But，forGod’ssake，takecare！’Theywoulddisplaceme。Whatelsecouldtheydo？”
Hispainofmindwasmostpitiabletosee。Itwasthementaltortureofaconscientiousman，oppressedbeyondendurancebyanunintelligibleresponsibilityinvolvinglife。”WhenitfirststoodundertheDanger-light，”hewenton，puttinghisdarkhairbackfromhishead，anddrawinghishandsoutwardacrossandacrosshistemplesinanextremityoffeverishdistress，”whynottellmewherethataccidentwastohappen，——ifitmusthappen？Whynottellmehowitcouldbeaverted，——ifitcouldhavebeenaverted？Whenonitssecondcomingithiditsface，whynottellme，instead，’Sheisgoingtodie。Letthemkeepherathome’？Ifitcame，onthosetwooccasions，onlytoshowmethatitswarningsweretrue，andsotopreparemeforthethird，whynotwarnmeplainlynow？AndI，Lordhelpme！Amerepoorsignal-manonthissolitarystation！Whynotgotosomebodywithcredittobebelieved，andpowertoact？”
WhenIsawhiminthisstate，Isawthatforthepoorman’ssake，aswellasforthepublicsafety，whatIhadtodoforthetimewastocomposehismind。Therefore，settingasideallquestionofrealityorunrealitybetweenus，Irepresentedtohimthatwhoeverthoroughlydischargedhisdutymustdowell，andthatatleastitwashiscomfortthatheunderstoodhisduty，thoughhedidnotunderstandtheseconfoundingAppearances。InthiseffortI
succeededfarbetterthanintheattempttoreasonhimoutofhisconviction。Hebecamecalm；theoccupationsincidentaltohispostasthenightadvancedbegantomakelargerdemandsonhisattention:andIlefthimattwointhemorning。Ihadofferedtostaythroughthenight，buthewouldnothearofit。
ThatImorethanoncelookedbackattheredlightasIascendedthepathway，thatIdidnotliketheredlight，andthatIshouldhavesleptbutpoorlyifmybedhadbeenunderit，Iseenoreasontoconceal。NordidIlikethetwosequencesoftheaccidentandthedeadgirl。Iseenoreasontoconcealthateither。