He walked at the other's heels with a swing to his shoulders, and hislegs spread unwittingly, as if the level floors were tilting up and sinkingdown to the heave and lunge of the sea. The wide rooms seemed toonarrow for his rolling gait, and to himself he was in terror lest his broadshoulders should collide with the doorways or sweep the bric-a-brac fromthe low mantel. He recoiled from side to side between the various objectsand multiplied the hazards that in reality lodged only in his mind. Betweena grand piano and a centre-table piled high with books was space for a halfa dozen to walk abreast, yet he essayed it with trepidation. His heavy armshung loosely at his sides. He did not know what to do with those arms andhands, and when, to his excited vision, one arm seemed liable to brushagainst the books on the table, he lurched away like a frightened horse,barely missing the piano stool. He watched the easy walk of the otherin front of him, and for the first time realized that his walk was differentfrom that of other men. He experienced a momentary pang of shame thathe should walk so uncouthly. The sweat burst through the skin of hisforehead in tiny beads, and he paused and mopped his bronzed face withhis handkerchief.
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