Herthoughts，likeafascinatedmoth，wentflutteringtowardthatlight——thatman——thatgirl，whohadknownwar，danger，seendeathnear，hadobtainedevidentlythedevotionofthatman。Theoccurrencesoftheafternoonhadbeenstrangeinthemselves，butwhatstruckherartisticsensewasthevigouroftheirpresentation。Theyoutlinedthemselvesbeforehermemorywiththeclearsimplicityofsomeimmortallegend。Theyweremysterious，butshefeltcertaintheywereabsolutelytrue。Theyembodiedartlessandmasterfulfeelings；such，nodoubt，ashadswayedmankindinthesimplicityofitsyouth。Sheenvied，foramoment，thelotofthathumbleandobscuresister。Nothingstoodbetweenthatgirlandthetruthofhersensations。Shecouldbesincerelycourageous，andtenderandpassionateand——well——ferocious。Whynotferocious？Shecouldknowthetruthofterror——andofaffection，absolutely，withoutartificialtrammels，withoutthepainofrestraint。
ThinkingofwhatsuchlifecouldbeMrs。Traversfeltinvadedbythatinexplicableexaltationwhichtheconsciousnessoftheirphysicalcapacitiessooftengivestointellectualbeings。Sheglowedwithasuddenpersuasionthatshealsocouldbeequaltosuchanexistence；andherheartwasdilatedwithamomentarylongingtoknowthenakedtruthofthings；thenakedtruthoflifeandpassionburiedunderthegrowthofcenturies。
Sheglowedand，suddenly，shequiveredwiththeshockofcomingtoherselfasifshehadfallendownfromastar。Therewasasoundofripplingwaterandashapelessmassglidedoutofthedarkvoidsheconfronted。Avoicebelowherfeetsaid：
\"Imadeoutyourshape——onthesky。\"Acryofsurpriseexpiredonherlipsandshecouldonlypeerdownward。Lingard，aloneinthebrig’sdinghy，withanotherstrokesentthelightboatnearlyundertheyacht’scounter，laidhisscullsin，androsefromthethwart。Hisheadandshouldersloomedupalongsideandhehadtheappearanceofstandinguponthesea。InvoluntarilyMrs。Traversmadeamovementofretreat。
\"Stop，\"hesaid，anxiously，\"don’tspeakloud。Noonemustknow。