Hehadgrowntaller；butwithhisincreasedheightheseemedleanerthanever。Also，hewasmorenervous。Withthenervousnessincreasedhispeevishnessandirritability。Thechildrenhadlearnedbymanybitterlessonstofightshyofhim。Hismotherrespectedhimforhisearningpower，butsomehowherrespectwastincturedwithfear。
Therewasnojoyousnessinlifeforhim。Theprocessionofthedaysheneversaw。Thenightshesleptawayintwitchingunconsciousness。Therestofthetimeheworked，andhisconsciousnesswasmachineconsciousness。Outsidethishismindwasablank。Hehadnoideals，andbutoneillusion；namely，thathedrankexcellentcoffee。Hewasawork-
beast。Hehadnomentallifewhatever；yetdeepdowninthecryptsofhismind，unknowntohim，werebeingweighedandsiftedeveryhourofhistoil，everymovementofhishands，everytwitchofhismuscles，andpreparationsweremakingforafuturecourseofactionthatwouldamazehimandallhislittleworld。
Itwasinthelatespringthathecamehomefromworkonenightawareofunusualtiredness。Therewasakeenexpectancyintheairashesatdowntothetable，buthedidnotnotice。Hewentthroughthemealinmoodysilence，mechanicallyeatingwhatwasbeforehim。Thechildrenum\'dandah\'dandmadesmackingnoiseswiththeirmouths。Buthewasdeaftothem。
\"D\'yeknowwhatyou\'reeatin\'？\"hismotherdemandedatlast，desperately。