In
the meantime, the discomfort was not extreme to lie gagged and bound
on a garret-floor for some few hours was, after all, a situation
which a philosopher might patiently endure, and to an artist it
might well be suggestive of hints. Breathing, to be sure, was not
easy, but became more so by degrees.
But with the complete recollection of his faculties came back the
thought of what was involved in the question of release before the
following day. Early in the morning he had to be at the door of
Tothill Fields' Prison. How if his release were delayed, through
Slimy's neglect or that of the agent he might employ? As the first
hour passed slowly by, this became the chief anxiety in Waymark's
mind. It made him forgetful of the aching in his arms, caused by the
bind ing together of his hands behind him, and left no room for
anticipation of the other sufferings which would result from his
being left thus for an indefinite period. What would Ida do, if she
came out and found no one to meet her?
His absence would make no one anxious, at all events not till more
than a day had gone by. Hitherto he had always taken his rents at
once to Mr. Woodstock's office, but the old gentleman was not likely
to be disturbed by his non appearance; it would be accounted for in
some simple way, and his coming expected on the following morning.
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