第29章

关灯
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