Tom stared down the ever-memorable right hand. He felt it tenderly his left, see if it were bruised or broken: it was quite unhurt - quite as . Then he looked the latch: it looked as real as any latch he had seen anywhere.

Then, the idea came Tom that the door might be no more solid than the latch, if he really tried it.

Deliberately he set his side the door, shoulder, hip and heel, and pressed. At first, nothing gave, either himself or the door. Yet he continued the pressure, with still greater force and greater determination; and gradually he became aware a great sensation, that first he thought was a numbness all down his side – but no, it was not that.