"Drink these," said she. "You will feel so much better."
And we did. Summerlee asked if he might light his pipe, and we all hadcigarettes. It steadied our nerves, I think, but it was a mistake, forit made a dreadful atmosphere in that stuffy room. Challenger had toopen the ventilator.
"How long, Challenger?" asked Lord John.
"Possibly three hours," he answered with a shrug.
"I used to be frightened," said his wife. "But the nearer I get to it,the easier it seems. Don't you think we ought to pray, George?"
"You will pray, dear, if you wish," the big man answered, very gently."We all have our own ways of praying. Mine is a complete acquiescence inwhatever fate may send me--a cheerful acquiescence. The highest religionand the highest science seem to unite on that."
"I cannot truthfully describe my mental attitude as acquiescence and farless cheerful acquiescence," grumbled Summerlee over his pipe. "I submitbecause I have to. I confess that I should have liked another year oflife to finish my classification of the chalk fossils."
"Your unfinished work is a small thing," said Challenger pompously, "whenweighed against the fact that my own _magnum opus_, 'The Ladder of Life,'is still in the first stages. My brain, my reading, my experience--infact, my whole unique equipment--were to be condensed into thatepoch-making volume. And yet, as I say, I acquiesce."
"I expect we've all left some loose ends stickin' out," said Lord John."What are yours, young fellah?"
"I was working at a book of verses," I answered.
"Well, the world has escaped that, anyhow," said Lord John. "There'salways compensation somewhere if you grope around."
"What about you?" I asked.
"Well, it just so happens that I was tidied up and ready. I'd promisedMerivale to go to Tibet for a snow leopard in the spring. But it's hardon you, Mrs. Challenger, when you have just built up this pretty home."
"Where George is, there is my home. But, oh, what would I not give forone last walk together in the fresh morning air upon those beautifuldowns!"
Our hearts re-echoed her words. The sun had burst through the gauzymists which veiled it, and the whole broad Weald was washed in goldenlight. Sitting in our dark and poisonous atmosphere that glorious,clean, wind-swept countryside seemed a very dream of beauty. Mrs.Challenger held her hand stretched out to it in her longing. We drew upchairs and sat in a semicircle in the window. The atmosphere was alreadyvery close. It seemed to me that the shadows of death were drawing inupon us--the last of our race. It was like an invisible curtain closingdown upon every side.
"That cylinder is not lastin' too well," said Lord John with a long gaspfor breath.
"The amount contained is variable," said Challenger, "depending upon thepressure and care with which it has been bottled. I am inclined to agreewith you, Roxton, that this one is defective."
"So we are to be cheated out of the last hour of our lives," Summerleeremarked bitterly. "An excellent final illustration of the sordid age inwhich we have lived. Well, Challenger, now is your time if you wish tostudy the subjective phenomena of physical dissolution."
"Sit on the stool at my knee and give me your hand," said Challenger tohis wife. "I think, my friends, that a further delay in thisinsufferable atmosphere is hardly advisable. You would not desire it,dear, would you?"
His wife gave a little groan and sank her face against his leg.
"I've seen the folk bathin' in the Serpentine in winter," said Lord John."When the rest are in, you see one or two shiverin' on the bank, envyin'the others that have taken the plunge. It's the last that have the worstof it. I'm all for a header and have done with it."
"You would open the window and face the ether?"
"Better be poisoned than stifled."
Summerlee nodded his reluctant acquiescence and held out his thin hand toChallenger.
"We've had our quarrels in our time, but that's all over," said he. "Wewere good friends and had a respect for each other under the surface.Good-by!"
"Good-by, young fellah!" said Lord John. "The window's plastered up.You can't open it."
Challenger stooped and raised his wife, pressing her to his breast, whileshe threw her arms round his neck.
"Give me that field-glass, Malone," said he gravely.
I handed it to him.
"Into the hands of the Power that made us we render ourselves again!" heshouted in his voice of thunder, and at the words he hurled thefield-glass through the window.