His friends looked at me a little, but apparently he had left no message for me.
Later I learnt that he had been taken to another hospital at two, while I came on at three.
Once during the evening the eldest Sister mentioned vaguely, "So-and-so has gone."
And I said aloud, after a little reflection, "Yes ... in the nick of time, Sister."
During the evening I realized that I should never see him again. It was here in this ward the thing had grown. The hare we had started wouldn't bear the strain of any other life. He might write, but I shouldn't go and see him.
"He must be wild," I thought with pity.
The feeling between us would die anyhow; better throw in my strength with the Sister's and help her hurl it now towards its death. I looked at her bent head with a secret triumph.
Then, slowly: "How ... permanently am I in disgrace?"
And she: "Not at all ... now."
Behind the stone pillar of the gateway is one dirty little patch of snow; I saw it even in the moonless darkness.