Page:The Works of H G Wells Volume 11.pdf/189

 together. They rushed to one point as water in a clepsydra rushes to its hole. The whole universe became small, became a little thing, diminished to the size of a coin, of a spot, of a pin-point, of one intense black mathematical point, and—vanished. He heard his own voice crying in the void like the echo of a sigh blown before the wind: "But will my courage endure?" The question went unanswered. Not only the things of space but the things of time swept together into nothingness. The last moment of his dream rushed towards the first, crumpled all the intervening moments together and made them one. It seemed to Mr. Huss that he was still in the instant of insensibility. That sound of the breaking string was still in his ears:—Ploot

It became part of that same sound which came before the vision

He was aware of a new pain within him; not that dull aching now, but a pain keen and sore. He gave a fluttering gasp.

"Quick," said a voice. "He is coming to!"

"He'll not wake for hours," said a second voice.

"His mouth and eyes!"

He lifted his eyelids as one lifts lead. He found himself looking into the intelligent but unsympathetic face of Sir Alpheus Mengo, he tried to comprehend his situation but he had forgotten how he had got to it, he closed his eyes and sank back consciously and wilfully towards insensibility