To see what was solidly, incontrovertibly, human could not but be, in itself, a mighty relief .-- Things began to swing into their natural relation, man, living man, the centre, the dominant factor once more.

He, Tom, could now shift all responsibility, moreover.

If the master of the house was on guard, he might wash his hands of these hateful ghostly goings on--if ghostly they were--leaving the whole matter to one far stronger and more competent than himself.
Whereupon he went back to bed; and slept profoundly, royally, until Hordle the man-servant, moving about the bright chintz bedecked room, preparing his bath and laying out his clothes, awoke him to the sweetness of another summer day..