Identifier: cu31924013471481 (find matches)
Title: Works
Year: 1881 (1880s)
Authors: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Subjects:
Publisher: London, Chapman and Hall, limited
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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his own weakness, and the crueltyof his persecutors. A short pause, and he shouted out a fewdoggerel rhymes—the last he had ever learnt. He rose inbed, drew up his withered limbs, and roUed about in uncouthpositions ; he was acting—he was at the theatre. A minutessilence, and he murmured the burden of some roaring song. Hehad reached the old house at last: how hot the room was. Hehad been ill, very ill, but he was well now, and happy. FiU uphis glass. Who was that, that dashed it from his lips ? It wasthe same persecutor that had followed him before. He fell backupon his pillow and moaned aloud. A short period of oblivion,and he was wandering through a tedious maze of low-archedrooms—so low, sometimes, that he must creep upon his handsand knees to make his way along; it was close and dark, andevery way he turned, some obstacle impeded his progress. Therewere insects too, hideous crawling things with eyes that staredupon him, and filled the very air around: glistening horribly 44
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. J^^i ^z4^/^- m ■/fn^. THE SICK CLOWNS DEATH amidst the thick darkness of the place. The walls and ceilingwere alive with reptiles — the vault expanded to an enormoussize—frightful figures flitted to and fro—and the faces of menhe knew, rendered hideous by gibing and mouthing, peered outfrom among them; they were searing him with heated irons,and binding his head with cords till the blood started ; and hestruggled madly for life. At the close of one of these paroxysms, when I had withgreat difficulty held him down in his bed, he sank into whatappeared to be a slumber. Overpowered with watching andexertion, I had closed my eyes for a few minutes, when I felta violent clutch on my shoulder. I awoke instantly. He hadraised himself up, so as to seat himself in bed—a dreadfulchange had come over his face, but consciousness had returned,for he evidently knew me. The chUd, who had been long sincedisturbed by his ravings, rose from its little bed, and ran to-wards its father, screa

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