It seemed to Kirk, as the days went by, that a mist of unreality felllike a curtain between him and the things of this world. Commonplaceobjects lost their character and became things to marvel at. There wasa new bond of sympathy between the world and himself.

　　A citizen walking in the park with his children became a kind ofmiracle. Here was a man who had travelled the road which he wastravelling now, who had had the same hopes and fear and wonder. Once heencountered a prosperous looking individual moving, like a liner amongtugs, in the midst of no fewer than six offspring. Kirk fixed him withsuch a concentrated stare of emotion and excitement that the other wasalarmed and went on his way alertly, as one in the presence of danger.

　　It is probable that, if Kirk had happened to ask him the time at thatmoment, or indeed addressed him at all, he would have screamed for thepolice.

　　The mystery of childbirth and the wonder of it obsessed Kirk as timecrept on. And still more was he conscious of the horrible dread thatwas gathering within him. Ruth's unvarying cheerfulness was to himalmost uncanny. None of the doubts and fears which blackened his lifeappeared to touch her. Once he confided these to his friend, the littledoctor, and was thoroughly bullied by him for his foolishness. But inspite of ridicule the fear crept back, cringingly, like a whipped dog.

　　And then, time moving on its leisurely but businesslike fashion, theday arrived, and for the first time in his life Kirk knew what fearreally meant. All that he had experienced till now had, he saw, been amild apprehension, not worthy of a stronger name. His flesh crawledwith the thoughts which rose in his mind like black bubbles in a pond.

　　There were moments when the temptation to stupefy himself with drinkwas almost irresistible.

　　It was his utter uselessness that paralysed him. He seemed destined tobe of no help to Ruth at just those crises when she needed him most.

　　When she was facing her father with the news of the marriage he had notbeen at her side. And now, when she was fighting for her life, he coulddo nothing but pace the empty, quiet studio and think.

　　The doctor had arrived at eight o'clock, cheery as ever, and had comedownstairs after seeing Ruth to ask him to telephone to Mrs. Porter. Inhis overwrought state, this had jarred upon Kirk. Here, he felt, wassomebody who could help where he was useless.

　　Mrs. Porter had appeared in a cab and had had the cold brutality to askfor a glass of sherry and a sandwich before going upstairs. She putforward the lame excuse that she had not dined. Kirk gave her thesherry and sandwich and resumed his patrol in a glow of indignation.

　　The idea of any one requiring food at this moment struck him as grossand revolting.

　　His wrath did not last. In a short while fear came back into its own.