispointhecouldseethestrangerthroughtheopenwindow，stillanddim，sittingheadonhand。Hehadnotmoved。
Anumberofchildrengoingalongtheroadstoppedandregardedtheartistcuriously。Aboatmanexchangedcivilitieswithhim。Hefeltthatpossiblyhiscircumspectattitudeandpositionseemedpeculiarandunaccountable。Smoking，perhaps，mightseemmorenatural。Hedrewpipeandpouchfromhispocket，filledthepipeslowly。
"Iwonder，"……hesaid，withascarcelyperceptiblelossofcomplacency。"Atanyratewemustgivehimachance。"Hestruckamatchinthevirileway，andproceededtolighthispipe。
Presentlyheheardhislandladybehindhim，comingwithhislamplitfromthekitchen。Heturned，gesticulatingwithhispipe，andstoppedheratthedoorofhissitting—room。Hehadsomedifficultyinexplainingthesituationinwhispers，forshedidnotknowhehadavisitor。Sheretreatedagainwiththelamp，stillalittlemystifiedtojudgefromhermanner，andheresumedhishoveringatthecorneroftheporch，flushedandlessathisease。
Longafterhehadsmokedouthispipe，andwhenthebatswereabroad，hiscuriositydominatedhiscomplexhesitations，andhestolebackintohisdarklingsitting—room。Hepausedinthedoorway。Thestrangerwasstillinthesameattitude，darkagainstthewindow。Saveforthesingingofsomesailorsaboardoneofthelittleslate—carryingshipsintheharbour，theeveningwasverystill。Outside，thespikesofmonkshoodanddelphiniumstooderectandmotionlessagainsttheshadowofthehillside。SomethingflashedintoIsbister’smind；hestarted，andleaningoverthetable，listened。Anunpleasantsuspiciongrewstronger；becameconviction。Astonishmentseizedhimandbecame——dread！
Nosoundofbreathingcamefromtheseatedfigure！
Hecreptslowlyandnoiselesslyroundthetable，pausingtwicetolisten。Atlasthecouldlayhishandonthebackofthearmchair。Hebentdownuntilthetwoheadswereeartoear。
Thenhebentstilllowertolookupathisvisitor’sface。Hestartedviolentlyandutteredanexclamation。
Theeyeswerevoidspacesofwhite。
Helookedagainandsawthattheywereopenandwiththepupilsrolledunderthelids。Hewassuddenlyafraid。Overcomebythestrangenessoftheman’scondition，hetookhimbytheshoulderandshookhim。"Areyouasleep？"hesaid，withhisvoicejumpingintoalto，andagain，"Areyouasleep？"
Aconvictiontookpossessionofhismindthatthismanwasdead。Hesuddenlybecameactiveandnoisy，strodeacrosstheroom，blunderingagainstthetableashedidso，andrangthebell。
"Pleasebringalightatonce，"hesaidinthepassage。
"Thereissomethingwrongwithmyfriend。"
Thenhereturnedtothemotionlessseatedfigure，graspedtheshoulder，shookit，andshouted。Theroomwasfloodedwithyellowglareashisastonishedlandladyenteredwiththelight。Hisfacewaswhiteasheturnedblinkingtowardsher。"Imustfetchadoctoratonce，"hesaid。"Itiseitherdeathorafit。Isthereadoctorinthevillage？Whereisadoctortobefound？"
THETRANCE
Thestateofcatalepticrigourintowhichthismanhadfallen，lastedforanunprecedentedlengthoftime，andthenhepassedslowlytotheflaccidstate，toalaxattitudesuggestiveofprofoundrepose。Thenitwashiseyescouldbeclosed。
HewasremovedfromthehoteltotheBoscastlesurgery，andfromthesurgery，aftersomeweeks，toLondon。Buthestillresistedeveryattemptatreanimation。Afteratime，forreasonsthatwillappearlater，theseattemptswerediscontinued。Foragreatspacehelayinthatstrangecondition，inertandstillneitherdeadnorlivingbut，asitwere，suspended，hangingmidwaybetweennothingnessandexistence。
Hiswasadarknessunbrokenbyarayofthoughtorsensation，adreamlessinanition，avastspaceofpeace。
Thetumultofhismindhadswelledandrisentoanabruptclimaxofsilence。Wherewastheman？
Whereisanymanwheninsensibilitytakesholdofhim？
"Itseemsonlyyesterday，"saidIsbister。"I
rememberitallasthoughithappenedyesterday——
clearerperhaps，thanifithadhappenedyesterday。"
ItwastheIsbisterofthelastchapter，buthewasnolongerayoungman。Thehairthathadbeenbrownandatrifleinexcessofthefashionablelength，wasirongreyandclippedclose，andthefacethathadbeenpinkandwhitewasbuffandruddy。Hehadapointedbeardshotwithgrey。Hetalkedtoanelderlymanwhoworeasummersuitofdrill（thesummerofthatyearwasunusuallyhot）。ThiswasWarming，aLondonsolicitorandnextofkintoGraham，themanwhohadfallenintothetrance。AndthetwomenstoodsidebysideinaroominahouseinLondonregardinghisrecumbentfigure。
ItwasayellowfigureIyinglaxuponawater—bedandcladinaflowingshirt，afigurewithashrunkenfaceandastubbybeard，leanlimbsandlanknails，andaboutitwasacaseofthinglass。Thisglassseemedtomarkoffthesleeperfromtherealityoflifeabouthim，hewasathingapart，astrange，isolatedabnormality。
Thetwomenstoodclosetotheglass，peeringin。
"Thethinggavemeashock，"saidIsbister"I
feelaqueersortofsurpriseevennowwhenIthinkofhiswhiteeyes。Theywerewhite，youknow，rolledup。Cominghereagainbringsitallbacktome。
"Haveyouneverseenhimsincethattime？"askedWarming。
"Oftenwantedtocome，"saidIsbister；"butbusinessnowadaysistooseriousathingformuchholidaykeeping。I’vebeeninAmericamostofthetime。"
"IfIrememberrightly，"saidWarming，"youwereanartist？"
"Was。AndthenIbecameamarriedman。Isawitwasallupwithblackandwhite，verysoon——atleastforamediocreman，andIjumpedontoprocess。
ThosepostersontheCliffsatDoverarebymypeople。"
"Goodposters，"admittedthesolicitor，"thoughI
wassorrytoseethemthere。"I
"Lastaslongasthecliffs，ifnecessary，"exclaimedIsbisterwithsatisfaction。"Theworldchanges。
Whenhefellasleep，twentyyearsago，IwasdownatBoscastlewithaboxofwater—coloursandanoble，old—fashionedambition。Ididn’texpectthatsomedaymypigmentswouldglorifythewholeblessedcoastofEngland，fromLand’sEndroundagaintotheLizard。
Luckcomestoamanveryoftenwhenhe’snotlooking。"
Warmingseemedtodoubtthequalityoftheluck。
"Ijustmissedseeingyou，ifIrecollectaright。"
"YoucamebackbythetrapthattookmetoCamelfordrailwaystation。ItwascloseontheJubilee，Victoria’sJubilee，becauseIremembertheseatsandflagsinWestminster，andtherowwiththecabmanatChelsea。"
"TheDiamondJubilee，itwas，"saidWarming；
"thesecondone。"
"Ah，yes！AttheproperJubilee——theFiftyYearaffair——IwasdownatWookey——aboy。Imissedallthat……Whatafusswehadwithhim！Mylandladywouldn’ttakehimin，wouldn’tlethimstay——
helookedsoqueerwhenhewasrigid。Wehadtocarryhiminachairuptothehotel。AndtheBoscastledoctor——itwasn’tthepresentchap，buttheG。P。beforehim——wasathimuntilnearlytwo，with，meandthelandlordholdinglightsandsoforth。"
"Itwasacatalepticrigouratfirst，wasn’tit？"
"Stiff！——whereveryoubenthimhestuck。Youmighthavestoodhimonhisheadandhe’dhavestopped。Ineversawsuchstiffness。Ofcoursethis"
——heindicatedtheprostratefigurebyamovementofhishead——"isquitedifferent。And，ofcourse，thelittledoctor——whatwashisname？"
"Smithers？"
"Smithersitwas——wasquitewrongintryingtofetchhimroundtoosoon，accordingtoallaccounts。
Thethingshedid。Evennowitmakesmefeelall——
ugh！Mustard，snuff，pricking。Andoneofthosebeastlylittlethings，notdynamos——"
"Inductioncoils。"
"Yes。Youcouldseehismusclesthrobandjump，andhetwistedabout。Therewasjusttwoflaringyellowcandles，andalltheshadowswereshivering，andthelittledoctornervousandputtingonside，andhim——starkandsquirminginthemostunnaturalways。Well，itmademedream。"
Pause。
"It’sastrangestate，"saidWarming。
"It’sasortofcompleteabsence，"saidIsbister。
"Here’sthebody，empty。Notdeadabit，andyetnotalive。It’slikeaseatvacantandmarked’engaged。’
Nofeeling，nodigestion，nobeatingoftheheart——notaflutter。__That__doesn’tmakemefeelasiftherewasamanpresent。Inasenseit’smoredeadthandeath，forthesedoctorstellmethateventhehairhasstoppedgrowing。Nowwiththeproperdead，thehairwillgoongrowing——"
"Iknow，"saidWarming，withaflashofpaininhisexpression。
Theypeeredthroughtheglassagain。Grahamwasindeedinastrangestate，intheflaccidphaseofatrance，butatranceunprecedentedinmedicalhistory。
Tranceshadlastedforasmuchasayearbefore——butattheendofthattimeithadeverbeenwakingoradeath；sometimesfirstoneandthentheother。Isbisternotedthemarksthephysicianshadmadeininjectingnourishment，forthatdevicehadbeenresortedtotopostponecollapse；hepointedthemouttoWarming，whohadbeentryingnottoseethem。
"AndwhilehehasbeenIyinghere，"saidIsbister，withthezestofalifefreelyspent，"Ihavechangedmyplansinlife；married，raisedafamily，myeldestlad——
Ihadn’tbeguntothinkofsonsthen——isanAmericancitizen，andlookingforwardtoleavingHarvard。
There’satouchofgreyinmyhair。Andthisman，notadayoldernorwiser（practically）thanIwasinmydownydays。It’scurioustothinkof。"
Warmingturned。"AndIhavegrownoldtoo。I
playedcricketwithhimwhenIwasstillonlyalad。
Andhelooksayoungmanstill。Yellowperhaps。
Butthatisayoungmannevertheless。"
"Andthere’sbeentheWar，"saidIsbister。
"Frombeginningtoend。"
"AndtheseMartians。"
"I’veunderstood，"saidIsbisterafterapause，"thathehadsomemoderatepropertyofhisown？"
"Thatisso，"saidWarming。Hecoughedprimly。
"Asithappens——havechargeofit。"
"Ah！"Isbisterthought，hesitatedandspoke：
"Nodoubt——hiskeephereisnotexpensive——nodoubtitwillhaveimproved——accumulated？"
"Ithas。Hewillwakeupverymuchbetteroff——
ifhewakes——thanwhenheslept。"
"Asabusinessman，"saidIsbister，"thatthoughthasnaturallybeeninmymind。Ihave，indeed，sometimesthoughtthat，speakingcommercially，ofcourse，thissleepmaybeaverygoodthingforhim。Thatheknowswhatheisabout，sotospeak，inbeinginsensiblesolong。Ifhehadlivedstraighton——"
"Idoubtifhewouldhavepremeditatedasmuch，"
saidWarming。"Hewasnotafar—sightedman。Infact——"
"Yes？"