Hearing nothing, she opened the door, with her heart in her mouth, and looked in.

Jonah was crouching motionless on the end of the sofa, his head buried among the cushions, like a stricken animal.

Puzzled, but reassured, she closed the door gently and went downstairs.
* * * * * Jonah never saw Clara again.

He spent a week in the depths, groping blindly, hating life for its deceptions.

Then, one day, his passion of hatred and loathing for Clara left him suddenly, as a garrison surrenders without a blow.