All the marks were
something alike, but all somewhat different, and on comparing them
with each other, I was struck with the frequent occurrence of a
mark crossing an upright line, or projecting from it, now on the
right, now on the left side; and I said to myself, 'Why does this
mark sometimes cross the upright line, and sometimes project?' and
the more I thought on the matter, the less did I feel of the misery
in my head.
"The things were at length removed, and I sat, as I had for some
time past been wont to sit after my meals, silent and motionless;
but in the present instance my mind was not entirely abandoned to
the one mournful idea which had so long distressed it. It was, to
a certain extent, occupied with the marks on the teapot; it is true
that the mournful idea strove hard with the marks on the teapot for
the mastery in my mind, and at last the painful idea drove the
marks of the teapot out; they, however, would occasionally return
and flit across my mind for a moment or two, and their coming was
like a momentary relief from intense pain. I thought once or twice
that I would have the teapot placed before me, that I might examine
the marks at leisure, but I considered that it would be as well to
defer the re-examination of the marks till the next morning; at
that time I did not take tea of an evening.
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