The House on the Borderland

by William Hope Hodgson

  _XXIII_

  PEPPER

  I was seated in my chair, back again in this old study. My glancewandered 'round the room. For a minute, it had a strange, quiveryappearance--unreal and unsubstantial. This disappeared, and I saw thatnothing was altered in any way. I looked toward the end window--theblind was up.

  I rose to my feet, shakily. As I did so, a slight noise, in thedirection of the door, attracted my attention. I glanced toward it. Fora short instant, it appeared to me that it was being closed, gently. Istared, and saw that I must have been mistaken--it seemed closely shut.

  With a succession of efforts, I trod my way to the window, and lookedout. The sun was just rising, lighting up the tangled wilderness ofgardens. For, perhaps, a minute, I stood, and stared. I passed my hand,confusedly, across my forehead.

  Presently, amid the chaos of my senses, a sudden thought came to me; Iturned, quickly, and called to Pepper. There was no answer, and Istumbled across the room, in a quick access of fear. As I went, I triedto frame his name; but my lips were numb. I reached the table, andstooped down to him, with a catching at my heart. He was lying in theshadow of the table, and I had not been able to see him, distinctly,from the window. Now, as I stooped, I took my breath, shortly. There wasno Pepper; instead, I was reaching toward an elongated, little heap ofgrey, ashlike dust....

  I must have remained, in that half-stooped position, for some minutes.I was dazed--stunned. Pepper had really passed into the land of shadows.