hiswivesfurtherin；thechildrenwiththeirmothers。Shecouldheartheirbreathing；Bulangi\'ssleepyvoice；thesharpcryofachildsoonhushedwithtenderwords。Andsheclosedhereyestothemurmurofthewaterbelowher，tothewhisperofthewarmwindabove，ignorantofthenever-ceasinglifeofthattropicalnaturethatspoketoherinvainwiththethousandfaintvoicesofthenearforest，withthebreathoftepidwind；intheheavyscentsthatlingeredaroundherhead；inthewhitewraithsofmorningmistthathungoverherinthesolemnhushofallcreationbeforethedawn。
Suchhadbeenherexistencebeforethecomingofthebrigwiththestrangers。Sherememberedwellthattime；theuproarinthesettlement，thenever-endingwonder，thedaysandnightsoftalkandexcitement。Sherememberedherowntimiditywiththestrangemen，tillthebrigmooredtothebankbecameinamannerpartofthesettlement，andthefearworeoffinthefamiliarityofconstantintercourse。Thecallonboardthenbecamepartofherdailyround。Shewalkedhesitatinglyuptheslantingplanksofthegangwayamidsttheencouragingshoutsandmoreorlessdecentjokesofthemenidlingoverthebulwarks。Thereshesoldherwarestothosementhatspokesoloudandcarriedthemselvessofree。Therewasathrong，aconstantcomingandgoing；callsinterchanged，ordersgivenandexecutedwithshouts；therattleofblocks，theflingingaboutofcoilsofrope。Shesatoutofthewayundertheshadeoftheawning，withhertraybeforeher，theveildrawnwelloverherface，feelingshyamongstsomanymen。Shesmiledatallbuyers，butspoketonone，lettingtheirjestspasswithstolidunconcern。Sheheardmanytalestoldaroundheroffar-offcountries，ofstrangecustoms，ofeventsstrangerstill。Thosemenwerebrave；butthemostfearlessofthemspokeoftheirchiefwithfear。Oftenthemantheycalledtheirmasterpassedbeforeher，walkingerectandindifferent，intheprideofyouth，intheflashofrichdress，withatinkleofgoldornaments，whileeverybodystoodasidewatchinganxiouslyforamovementofhislips，readytodohisbidding。Thenallherlifeseemedtorushintohereyes，andfromunderherveilshegazedathim，charmed，yetfearfultoattractattention。Onedayhenoticedherandasked，\"Whoisthatgirl？\"\"Aslave，Tuan！Agirlthatsellscakes，\"adozenvoicesrepliedtogether。
Sheroseinterrortorunonshore，whenhecalledherback；andasshestoodtremblingwithheadhungdownbeforehim，hespokekindwords，liftingherchinwithhishandandlookingintohereyeswithasmile。\"Donotbeafraid，\"hesaid。Heneverspoketoheranymore。Somebodycalledoutfromtheriverbank；heturnedawayandforgotherexistence。TaminahsawAlmayerstandingontheshorewithNinaonhisarm。SheheardNina\'svoicecallingoutgaily，andsawDain\'sfacebrightenwithjoyasheleapedonshore。Shehatedthesoundofthatvoiceeversince。
AfterthatdaysheleftoffvisitingAlmayer\'scompound，andpassedthenoonhoursundertheshadeofthebrigawning。Shewatchedforhiscomingwithheartbeatingquickerandquicker，asheapproached，intoawildtumultofnewly-arousedfeelingsofjoyandhopeandfearthatdiedawaywithDain\'sretreatingfigure，leavinghertiredout，asifafterastruggle，sittingstillforalongtimeindreamylanguor。Thenshepaddledhomeslowlyintheafternoon，oftenlettinghercanoefloatwiththelazystreaminthequietbackwateroftheriver。Thepaddlehungidleinthewaterasshesatinthestern，onehandsupportingherchin，hereyeswideopen，listeningintentlytothewhisperingofherheartthatseemedtoswellatlastintoasongofextremesweetness。Listeningtothatsongshehuskedthericeathome；itdulledherearstotheshrillbickeringsofBulangi\'swives，tothesoundofangryreproachesaddressedtoherself。
Andwhenthesunwasnearitssettingshewalkedtothebathing-placeandhearditasshestoodonthetendergrassofthelowbank，herrobeatherfeet，andlookedatthereflectionofherfigureontheglass-likesurfaceofthecreek。Listeningtoitshewalkedslowlyback，herwethairhangingoverhershoulders；layingdowntorestunderthebrightstars，sheclosedhereyestothemurmurofthewaterbelow，ofthewarmwindabove；tothevoiceofnaturespeakingthroughthefaintnoisesofthegreatforest，andtothesongofherownheart。