A phrase {it often happened when he was exhausted} kept cycling round and round, preconsicously, just under the threshold of lip and tongue movement: Events seem to be ordered into an ominous logic. It repeated itself automatically and Stencil improved upon on it each time, placing emphasis on different words-events ; seem to be ; logic-pronouncing them differently, changing the tone of voice from sepulchral to jaunty: round and round and round. Events seem to be ordered into an ominous logic.
The passage describes a character, Stencil, who is caught in a looping thought process about the nature of events in life. When he is fatigued, a particular phrase keeps surfacing in his mind, indicating a perception of life events as having a foreboding structure. This repetitive contemplation reflects a deeper analysis of how he interprets reality, suggesting that he is both burdened by and fascinated with this notion of inevitability.
As he cycles through the phrase, Stencil not only recites it but also experiments with how it sounds, highlighting his grasp on language and its emotional undertones. By altering his tone and emphasis, he transforms a troubling reflection into a more playful exercise, demonstrating the complexity of his mental state. Ultimately, this repetition underscores a profound engagement with the idea of fate and perception in his life.
