became the ties of a railroad--interminable. He awoke, very faint and
tired, with a lost feeling and the sense upon him of some great
catastrophe. The old man was sleeping deeply in his bunk, a ray of white
sunlight falling on his yellow features. He looked like one who would
never wake again. But as Paul gazed at him he smiled, and sighed heavily.
His lips formed a name; and all the blood in Paul's body dyed his face
crimson. The name was his mother's.




XII


THE BLOOD-WITE

A few hours seemed days, after the great disclosure. Both men had recoiled
from it and were feeling the strain of the new relation. Three times since
their first meeting the elder had adjusted himself quietly to a change in
the younger's manner to him. First there had been respectful curiosity in
the presence of a new type, combined with the deference due a leader and
an expert in strange fields. Then indignant partisanship, pity, and the
slight condescension of the nurse. This had hurt the packer, but he took
it as he accepted his physical downfall. The last change was hardest to
bear; for now the time was short, and, as Paul himself had said, they were
in the presence of the final unveiling.

So when Paul made artificial remarks to break the pauses, avoiding his
father's eye and giving him neither name nor title, the latter became
silent and lay staring at the logs and picking at his hands.