For an instant his heart stopped beating. There was a draught between the window and the door... someone else was in the bed; he had been walking in his sleep; he was in Traill's room.
He could see Traill quite clearly now, lying with one hand on the counterpane, his head on an arm. He was fast asleep, and his month was smiling.
Mr. Perrin shook from head to foot. Here was his opportunity—here was his enemy fast asleep... now. He stepped nearer to the bed—he bent over the face. Traill's pyjama-jacket was open at the neck... it would be very easy.
Then suddenly, with a little cry and his face in his hands, he crept from the room.
CHAPTER XIII—MR. PERRIN LISTENS WHILE THEY ALL MAKE SPEECHES
I.
THE next day, its brilliant sun and hard, shining cold, brought in its train great things.
The last day of the Christmas term was in some ways greater than the last day of the summer term, because it was a more private family affair.