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Gissing, George, 1857-1903

"The Unclassed"

A
room had accordingly been secured beforehand, and it was arranged
that Waymark should take her directly thither on the Tuesday
morning. In reviewing all this, Waymark found it more significant
than he had imagined. Why, he wondered, had Mr. Woodstock grown so
philanthrophic all at once? Why had he been so particular in making
sure that Waymark would meet the girl? Indeed, from the very
beginning of this affair, he had behaved with regard to it in a
manner quite unlike himself. Waymark had leisure now to ponder these
things, but could only conjecture explanations.
The hours went by; a church clock kept him aware of their progress.
The aching in his arms became severe; he suffered from cold. The
floor was swept by a draught which seemed strong and keen as a blast
of east wind; it made his eyes smart, and he kept them closed, with
some slight hope that this might also have the effect of inducing
sleep. Sleep, however, held far aloof from him. When he had wearied
his brain with other thoughts, his attention began to turn to sounds
in the court below. There, just as it grew dusk, some children were
playing, and he tried to get amusement from their games. One of them
was this.


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