Dying, or about to be delivered, she has nearly come to the end of her strength now. You can tell that by the sound of her cries. I can see her eyes starting! And the cold sweat on her brow! [_Again the Old Women chuckle._] She is about to be delivered! No, she is dying! [_Suddenly the screams cease._] I tell you---- [_At this instant the Being in Grey stands out momentarily in clearer relief as he exclaims in a deep, sonorous voice:_] Silence ye! A man is being born into the world. [_And almost as he speaks the cry of a baby is heard behind the scenes, and the tall candle in the hand of the Being bursts into flame. At first weak and, fitful, the flame grows stronger by degrees; yet though the corner in which the Being is standing is in deeper shadow than the rest of the scene, the candle's yellow light is in minates only his tightly compressed lips, high cheekbones, and prominent chin, while the rest of his face remains hidden, as before, in the shadow of the cowl. In stature he is above the ordinary height of man, and the candle in his hand is proportionately tall and massive. Set in a candlestick of antique design (the green bronze of which causes the fingers encircling it to show up grey and stonelike as those of some statue'), the candle burns up with sufficient brightness to make the crouching forms of the Old Women stand out clearly from the obscurity. Also, the room is now seen to be a high and perfectly square apartment, with bare, colourless walls; while both in the back wall and in the wall to the right are curtainless casement windows, through which the outer night shows darkly. Ranged against the walls are a number of chairs with high, straight backs._] [_The Old Women begin to utter excited exclamations._] Hark! People are hurrying about! Presently they will be coming in here! How light it is growing! Let us go, let us go! See how clearly and steadily the candle burns! Yes, let us go, let us go! Quickly, quickly! Yes, let us go, let us go! [_Bursting into shrill laughter, they begin with weird, zigzag movements to shuffle away through the gloom. Yet, though, with their departure, the light grows stronger, there still remains a dim, cold, lifeless air about the scene._ [_Enter a Doctor, accompanied by the Father of the Man. The Doctor is clad in a white hospital overall, and wears a look at once wise and self-important. Contrariwise, the Father's face, though expressive of great relief, is deeply scored with anxiety. Also, his cheeks look sunken, his hair is dishevelled, and his clothes are in much disorder._] ~The Doctor.~~