he assumed the new and
final proportions of a childish invalid--his fierce, true grasp of
things, his wide-sweeping and ambitious viewpoint narrowed hastily to
the four walls of the sick room. Instead of the stock-market
fluctuation bringing forth his "Gad, that's good!" or oaths of
disapproval, the taste of an especially good custard or the way the
masseuse neglected his left forearm were cause for joy or grief.

Life had suddenly changed into the monotonous and wearing routine of a
broken, lonesome old man who had plenty of time to think of the past
with his wife Hannah, recalling incidents he had not recalled until
this dull, long day arrived. And after reaching many conclusions about
many things Constantine was forced to realize that no one particularly
cared for or sought out his opinions. He was placed in the category of
all fallen oaks--someone who would have one of the largest funerals
ever held in the city. And friends murmured that for Bea's sake they
hoped it would not be long.

But it was to be long--for with the tenacity of purpose he had always
exhibited Constantine readjusted himself to the narrow realm of four
walls. His former tyranny toward the business world was now exercised
toward his daughter and son-in-law, his sister and his attendants. He
resolved to live--or exist--just as long as life was possible, to
vampire-borrow from those about him all the vitality that he could, to
have every care and comfort and every new doctor ever heard of called
in to attend him; he now said he wished to live as many years as God
willed. There was a God, now that he was partially paralyzed, a very
real God, to whom he prayed in orthodox fashion. He wanted to keep
remembering the past with Hannah, to shed the tears for her death
which he had never taken the time to shed, to decide what it was that
had been so wrong in his life in order that his death and hereafter
might be very properly right.

Aunt Belle had taken this new affliction after the fashion of a Mrs.
Gummidge. It affected her worse than any one else, first because the
ridicule and fault-finding to which her brother had always treated her
were tripled in their amount and quality, and yet as she was dependent
upon this childishly weak brother she must endure the treatment.
Secondly, she was reminded that her age was somewhat near Mark
Constantine's age and perhaps a similar fate lay in store for her.
Lastly, it tied her down--propriety demanded that som