[12] A careful reading of the MS. suggests that, either the sun is traveling on an orbit of great eccentricity, or else that it was approaching the green star on a lessening orbit.  And at this moment, I conceive it to be finally torn directly from its oblique course, by the gravitational pull of the immense star.—­Ed.

[13] It will be noticed here that the earth was “slowly traversing the tremendous face of the dead sun.”  No explanation is given of this, and we must conclude, either that the speed of time had slowed, or else that the earth was actually progressing on its orbit at a rate, slow, when measured by existing standards.  A careful study of the MS. however, leads me to conclude that the speed of time had been steadily decreasing for a very considerable period.—­Ed.

[14] See first footnote, Chapter 18.

[15] Without doubt, the flame-edged mass of the Dead Central Sun, seen from another dimension.—­Ed.

[16] NOTE.—­From the unfinished word, it is possible, on the MS., to trace a faint line of ink, which suggests that the pen has trailed away over the paper; possibly, through fright and weakness.—­Ed.