At last his sobs ceased and he was silent.

I had risen from my chair and now I stood there with a hand on his shoulder; the ticking of the ancient eight-sided clock on the wall sounded loud in the room.
Suddenly he sat up and threw off my hand.
"Well," he said, bitterly, "I'm a fine specimen of a man, ain't I.Ain't you proud of me ?" "I am mighty sorry for you," I answered.

"And I mean to help you." "You can't." "How do you know ?" "Because I do know, Ros," he turned and looked me straight in the eye.
"I am going to give you some good advice.

Take it, for your own sake.
Clear out of here and leave me.

Don't have anything more to do with me.
Clear out." I did not move.
"Are you going to do as I tell you ?" he demanded.