第29章
关灯
小
中
大
dforamoment,andaveryfaintvoice
respondedtothesalutation,asifitwereatadistance:“Goodday!”
“Youarestillhardatwork,Isee?”
Afteralongsilence,theheadwasliftedforanothermoment,
andthevoicereplied,“YesIamworking.”Thistime,apairof
haggardeyeshadlookedatthequestioner,beforethefacehad
droppedagain.
Thefaintnessofthevoicewaspitiableanddreadful.Itwasnot
thefaintnessofphysicalweakness,thoughconfinementandhard
farenodoubthadtheirpartinit.Itsdeplorablepeculiaritywas,
thatitwasthefaintnessofsolitudeanddisuse.Itwaslikethelast
feebleechoofasoundmadelongandlongago.Soentirelyhadit
lostthelifeandresonanceofthehumanvoice,thatitaffectedthe
senseslikeaoncebeautifulcolourfadedawayintoapoorweak
stain.Sosunkenandsuppresseditwas,thatitwaslikeavoice
underground.S