fell off into a sound sleep. Even in later days and with a great deal of
care and other thoughtful matter to keep him awake, a man from long
practice or fatigue or resolution begins by going to sleep as usual: and
gets a nap in advance of Anxiety. But she soon comes up with him and jogs
his shoulder, and says, "Come, my man, no more of this laziness, you must
wake up and have a talk with me." Then they fall to together in the
midnight. Well, whatever might afterwards happen to him, poor little Pen
was not come to this state yet; he tumbled into a sound sleep--did not
wake until an early hour in the morning, when the rooks began to caw from
the little wood beyond his bedroom windows; and--at that very instant and
as his eyes started open, the beloved image was in his mind. "My dear
boy," he heard her say, "you were in a sound sleep and I would not
disturb you: but I have been close by your pillow all this while: and I
don't intend that you shall leave me. I am Love! I bring with me fever
and passion: wild longing, maddening desire; restless craving and
seeking. Many a long day ere this I heard you calling out for me; and
behold now I am come."

Was Pen frightened at the summons? Not he. He did not know what was
coming: it was all wild pleasure and delight as yet. And as, when three
years previously, and on entering the fifth form at the Cistercians, his
father had made him a present of a gold watch which the boy took from
under his pillow and examined on the instant of waking: for ever rubbing
and polishing it up in private and retiring into corners to listen to its
ticking: so the young man exulted over his new delight; felt in his
waistcoat pocket to see that it was safe; wound it up at nights, and at
the very first moment of waking hugged it and looked at it.--By the way,
that first watch of Pen's was a showy ill-manufactured piece: it never
went well from the beginning, and was always getting out of order. And
after putting it aside into a drawer and forgetting it for some time, he