At last he stumbled and fell.
It is not a matter of ease to rise from a bed which yields endlessly to every pressure of arm or knee.

Even a sea-bird, that strongest of flyers, finds it hard to rise from any but its own element; and before Trenholme had managed to spring up, as it were, from nothing, the man in front had in some way become aware of his presence for the first time, and of his fall; he turned and lifted him up with a strong hand.

When Trenholme was walking again the other retained a firm hold of his arm, looked at him earnestly, and spoke to him.

His words expressed a religious idea which was evidently occupying his whole mind.
"The Lord is coming presently to set up His kingdom," he said.

"Are you ready to meet Him ?" On Alec Trenholme the effect of these words, more unexpected than any other words could have been, was first and chiefly to convince him that he was dealing with a witless person.