lm star anliness ‘oap to in the 12 Oat- Lartine just des cally. dinary make hods, trol ating has a by the 7 Passage for comprehension Shelter for the night The rain started as dusk was falling. He had been walking since ten o'clock and he was beginning to feel extremely tired. Overhead, heavy grey clouds were gathering ominously; a few streaks of what had been a fiery sunset gleamed for a while on the dark bog puddles ahead, but these soon faded, Teaving a uniform greyness of earth and sky. 5 The narrow muddy path twisted to avoid boulders covered with spongy moss and the few scattered bushes. As the rain had now obviously set in and was falling with increasing determination, he wearily unfolded his rain. coat and put it on. He fumbled in his pocket for his small torch, which he would probably need before long. He was getting hungry so he greedily 10 munched some of his stock of ginger biscuits and chocolate. He had no idea of how far he had still to walk; so far as he was concerned he was the sole in- habitant of a deserted world of gigantic, cloud continents, damp gloomy ‘wastes of moorland, minute tinkling streams and driving soaking rain. Suddenly he felt the path descending steeply. Peering through the dark- ness, he could discern lights. Switching on his torch, he doubled his pace, and within a quarter of an hour was striding briskly along a paved.street between rows of houses, At the crossroads he noticed a small public house with a board outside announcing that there was accommodation available ‘on the premises, He hopefully pushed open the door, went through a dimly. 29 lit passage and entered a smoke-filled bar. Men were leaning against the counter, arguing stubbornly about business and betting, cricket and crime; 4 group of three in the far corer, who looked like commercial travellers, were very nearly quarrelling over politics, while a third group, quietly playing dominoes, seemed completely absorbed in their game. 25 ‘The cheerful-looking woman serving behind the bar said good-evening to him ina friendly way but shook her head discouragingly when he asked about ‘I'm sorry,’ she said, ‘the local race week is starting to-morrow and every room has been taken. But it’s bad weather to go hunting for rooms in, 1 30 suggest you go and see Mrs. Parkins next door. Since her son has been called ‘up, she usually has a spare room, and she never minds helping anyone who hhas nowhere to sleep, provided he’s respectable.”