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Gissing, George, 1857-1903

"The Unclassed"

He was carried to the police-station in an
insensible state, but on being taken to the cell, came to himself,
and exhibited symptoms of delirium tremens. Two officers remained
with him, but the assistance of a third shortly became necessary,
owing to the violence of his struggles. Towards midnight his fury
lessened, and. after a very brief interval of unconsciousness, the
wretched creature expired."


CHAPTER XXXI
NEW PROSPECTS


Mr. Woodstock's house at Tottenham was a cheerful abode when the
months of early summer came round, and there was thick leafage
within the shelter of the old brick wall which shut it off from the
road.
For the first time in his life he understood the attractions of
domesticity. During the early months of the year, slippers and the
fireside after dinner; now that the sunset-time was growing warm and
fragrant, a musing saunter about the garden walks; these were the
things to which his imagination grew fond of turning. Nor to these
only; blended with such visions of bodily comfort, perchance lending
to them their chief attraction, was the light of a young face, grave
always, often sad, speaking with its beautiful eyes to those simpler
and tenderer instincts of his nature which had hitherto slept.


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