Chapter I — Prelude
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Catherine thought: Day is white, Night is black, but sometimes it is half-white and half-black.... There were five knobs on the brass rail of the bed: one of them would come off.... The baker came to the door every night and said: “And how is Cathie?”...
It was cold, and blue flames flickered on top of the coals in the fire-grate. They said: “Lappappappap....” The Man tore off his collar from the stud—“plock”—then he screwed off his boots—“Hr-rooch—flop... Hr-rooch—flop.”... The mother said: “Cathie’s asleep: don’t make such a noise.”...
Then her mother carried her past the brown banisters up to bed.... It was nearly black. The pumping-engine at the water-works went: “Chug-chug... chug-chug... chug-chug-chug....”
There were five knobs on the brass rail of the bed....