"At one o'clock to the minute he awoke. His wife told him she had
made every endeavour to rouse him, but in vain. The man was vexed
and irritated. If he had not been a very good man indeed, I
believe he would have sworn. The same programme was repeated as on
the Thursday, and again he reached the City at three.
"This state of things went on for a month. The man fought against
himself, but was unable to alter himself. Every morning, or rather
every afternoon at one he awoke. Every night at one he crept down
into the kitchen and foraged for food. Every morning at five he
fell asleep.
"He could not understand it, nobody could understand it. The
doctor treated him for water on the brain, hypnotic
irresponsibility and hereditary lunacy. Meanwhile his business
suffered, and his health grew worse. He seemed to be living upside
down. His days seemed to have neither beginning nor end, but to be
all middle. There was no time for exercise or recreation. When he
began to feel cheerful and sociable everybody else was asleep.
"One day by chance the explanation came. His eldest daughter was
preparing her home studies after dinner.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173