FORE:"Unless we die," said the Clockwork man, clicking slightly, "unless we consent to be broken up and put into the earth, and wait while we slowly turn into little worms, and then into big worms; and then into clumsy, crawling creatures, and finally come back again to the Vale of Tears." He swayed slightly, with a finger lodged against his nose. "But it will take such a frightful time, you know. That's why we chose to have the clock. We were impatient. We were tired of waiting. The makers said we must have patience; and we could not get patience. They said that creation really took place in the twinkling of an eye, and we must have patience."
FORE:The first four acts already past,Mrs Keeling rose from her chair. The dressing-bell had already sounded, and she had not had a moments rest since before lunch.
FORE:
THREE:"Don't bother," said the Clockwork man, as Arthur stirred slightly, "I'm not going that way. I shall go back the way I came."
THREE:Through the open windows we could see the dancers. Now and then a pair of fanning promenaders came down the veranda, but on descrying us turned back. I said I was keeping her from the dance. To which she replied, drooping her head again, that she shouldn't dance that night.He found a note for himself on the hall table, and with it in his hand walked into his wifes room to see if she had returned from church. She was already there, resting a little after the fatigue of worship, and extremely voluble.
