Whenhehadfinishedhissupper, andliftedthetraytotheotherendofthegreatoakdining-table, hegotouthisbooksagain, putfreshwoodonthefire, trimmedhislamp, 'clock, whenheknockedoffforabittofixhisfireandlamp, -drinker, , andheenjoyeditwithasenseofdelicious, , andthrewquaintshadowsthroughthegreatoldroom;.
"Surely," hethought, ", Imusthavenoticedit!" Presently, whenthenoiseincreased, , andthelightoffireandlamp;butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenowdisportingthemselvesaswastheirwont.
Howbusytheywere!Andharktothestrangenoises!Upanddownbehindtheoldwainscot, overtheceilingandunderthefloortheyraced, andgnawed, andscratched!, "Bogiesisrats, andratsisbogies!" Theteabegantohaveitseffectofintellectualandnervousstimulus, hesawwithjoyanotherlongspellofworktobedonebeforethenightwaspast, andinthesenseofsecuritywhichitgavehim, , andwentallaround, , , buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthathecouldnotdistinguishanydetailofthem, , butinaninstantitwasgone, , however, wastheropeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof, -backedcarvedoakchair, , andwentbacktohiswork, sittingatthecornerofthetable, , buthegotaccustomedtothenoiseasonedoestothetickingofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater, andhebecamesoimmersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld, excepttheproblemwhichhewastryingtosolve, passedawayfromhim.
Hesuddenlylookedup, hisproblemwasstillunsolved, andtherewasintheairthatsenseofthehourbeforethedawn, , .
Thereonthegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefireplacesatanenormousrat, , , butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily, anditscrueleyesshoneinthelamplightwithanaddedvindictiveness.
Malcolmsonfeltamazed, , however, hecouldstrikeit, therat, withasqueakthatsoundedliketheconcentrationofhate, jumpeduponthefloor, and, runninguptheropeofthealarmbell, , strangetosay, thenoisyscamperingoftheratsinthewainscotbeganagain.
BythistimeMalcolmson'smindwasquiteofftheproblem;andasashrillcock-crowoutsidetoldhimoftheapproachofmorning, hewenttobedandtosleep.
'shardwork, butastrongcupofteasoonfreshenedhimupand, takinghisbook, hewentoutforhismorningwalk, , :
"Youmustnotoverdoit, 'tgoodforanyman!Buttellme, sir, howdidyoupassthenight?Well, Ihope?Butmyheart!Sir, ."
