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thirteen，fourteen，andsoonuntiltheyreachthetwenties，andthenthethirties，andthentheforties。Sherealisedthatthereisnothingtopreventnightsfromdoingthisiftheychoose。
Atagreatdistanceanelderlywomansatwithherheadbentdown；
Rachelraisedherselfslightlyandsawwithdismaythatshewasplayingcardsbythelightofacandlewhichstoodinthehollowofanewspaper。
Thesighthadsomethinginexplicablysinisteraboutit，andshewasterrifiedandcriedout，uponwhichthewomanlaiddownhercardsandcameacrosstheroom，shadingthecandlewithherhands。
Comingnearerandneareracrossthegreatspaceoftheroom，shestoodatlastaboveRachel’sheadandsaid，“Notasleep？
Letmemakeyoucomfortable。“
Sheputdownthecandleandbegantoarrangethebedclothes。
ItstruckRachelthatawomanwhosatplayingcardsinacavernallnightlongwouldhaveverycoldhands，andsheshrunkfromthetouchofthem。
“Why，there’satoeallthewaydownthere！“thewomansaid，proceedingtotuckinthebedclothes。Racheldidnotrealisethatthetoewashers。
“Youmusttryandliestill，“sheproceeded，“becauseifyouliestillyouwillbelesshot，andifyoutossaboutyouwillmakeyourselfmorehot，andwedon’twantyoutobeanyhotterthanyouare。“
ShestoodlookingdownuponRachelforanenormouslengthoftime。
“Andthequieteryouliethesooneryouwillbewell，“sherepeated。
Rachelkepthereyesfixeduponthepeakedshadowontheceiling，andallherenergywasconcentrateduponthedesirethatthisshadowshouldmove。Buttheshadowandthewomanseemedtobeeternallyfixedaboveher。Sheshuthereyes。Whensheopenedthemagainseveralmorehourshadpassed，butthenightstilllastedinterminably。
Thewomanwasstillplayingcards，onlyshesatnowinatunnelunderariver，andthelightstoodinalittlearchwayinthewallaboveher。Shecried“Terence！“andthepeakedshadowagainmovedacrosstheceiling，asthewomanwithanenormousslowmovementrose，andtheybothstoodstillaboveher。
“It’sjustasdifficulttokeepyouinbedasitwastokeepMr。Forrestinbed，“thewomansaid，“andhewassuchatallgentleman。“
InordertogetridofthisterriblestationarysightRachelagainshuthereyes，andfoundherselfwalkingthroughatunnelundertheThames，wheretherewerelittledeformedwomensittinginarchwaysplayingcards，whilethebricksofwhichthewallwasmadeoozedwithdamp，whichcollectedintodropsandsliddownthewall。
ButthelittleoldwomenbecameHelenandNurseMcInnisafteratime，standinginthewindowtogetherwhispering，whisperingincessantly。
Meanwhileoutsideherroomthesounds，themovements，andthelivesoftheotherpeopleinthehousewentonintheordinarylightofthesun，throughouttheusualsuccessionofhours。When，onthefirstdayofherillness，itbecameclearthatshewouldnotbeabsolutelywell，forhertemperaturewasveryhigh，untilFriday，thatdaybeingTuesday，Terencewasfilledwithresentment，notagainsther，butagainsttheforceoutsidethemwhichwasseparatingthem。
Hecountedupthenumberofdaysthatwouldalmostcertainlybespoiltforthem。Herealised，withanoddmixtureofpleasureandannoyance，that，forthefirsttimeinhislife，hewassodependentuponanotherpersonthathishappinesswasinherkeeping。
Thedayswerecompletelywastedupontrifling，immaterialthings，forafterthreeweeksofsuchintimacyandintensityalltheusualoccupationswereunbearablyflatandbesidethepoint。TheleastintolerableoccupationwastotalktoSt。JohnaboutRachel’sillness，andtodiscusseverysymptomanditsmeaning，and，whenthissubjectwasexhausted，todiscussillnessofallkinds，andwhatcausedthem，andwhatcuredthem。
TwiceeverydayhewentintositwithRachel，andtwiceeverydaythesamethinghappened。Ongoingintoherroom，whichwasnotverydark，wherethemusicwaslyingaboutasusual，andherbooksandletters，hisspiritsroseinstantly。Whenhesawherhef
