Grand'ther entered, and sitting by the stand read a chapter.

His voice was like opium.

Presently my head rolled across the rods, and I felt conscious of slipping down the glassy seat.

After he had read the chapter he prayed.

If the chapter had been long, the prayer was short; if the chapter had been short, the prayer was long.
When he had ceased praying, he left the room without speaking, and betook himself to bed.