scendedslowly，pathetically，andthen，withthelongblackeyelasheslyingonherwhitecheeks，shelookedreadytofalldowninaswoon。Butsheneverevenswayedwhereshestood。Heurgedherloudlytofollowhimatonce，andwalkedtowardsthedooratthebottomofthecellarstairswithoutlookingbehindhim。
And，asamatteroffact，shedidmoveafterhimapaceortwo。But，ofcourse，hewasnotallowedtoreachthedoor。Therewereangryexclamations，ashort，fiercescuffle。Flungawayviolently，hecameflyingback-
wardsuponher，andfell。Shethrewoutherarmsinagestureofdismayandsteppedaside，justclearofhishead，whichstruckthegroundheavilynearhershoe。
\"Hegruntedwiththeshock。Bythetimehehadpickedhimselfup，slowly，dazedly，hewasawaketotherealityofthings。Themanintowhosehandshehadthrusttheleathercasehadextractedtherefromanarrowstripofbluishpaper。Hehelditupabovehishead，and，asafterthescuffleanexpectantuneasystill-
nessreignedoncemore，hethrewitdowndisdainfullywiththewords，\'Ithink，comrades，thatthisproofwashardlynecessary。\'
\"Quickasthought，thegirlstoopedaftertheflutter-
ingslip。Holdingitspreadoutinbothhands，shelookedatit；then，withoutraisinghereyes，openedherfingersslowlyandletitfall。
\"Iexaminedthatcuriousdocumentafterwards。Itwassignedbyaveryhighpersonage，andstampedandcountersignedbyotherhighofficialsinvariouscountriesofEurope。Inhistrade——orshallIsay，inhismission?——
thatsortoftalismanmighthavebeennecessary，nodoubt。Eventothepoliceitself——allbuttheheads——
hehadbeenknownonlyasSevrinthenotedanarchist。
\"Hehunghishead，bitinghislowerlip。Achangehadcomeoverhim，asortofthoughtful，absorbedcalm-
ness。Nevertheless，hepanted。Hissidesworkedvisi-
bly，andhisnostrilsexpandedandcollapsedinweirdcontrastwithhissombreaspectofafanaticalmonkinameditativeattitude，butwithsomething，too，inhisfaceofanactorintentupontheterribleexigenciesofhispart。BeforehimHornedeclaimed，haggardandbearded，likeaninspireddenunciatoryprophetfromawilderness。Twofanatics。Theyweremadetounder-
standeachother。Doesthissurpriseyou?Isup-
poseyouthinkthatsuchpeoplewouldbefoamingatthemouthandsnarlingateachother?\"
IprotestedhastilythatIwasnotsurprisedintheleast；thatIthoughtnothingofthekind；thatanarchistsingeneralweresimplyinconceivabletomementally，morally，logically，sentimentally，andevenphysically。
Xreceivedthisdeclarationwithhisusualwoodennessandwenton。
\"Hornehadburstoutintoeloquence。Whilepour-
ingoutscornfulinvective，helettearsescapefromhiseyesandrolldownhisblackbeardunheeded。Sevrinpantedquickerandquicker。Whenheopenedhismouthtospeak，everyonehungonhiswords。
\"\'Don\'tbeafool，Horne，\'hebegan。\'YouknowverywellthatIhavedonethisfornoneofthereasonsyouarethrowingatme。\'Andinamomenthebecameoutwardlyassteadyasarockundertheother\'sluridstare。\'Ihavebeenthwarting，deceiving，andbetrayingyou——fromconviction。\'
\"HeturnedhisbackonHorne，andaddressingthegirl，repeatedthewords:\'Fromconviction。\'
\"It\'sextraordinaryhowcoldshelooked。Isupposeshecouldnotthinkofanyappropriategesture。Therecanhavebeenfewprecedentsindeedforsuchasitu-
ation。
\"\'Clearasdaylight，\'headded。\'Doyouunderstandwhatthatmeans?Fromconviction。\'
\"Andstillshedidnotstir。Shedidnotknowwhattodo。Butthelucklesswretchwasabouttogivehertheopportunityforabeautifulandcorrectgesture。
\"\'Ihavefeltinmethepowertomakeyousharethisconviction，\'heprotested，ardently。Hehadfor-
gottenhimself；hemadeasteptowardsher——perhapshestumbled。Tomeheseemedtobestoopinglowasiftotouchthehemofhergarment。Andthentheappropriategesturecame。Shesnatchedherskirtawayfromhispollutingcontactandavertedherheadwithanupwardtilt。Itwasmagnificentlydone，thisgestureofconventionallyunstainedhonour，ofanun-
blemishedhigh-mindedamateur。
\"Nothingcouldhavebeenbetter。Andheseemedtothinkso，too，foroncemoreheturnedaway。Butthistimehefacednoone。Hewasagainpantingfright-
fully，whilehefumbledhurriedlyinhiswaistcoatpocket，andthenraisedhishandtohislips。Therewassomethingfurtiveinthismovement，butdirectlyafter-
wardshisbearingchanged。Hislabouredbreathinggavehimaresemblancetoamanwhohadjustrunadesperaterace；butacuriousairofdetachment，ofsud-
denandprofoundindifference，replacedthestrainofthestrivingeffort。Theracewasover。Ididnotwanttoseewhatwouldhappennext。Iwasonlytoowellaware。Ituckedtheyounglady\'sarmunderminewithoutaword，andmademywaywithhertothestairs。
\"Herbrotherwalkedbehindus。Half-wayuptheshortflightsheseemedunabletoliftherfeethighenoughforthesteps，andwehadtopullandpushtogethertothetop。Inthepassageshedraggedherselfalong，hangingonmyarm，helplesslybentlikeanoldwoman。Weissuedintoanemptystreetthroughahalf-opendoor，staggeringlikebesottedrevellers。Atthecornerwestoppedafour-wheeler，andtheancientdriverlookedroundfromhisboxwithmorosescornatoureffortstogetherin。TwiceduringthedriveIfelthercollapseonmyshoulderinahalffaint。Facingus，theyouthinknickerbockersremainedasmuteasafish，and，tillhejumpedoutwiththelatch-key，satmorestillthanIwouldhavebelieveditpossible。
\"Atthedooroftheirdrawing-roomsheleftmyarmandwalkedinfirst，catchingatthechairsandtables。
Sheunpinnedherhat，then，exhaustedwiththeeffort，hercloakstillhangingfromhershoulders，flungher-
selfintoadeeparmchair，sideways，herfacehalfburiedinacushion。Thegoodbrotherappearedsilentlybeforeherwithaglassofwater。Shemotioneditaway。Hedrankithimselfandwalkedofftoadis-
tantcorner——behindthegrandpiano，somewhere。AllwasstillinthisroomwhereIhadseen，forthefirsttime，Sevrin，theanti-anarchist，captivatedandspell-
boundbytheconsummateandhereditarygrimacesthatinacertainsphereoflifetaketheplaceoffeelingswithanexcellenteffect。Isupposeherthoughtswerebusywiththesamememory。Hershouldersshookviolently。Apureattackofnerves。Whenitquieteddownsheaffectedfirmness，\'Whatisdonetoamanofthatsort?Whatwilltheydotohim?\'
\"\'Nothing。Theycandonothingtohim，\'Iassuredher，withperfecttruth。Iwasprettycertainhehaddiedinlessthantwentyminutesfromthemomenthishandhadgonetohislips。Forifhisfanaticalanti-
anarchismwentevenasfarascarryingpoisoninhispocket，onlytorobhisadversariesoflegitimateven-
geance，Iknewhewouldtakecaretoprovidesomethingthatwouldnotfailhimwhenrequired。
\"Shedrewanangrybreath。Therewereredspotsonhercheeksandafeverishbrillianceinhereyes。
\"\'Haseveranyonebeenexposedtosuchaterribleexperience?Tothinkthathehadheldmyhand!
Thatman!\'Herfacetwitched，shegulpeddownapatheticsob。\'IfIeverfeltsureofanything，itwasofSevrin\'shigh-mindedmotives。\'
\"Thenshebegantoweepquietly，whichwasgoodforher。Thenthroughherfloodoftears，halfresentful，\'Whatwasithesaidtome?——\"Fromconviction!\"
Itseemedavilemockery。Whatcouldhemeanbyit?\'
\"\'That，mydearyounglady，\'Isaid，gently，\'ismorethanIoranybodyelsecaneverexplaintoyou。\'\"
Mr。Xflickedacrumboffthefrontofhiscoat。
\"Andthatwasstrictlytrueastoher。ThoughHorne，forinstance，understoodverywell；andsodidI，especiallyafterwehadbeentoSevrin\'slodginginadismalbackstreetofanintenselyrespectablequarter。
Hornewasknownthereasafriend，andwehadnodifficultyinbeingadmitted，theslatternlymaidmerelyremarking，assheletusin，that\'MrSevrinhadnotbeenhomethatnight。\'Weforcedopenacoupleofdrawersinthewayofduty，andfoundalittleusefulinformation。
Themostinterestingpartwashisdiary；forthisman，engagedinsuchdeadlywork，hadtheweaknesstokeeparecordofthemostdamnatorykind。Therewerehisactsandalsohisthoughtslaidbaretous。Butthedeaddon\'tmindthat。Theydon\'tmindanything。
\"\'Fromconviction。\'Yes。Avaguebutardenthumanitarianismhadurgedhiminhisfirstyouthintothebitterestextremityofnegationandrevolt。After-
wardshisoptimismflinched。Hedoubtedandbecamelost。Youhaveheardofconvertedatheists。Theseturnoftenintodangerousfanatics，butthesoulremainsthesame。Afterhehadgotacquaintedwiththegirl，therearetobemetinthatdiaryofhisveryqueerpolitico-amorousrhapsodies。Hetookhersovereigngrimaceswithdeadlyseriousness。Helongedtocon-
verther。Butallthiscannotinterestyou。Fortherest，Idon\'tknowifyouremember——itisagoodmanyyearsagonow——thejournalisticsensationofthe\'Hermi-
oneStreetMystery\'；thefindingofaman\'sbodyinthecellarofanemptyhouse；theinquest；somearrests；
manysurmises——thensilence——theusualendformanyobscuremartyrsandconfessors。Thefactis，hewasnotenoughofanoptimist。Youmustbeasavage，tyrannical，pitiless，thick-and-thinoptimist，likeHorne，forinstance，tomakeagoodsocialrebeloftheextremetype。
Herosefromthetable。Awaiterhurriedupwithhisovercoat；anotherheldhishatinreadiness。
\"Butwhatbecameoftheyounglady?\"Iasked。
\"Doyoureallywanttoknow?\"hesaid，buttoninghimselfinhisfurcoatcarefully。\"IconfesstothesmallmaliceofsendingherSevrin\'sdiary。Shewentintoretirement；thenshewenttoFlorence；thenshewentintoretreatinaconvent。Ican\'ttellwhereshewillgonext。Whatdoesitmatter?Gestures!Gestures!
Meregesturesofherclass。\"
Hefittedonhisglossyhighhatwithextremepre-
cision，andcastingarapidglanceroundtheroom，fullofwell-dressedpeople，innocentlydining，mutteredbetweenhisteeth:
\"Andnothingelse!Thatiswhytheirkindisfatedtoperish。\"
InevermetMr。Xagainafterthatevening。Itooktodiningatmyclub。OnmynextvisittoParisIfoundmyfriendallimpatiencetohearoftheeffectproducedonmebythisrareitemofhiscollection。Itoldhimallthestory，andhebeamedonmewiththeprideofhisdistinguishedspecimen。
\"Isn\'tXwellworthknowing?\"hebubbledoveringreatdelight。\"He\'sunique，amazing，absolutelyterrific。\"
Hisenthusiasmgrateduponmyfinerfeelings。I
toldhimcurtlythattheman\'scynicismwassimplyabominable。
\"Oh，abominable!abominable!\"assentedmyfriend，effusively。\"Andthen，youknow，helikestohavehislittlejokesometimes，\"headdedinaconfidentialtone。
Ifailtounderstandtheconnectionofthislastre-
mark。Ihavebeenutterlyunabletodiscoverwhereinallthisthejokecomesin。
ANINDIGNANTTALE
THEBRUTE
DODGINGinfromtherain-sweptstreet，IexchangedasmileandaglancewithMissBlankinthebaroftheThreeCrows。Thisexchangewaseffectedwithex-
tremepropriety。Itisashocktothinkthat，ifstillalive，MissBlankmustbesomethingoversixtynow。
Howtimepasses!
Noticingmygazedirectedinquiringlyattheparti-
tionofglassandvarnishedwood，MissBlankwasgoodenoughtosay，encouragingly:
\"OnlyMr。JermynandMr。StonorintheparlourwithanothergentlemanI\'veneverseenbefore。\"
Imovedtowardstheparlourdoor。Avoicedis-
coursingontheothersideitwasbutamatchboardpartition，rosesoloudlythattheconcludingwordsbecamequiteplaininalltheiratrocity。
\"ThatfellowWilmotfairlydashedherbrainsout，andagoodjob，too!\"
Thisinhumansentiment，sincetherewasnothingprofaneorimproperinit，failedtodoasmuchastochecktheslightyawnMissBlankwasachievingbehindherhand。Andsheremainedgazingfixedlyatthewindow-panes，whichstreamedwithrain。
AsIopenedtheparlourdoorthesamevoicewentoninthesamecruelstrain:
\"IwasgladwhenIheardshegottheknockfromsomebodyatlast。SorryenoughforpoorWilmot，though。ThatmanandIusedtobechumsatonetime。Ofcoursethatwastheendofhim。Aclearcaseifthereeverwasone。Nowayoutofit。Noneatall。\"
ThevoicebelongedtothegentlemanMissBlankhadneverseenbefore。Hestraddledhislonglegsonthehearthrug。Jermyn，leaningforward，heldhispocket-
handkerchiefspreadoutbeforethegrate。Helookedbackdismallyoverhisshoulder，andasIslippedbehindoneofthelittlewoodentables，Inoddedtohim。Ontheothersideofthefire，imposinglycalmandlarge，satMr。Stonor，jammedtightintoacapaciousWindsorarmchair。Therewasnothingsmallabouthimbuthisshort，whiteside-whiskers。Yardsandyardsofextrasuperfineblueclothmadeupintoanovercoat
reposedonachairbyhisside。Andhemustjusthavebroughtsomelinerfromsea，becauseanotherchairwassmotheredunderhisblackwaterproof，ampleasapall，andmadeofthree-foldoiledsilk，double-stitchedthroughout。Aman\'shand-bagoftheusualsizelookedlikeachild\'stoyonthefloornearhisfeet。
Ididnotnodtohim。Hewastoobigtobenoddedtointhatparlour。HewasaseniorTrinitypilotandcondescendedtotakehisturninthecutteronlyduringthesummermonths。HehadbeenmanytimesinchargeofroyalyachtsinandoutofPortVictoria。
Besides，it\'snousenoddingtoamonument。Andhewaslikeone。Hedidn\'tspeak，hedidn\'tbudge。Hejustsatthere，holdinghishandsomeoldheadup，immovable，andalmostbiggerthanlife。Itwasex-
tremelyfine。Mr。Stonor\'spresencereducedpooroldJermyntoamereshabbywispofaman，andmadethetalkativestrangerintweedsonthehearthruglookabsurdlyboyish。Thelattermusthavebeenafewyearsoverthirty，andwascertainlynotthesortofindividualthatgetsabashedatthesoundofhisownvoice，becausegatheringmein，asitwere，byafriendlyglance，hekeptitgoingwithoutacheck。
\"Iwasgladofit，\"herepeated，emphatically。\"Youmaybesurprisedatit，butthenyouhaven\'tgonethroughtheexperienceI\'vehadofher。Icantellyou，itwassomethingtoremember。Ofcourse，Igotoffscotfreemyself——asyoucansee。Shedidherbesttobreakupmypluckformetho\'。Shejollyneardroveasfineafellowaseverlivedintoamadhouse。Whatdoyousaytothat——eh?\"
NotaneyelidtwitchedinMr。Stonor\'senormousface。
Monumental!Thespeakerlookedstraightintomyeyes。
\"Itusedtomakemesicktothinkofhergoingabouttheworldmurderingpeople。\"
Jermynapproachedthehandkerchiefalittlenearertothegrateandgroaned。Itwassimplyahabithehad。
\"I\'veseenheronce，\"hedeclared，withmournfulin-
difference。\"Shehadahouse——\"
Thestrangerintweedsturnedtostaredownathim，surprised。
\"Shehadthreehouses，\"hecorrected，authoritatively。
ButJermynwasnottobecontradicted。
\"Shehadahouse，Isay，\"herepeated，withdismalobstinacy。\"Agreat，big，ugly，whitething。Youcouldseeitfrommilesaway——stickingup。\"
\"Soyoucould，\"assentedtheotherreadily。\"ItwasoldColchester\'snotion，thoughhewasalwaysthreaten-
ingtogiveherup。Hecouldn\'tstandherracketanymore，hedeclared；itwastoomuchofagoodthingforhim；hewouldwashhishandsofher，ifhenevergotholdofanother——andsoon。Idaresayhewouldhavechuckedher，only——itmaysurpriseyou——hismissuswouldn\'thearofit。Funny，eh?Butwithwomen，youneverknowhowtheywilltakeathing，andMrs。
Colchester，withhermoustachesandbigeyebrows，setupforbeingasstrong-mindedastheymakethem。Sheusedtowalkaboutinabrownsilkdress，withagreatgoldcablefloppingaboutherbosom。Youshouldhaveheardhersnappingout:\'Rubbish!\'or\'Stuffandnon-
sense!\'Idaresaysheknewwhenshewaswelloff。
Theyhadnochildren，andhadneversetupahomeany-
where。WheninEnglandshejustmadeshifttohangoutanyhowinsomecheaphotelorboarding-house。I
daresayshelikedtogetbacktothecomfortsshewasusedto。Sheknewverywellshecouldn\'tgainbyanychange。And，moreover，Colchester，thoughafirst-
rateman，wasnotwhatyoumaycallinhisfirstyouth，and，perhaps，shemayhavethoughtthathewouldn\'tbeabletogetholdofanotherasheusedtosaysoeasily。Anyhow，foronereasonoranother，itwas\'Rubbish\'and\'Stuffandnonsense\'forthegoodlady。
IoverheardonceyoungMr。Apsehimselfsaytoherconfidentially:\'Iassureyou，Mrs。Colchester，Iambeginningtofeelquiteunhappyaboutthenameshe\'sgettingforherself。\'\'Oh，\'saysshe，withherdeeplittlehoarselaugh，\'ifonetooknoticeofallthesillytalk，\'
andsheshowedApseallheruglyfalseteethatonce。
\'Itwouldtakemorethanthattomakemelosemyconfidenceinher，Iassureyou，\'saysshe。\"
Atthispoint，withoutanychangeoffacialexpression，Mr。Stonoremittedashort，sardoniclaugh。Itwasveryimpressive，butIdidn\'tseethefun。Ilookedfromonetoanother。Thestrangeronthehearthrughadanuglysmile。
\"AndMr。ApseshookbothMrs。Colchester\'shands，hewassopleasedtohearagoodwordsaidfortheirfavourite。AlltheseApses，youngandoldyouknow，wereperfectlyinfatuatedwiththatabominable，dan-
gerous——\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"Iinterrupted，forheseemedtobeaddressinghimselfexclusivelytome；\"butwhoonearthareyoutalkingabout?\"
\"IamtalkingoftheApsefamily，\"heanswered，courteously。
Inearlyletoutadamnatthis。ButjustthentherespectedMissBlankputherheadin，andsaidthatthecabwasatthedoor，ifMr。Stonorwantedtocatchtheeleventhreeup。
Atoncetheseniorpilotaroseinhismightybulkandbegantostruggleintohiscoat，withawe-inspiringup-
heavals。ThestrangerandIhurriedimpulsivelytohisassistance，anddirectlywelaidourhandsonhimhebecameperfectlyquiescent。Wehadtoraiseourarmsveryhigh，andtomakeefforts。Itwaslikecaparisoningadocileelephant。Witha\"Thanks，gentlemen，\"hedivedunderandsqueezedhimselfthroughthedoorinagreathurry。
Wesmiledateachotherinafriendlyway。
\"Iwonderhowhemanagestohoisthimselfupaship\'sside-ladder，\"saidthemanintweeds；andpoorJermyn，whowasamereNorthSeapilot，withoutofficialstatusorrecognitionofanysort，pilotonlybycourtesy，groaned。
\"Hemakeseighthundredayear。\"
\"Areyouasailor?\"Iaskedthestranger，whohadgonebacktohispositionontherug。
\"Iusedtobetillacoupleofyearsago，whenIgotmarried，\"answeredthiscommunicativeindividual。\"I
evenwenttoseafirstinthatveryshipwewerespeak-
ingofwhenyoucamein。\"
\"Whatship?\"Iasked，puzzled。\"Ineverheardyoumentionaship。\"
\"I\'vejusttoldyouhername，mydearsir，\"hereplied。
\"TheApseFamily。Surelyyou\'veheardofthegreatfirmofApse&Sons，shipowners。Theyhadaprettybigfleet。TherewastheLucyApse，andtheHaroldApse，andAnne，John，Malcolm，Clara，Juliet，andsoon——noendofApses。Everybrother，sister，aunt，cousin，wife——andgrandmother，too，forallIknow——ofthefirmhadashipnamedafterthem。Good，solid，old-fashionedcrafttheywere，too，builttocarryandtolast。Noneofyournew-fangled，labour-savingappliancesinthem，butplentyofmenandplentyofgoodsaltbeefandhardtackputaboard——andoffyougotofightyourwayoutandhomeagain。\"
ThemiserableJermynmadeasoundofapproval，whichsoundedlikeagroanofpain。Thoseweretheshipsforhim。Hepointedoutindolefultonesthatyoucouldn\'tsaytolabour-savingappliances:\"Jumplivelynow，myhearties。\"Nolabour-savingappliancewouldgoaloftonadirtynightwiththesandsunderyourlee。
\"No，\"assentedthestranger，withawinkatme。
\"TheApsesdidn\'tbelieveinthemeither，apparently。
Theytreatedtheirpeoplewell——aspeopledon\'tgettreatednowadays，andtheywereawfullyproudoftheirships。Nothingeverhappenedtothem。Thislastone，theApseFamily，wastobeliketheothers，onlyshewastobestillstronger，stillsafer，stillmoreroomyandcom-
fortable。Ibelievetheymeanthertolastforever。
Theyhadherbuiltcomposite——iron，teak-wood，andgreenheart，andherscantlingwassomethingfabulous。
Ifeveranorderwasgivenforashipinaspiritofpridethisonewas。Everythingofthebest。Thecommodorecaptainoftheemploywastocommandher，andtheyplannedtheaccommodationforhimlikeahouseonshoreunderabig，tallpoopthatwentnearlytothemainmast。NowonderMrs。Colchesterwouldn\'tlettheoldmangiveherup。Why，itwasthebesthomesheeverhadinallhermarrieddays。Shehadanerve，thatwoman。
\"Thefussthatwasmadewhilethatshipwasbuild-
ing!Let\'shavethisalittlestronger，andthatalittleheavier；andhadn\'tthatotherthingbetterbechangedforsomethingalittlethicker。Thebuildersenteredintothespiritofthegame，andthereshewas，growingintotheclumsiest，heaviestshipofhersizerightbeforealltheireyes，withoutanybodybecomingawareofitsomehow。Shewastobe2，000tonsregister，oralittleover；nolessonanyaccount。Butseewhathappens。
Whentheycametomeasurehersheturnedout1，999
tonsandafraction。Generalconsternation!AndtheysayoldMr。Apsewassoannoyedwhentheytoldhimthathetooktohisbedanddied。Theoldgentlemanhadretiredfromthefirmtwenty-fiveyearsbefore，andwasninety-sixyearsoldifaday，sohisdeathwasn\'t，perhaps，sosurprising。StillMr。LucianApsewascon-
vincedthathisfatherwouldhavelivedtoahundred。
Sowemayputhimattheheadofthelist。Nextcomesthepoordevilofashipwrightthatbrutecaughtandsquashedasshewentofftheways。Theycalleditthelaunchofaship，butI\'veheardpeoplesaythat，fromthewailingandyellingandscramblingoutoftheway，itwasmorelikelettingadevillooseupontheriver。Shesnappedallhercheckslikepack-thread，andwentforthetugsinattendancelikeafury。Beforeanybodycouldseewhatshewasuptoshesentoneofthemtothebottom，andlaidupanotherforthreemonths\'repairs。Oneofhercablesparted，andthen，suddenly——youcouldn\'ttellwhy——sheletherselfbebroughtupwiththeotherasquietasalamb。
\"That\'showshewas。Youcouldneverbesurewhatshewouldbeuptonext。Thereareshipsdifficulttohandle，butgenerallyyoucandependonthembehav-
ingrationally。Withthatship，whateveryoudidwithheryouneverknewhowitwouldend。Shewasawickedbeast。Or，perhaps，shewasonlyjustin-
sane。\"
HeutteredthissuppositioninsoearnestatonethatIcouldnotrefrainfromsmiling。Heleftoffbitinghislowerliptoapostrophizeme。
\"Eh!Whynot?Whycouldn\'ttherebesomethinginherbuild，inherlinescorrespondingto——What\'smadness?Onlysomethingjustatinybitwronginthemakeofyourbrain。Whyshouldn\'ttherebeamadship——Imeanmadinaship-likeway，sothatundernocircumstancescouldyoubesureshewoulddowhatanyothersensibleshipwouldnaturallydoforyou。Thereareshipsthatsteerwildly，andshipsthatcan\'tbequitetrustedalwaystostay；otherswantcarefulwatchingwhenrunninginagale；and，again，theremaybeashipthatwillmakeheavyweatherofitineverylittleblow。Butthenyouexpecthertobealwaysso。Youtakeitaspartofhercharacter，asaship，justasyoutakeaccountofaman\'speculiaritiesoftemperwhenyoudealwithhim。Butwithheryoucouldn\'t。Shewasunaccountable。Ifshewasn\'tmad，thenshewasthemostevil-minded，underhand，savagebrutethateverwentafloat。I\'veseenherruninaheavygalebeautifullyfortwodays，andonthethirdbroachtotwiceinthesameafternoon。Thefirsttimesheflungthehelmsmancleanoverthewheel，butasshedidn\'tquitemanagetokillhimshehadanothertryaboutthreehoursafterwards。Sheswampedherselfforeandaft，burstallthecanvaswehadset，scaredallhandsintoapanic，andevenfrightenedMrs。Colchesterdownthereinthesebeautifulsterncabinsthatshewassoproudof。Whenwemusteredthecrewtherewasonemanmissing。Sweptoverboard，ofcourse，withoutbeingeitherseenorheard，poordevil!andIonlywondermoreofusdidn\'tgo。
\"Alwayssomethinglikethat。Always。IheardanoldmatetellCaptainColchesteroncethatithadcometothiswithhim，thathewasafraidtoopenhismouthtogiveanysortoforder。Shewasasmuchofaterrorinharbourasatsea。Youcouldneverbecertainwhatwouldholdher。Ontheslightestprovocationshewouldstartsnappingropes，cables，wirehawsers，likecarrots。
Shewasheavy，clumsy，unhandy——butthatdoesnotquiteexplainthatpowerformischiefshehad。Youknow，somehow，whenIthinkofherIcan\'thelpre-
memberingwhatwehearofincurablelunaticsbreakingloosenowandthen。\"
Helookedatmeinquisitively。But，ofcourse，Icouldn\'tadmitthatashipcouldbemad。
\"Intheportswhereshewasknown，\"hewenton，\'
\"theydreadedthesightofher。Shethoughtnothingofknockingawaytwentyfeetorsoofsolidstonefacingoffaquayorwipingofftheendofawoodenwharf。Shemusthavelostmilesofchainandhundredsoftonsofanchorsinhertime。Whenshefellaboardsomepoorunoffendingshipitwastheverydevilofajobtohaulheroffagain。Andshenevergothurtherself——justafewscratchesorso，perhaps。Theyhadwantedtohaveherstrong。Andsoshewas。StrongenoughtoramPolaricewith。Andasshebegansoshewenton。
Fromthedayshewaslaunchedsheneverletayearpasswithoutmurderingsomebody。Ithinktheownersgotveryworriedaboutit。Buttheywereastiff-neckedgenerationalltheseApses；theywouldn\'tadmittherecouldbeanythingwrongwiththeApseFamily。Theywouldn\'tevenchangehername。\'Stuffandnonsense，\'
asMrs。Colchesterusedtosay。Theyoughtatleasttohaveshutherupforlifeinsomedrydockorother，awayuptheriver，andneverlethersmellsaltwateragain。I
assureyou，mydearsir，thatsheinvariablydidkillsomeoneeveryvoyageshemade。Itwasperfectlywell-known。Shegotanameforit，farandwide。\"
Iexpressedmysurprisethatashipwithsuchadeadlyreputationcouldevergetacrew。
\"Then，youdon\'tknowwhatsailorsare，mydearsir。
Letmejustshowyoubyaninstance。Onedayindockathome，whileloafingontheforecastlehead，Inoticedtworespectablesaltscomealong，oneamiddle-aged，competent，steadyman，evidently，theotherasmart，youngishchap。Theyreadthenameonthebowsandstoppedtolookather。Saystheelderman:\'ApseFamily。That\'sthesanguinaryfemaledog\'I\'mputtingitinthatway\'ofaship，Jack，thatkillsamaneveryvoyage。Iwouldn\'tsigninher——notforJoe，Iwouldn\'t。\'Andtheothersays:\'Ifsheweremine，I\'dhavehertowedonthemudandsetonfire，blammeifIwouldn\'t。\'Thenthefirstmanchimesin:
\'Muchdotheycare!Menarecheap，Godknows。\'
Theyoungeronespatinthewateralongside。\'Theywon\'thaveme——notfordoublewages。\'
\"Theyhungaboutforsometimeandthenwalkedupthedock。HalfanhourlaterIsawthembothonourdecklookingaboutforthemate，andapparentlyveryanxioustobetakenon。Andtheywere。\"
\"Howdoyouaccountforthis?\"Iasked。
\"Whatwouldyousay?\"heretorted。\"Reckless-
ness!Thevanityofboastingintheeveningtoalltheirchums:\'We\'vejustshippedinthatthereApseFamily。
Blowher。Sheain\'tgoingtoscareus。\'Sheersailor-
likeperversity!Asortofcuriosity。Well——alittleofallthat，nodoubt。Iputthequestiontotheminthecourseofthevoyage。Theansweroftheelderlychapwas:
\"\'Amancandiebutonce。\'Theyoungerassuredmeinamockingtonethathewantedtosee\'howshewoulddoitthistime。\'ButItellyouwhat；therewasasortoffascinationaboutthebrute。\"
Jermyn，whoseemedtohaveseeneveryshipintheworld，brokeinsulkily:
\"Isawheronceoutofthisverywindowtowinguptheriver；agreatblackuglything，goingalonglikeabighearse。\"
\"Somethingsinisteraboutherlooks，wasn\'tthere?\"
saidthemanintweeds，lookingdownatoldJermynwithafriendlyeye。\"Ialwayshadasortofhorrorofher。ShegavemeabeastlyshockwhenIwasnomorethanfourteen，theveryfirstday——nay，hour——Ijoinedher。Fathercameuptoseemeoff，andwastogodowntoGravesendwithus。Iwashissecondboytogotosea。Mybigbrotherwasalreadyanofficerthen。We。
gotonboardabouteleveninthemorning，andfoundtheshipreadytodropoutofthebasin，sternfirst。Shehadnotmovedthreetimesherownlengthwhen，atalittlepluckthetuggavehertoenterthedockgates，shemadeoneofherrampagingstarts，andputsuchaweightonthecheckrope——anewsix-inchhawser——thatforwardtheretheyhadnochancetoeaseitroundintime，anditparted。Isawthebrokenendflyuphighintheair，andthenextmomentthatbrutebroughtherquarteragainstthepier-headwithajarthatstaggeredeverybodyaboutherdecks。Shedidn\'thurtherself。Notshe!Butoneoftheboysthematehadsentaloftonthemizzentodosomething，camedownonthepoop-deck——thump——rightinfrontofme。
Hewasnotmucholderthanmyself。Wehadbeengrinningateachotheronlyafewminutesbefore。Hemusthavebeenhandlinghimselfcarelessly，notexpect-
ingtogetsuchajerk。Iheardhisstartledcry——Oh!——
inahightrebleashefelthimselfgoing，andlookedupintimetoseehimgolimpalloverashefell。Ough!
PoorfatherwasremarkablywhiteaboutthegillswhenweshookhandsinGravesend。\'Areyouallright?\'hesays，lookinghardatme。\'Yes，father。\'\'Quitesure?\'
\'Yes，father。\'\'Well，thengood-bye，myboy。\'Hetoldmeafterwardsthatforhalfawordhewouldhavecarriedmeoffhomewithhimthereandthen。Iamthebabyofthefamily——youknow，\"addedthemanintweeds，strokinghismoustachewithaningenuoussmile。
Iacknowledgedthisinterestingcommunicationbyasympatheticmurmur。Hewavedhishandcarelessly。
\"Thismighthaveutterlyspoiledachap\'snerveforgoingaloft，youknow——utterly。Hefellwithintwofeetofme，crackinghisheadonamooring-bitt。Nevermoved。Stonedead。Nicelookinglittlefellow，hewas。
Ihadjustbeenthinkingwewouldbegreatchums。
However，thatwasn\'tyettheworstthatbruteofashipcoulddo。Iservedinherthreeyearsofmytime，andthenIgottransferredtotheLucyApse，forayear。ThesailmakerwehadintheApseFamilyturnedupthere，too，andIrememberhimsayingtomeoneevening，afterwehadbeenaweekatsea:Isn\'tsheameeklittleship?\'NowonderwethoughttheLucyApseadear，meek，littleshipaftergettingclearofthatbig，rampag-
ingsavagebrute。Itwaslikeheaven。Herofficersseemedtometherestfullestlotofmenonearth。TomewhohadknownnoshipbuttheApseFamily，theLucywaslikeasortofmagiccraftthatdidwhatyouwantedhertodoofherownaccord。Oneeveningwegotcaughtabackprettysharplyfromrightahead。Inabouttenminuteswehadherfullagain，sheetsaft，tacksdown，deckscleared，andtheofficerofthewatchleaningagainsttheweatherrailpeacefully。Itseemedsimplymarvelloustome。Theotherwouldhavestuckforhalf-
an-hourinirons，rollingherdecksfullofwater，knock-
ingthemenabout——sparscracking，bracessnapping，yardstakingcharge，andaconfoundedscaregoingonaftbecauseofherbeastlyrudder，whichshehadawayofflappingaboutfittoraiseyourhaironend。Icould-
n\'tgetovermywonderfordays。
\"Well，Ifinishedmylastyearofapprenticeshipinthatjollylittleship——shewasn\'tsolittleeither，butafterthatotherheavydevilsheseemedbutaplaythingtohandle。Ifinishedmytimeandpassed；andthenjustasIwasthinkingofhavingthreeweeksofrealgoodtimeonshoreIgotatbreakfastaletteraskingmetheearliestdayIcouldbereadytojointheApseFamilyasthirdmate。Igavemyplateashovethatshotitintothemiddleofthetable；dadlookedupoverhispaper；motherraisedherhandsinastonishment，andI
wentoutbare-headedintoourbitofgarden，whereI
walkedroundandroundforanhour。
\"WhenIcameinagainmotherwasoutofthedining-room，anddadhadshiftedberthintohisbigarmchair。Theletterwaslyingonthemantelpiece。
\"\'It\'sverycreditabletoyoutogettheoffer，andverykindofthemtomakeit，\'hesaid。\'AndIseealsothatCharleshasbeenappointedchiefmateofthatshipforonevoyage。\'
\"Therewas，overleaf，aP。S。tothateffectinMr。
Apse\'sownhandwriting，whichIhadoverlooked。
Charleywasmybigbrother。
\"Idon\'tlikeverymuchtohavetwoofmyboystogetherinoneship，\'fathergoeson，inhisdeliberate，solemnway。\'AndImaytellyouthatIwouldnotmindwritingMr。Apsealettertothateffect。\'
\"Dearolddad!Hewasawonderfulfather。Whatwouldyouhavedone?Themerenotionofgoingbackandasanofficer，too，tobeworriedandbothered，andkeptonthejumpnightanddaybythatbrute，mademefeelsick。Butshewasn\'tashipyoucouldaffordtofightshyof。Besides，themostgenuineexcusecouldnotbegivenwithoutmortallyoffendingApse&Sons。
Thefirm，andIbelievethewholefamilydowntotheoldunmarriedauntsinLancashire，hadgrowndesper-
atelytouchyaboutthataccursedship\'scharacter。Thiswasthecaseforanswering\'Readynow\'fromyourverydeath-bedifyouwishedtodieintheirgoodgraces。
Andthat\'spreciselywhatIdidanswer——bywire，tohaveitoveranddonewithatonce。
\"Theprospectofbeingshipmateswithmybigbrothercheeredmeupconsiderably，thoughitmademeabitanxious，too。EversinceIremembermyselfasalittlechaphehadbeenverygoodtome，andIlookeduponhimasthefinestfellowintheworld。Andsohewas。
Nobetterofficereverwalkedthedeckofamerchantship。Andthat\'safact。Hewasafine，strong，up-
standing，sun-tanned，youngfellow，withhisbrownhaircurlingalittle，andaneyelikeahawk。Hewasjustsplendid。Wehadn\'tseeneachotherformanyyears，andeventhistime，thoughhehadbeeninEnglandthreeweeksalready，hehadn\'tshowedupathomeyet，buthadspenthissparetimeinSurreysomewheremak-
inguptoMaggieColchester，oldCaptainColchester\'sniece。Herfather，agreatfriendofdad\'s，wasinthesugar-brokingbusiness，andCharleymadeasortofsecondhomeoftheirhouse。Iwonderedwhatmybigbrotherwouldthinkofme。Therewasasortofstern-
nessaboutCharley\'sfacewhichneverleftit，notevenwhenhewaslarkinginhisratherwildfashion。
\"Hereceivedmewithagreatshoutoflaughter。
Heseemedtothinkmyjoiningasanofficerthegreatestjokeintheworld。Therewasadifferenceoftenyearsbetweenus，andIsupposeherememberedmebestinpinafores。Iwasakidoffourwhenhefirstwenttosea。
Itsurprisedmetofindhowboisteroushecouldbe。
\"\'Nowweshallseewhatyouaremadeof，\'hecried。
Andheheldmeoffbytheshoulders，andpunchedmyribs，andhustledmeintohisberth。\'Sitdown，Ned。I
amgladofthechanceofhavingyouwithme。I\'llputthefinishingtouchtoyou，myyoungofficer，providingyou\'reworththetrouble。And，firstofall，getitwellintoyourheadthatwearenotgoingtoletthisbrutekillanybodythisvoyage。We\'llstopherracket。\'
\"Iperceivedhewasindeadearnestaboutit。Hetalkedgrimlyoftheship，andhowwemustbecarefulandneverallowthisuglybeasttocatchusnappingwithanyofherdamnedtricks。
\"HegavemearegularlectureonspecialseamanshipfortheuseoftheApseFamily；thenchanginghistone，hebegantotalkatlarge，rattlingoffthewildest，funniestnonsense，tillmysidesachedwithlaughing。I
couldseeverywellhewasabitabovehimselfwithhighspirits。Itcouldn\'tbebecauseofmycoming。Nottothatextent。But，ofcourse，Iwouldn\'thavedreamtofaskingwhatwasthematter。Ihadaproperrespectformybigbrother，Icantellyou。Butitwasallmadeplainenoughadayortwoafterwards，whenIheardthatMissMaggieColchesterwascomingforthevoy-
age。Unclewasgivingherasea-tripforthebenefitofherhealth。
\"Idon\'tknowwhatcouldhavebeenwrongwithherhealth。Shehadabeautifulcolour，andadeuceofalotoffairhair。Shedidn\'tcarearapforwind，orrain，orspray，orsun，orgreenseas，oranything。Shewasablue-eyed，jollygirloftheverybestsort，butthewayshecheekedmybigbrotherusedtofrightenme。I
alwaysexpectedittoendinanawfulrow。However，nothingdecisivehappenedtillafterwehadbeeninSydneyforaweek。Oneday，inthemen\'sdinnerhour，Charleystickshisheadintomycabin。Iwasstretchedoutonmybackonthesettee，smokinginpeace。
\"\'Comeashorewithme，Ned，\'hesays，inhiscurtway。
\"Ijumpedup，ofcourse，andawayafterhimdownthegangwayandupGeorgeStreet。Hestrodealonglikeagiant，andIathiselbow，panting。Itwascon-
foundedlyhot。\'Whereonearthareyourushingmeto，Charley?\'Imadeboldtoask。
\"\'Here，\'hesays。
\"\'Here\'wasajeweller\'sshop。Icouldn\'timaginewhathecouldwantthere。Itseemedasortofmadfreak。Hethrustsundermynosethreerings，whichlookedverytinyonhisbig，brownpalm，growlingout——
\"\'ForMaggie!Which?\'
\"Igotakindofscareatthis。Icouldn\'tmakeasound，butIpointedattheonethatsparkledwhiteandblue。Heputitinhiswaistcoatpocket，paidforitwithalotofsovereigns，andboltedout。WhenwegotonboardIwasquiteoutofbreath。\'Shakehands，oldchap，\'Igaspedout。Hegavemeathumpontheback。
\'Givewhatordersyouliketotheboatswainwhenthehandsturn-to，\'sayshe；\'Iamoffdutythisafternoon。\'
\"Thenhevanishedfromthedeckforawhile，butpresentlyhecameoutofthecabinwithMaggie，andthesetwowentoverthegangwaypublicly，beforeallhands，goingforawalktogetheronthatawful，blazinghotday，withcloudsofdustflyingabout。Theycamebackafterafewhourslookingverystaid，butdidn\'tseemtohavetheslightestideawheretheyhadbeen。
Anyway，that\'stheanswertheybothmadetoMrs。
Colchester\'squestionattea-time。
\"Anddidn\'tsheturnonCharley，withhervoicelikeanoldnightcabman\'s!\'Rubbish。Don\'tknowwhereyou\'vebeen!Stuffandnonsense。You\'vewalkedthegirloffherlegs。Don\'tdoitagain。\'
\"It\'ssurprisinghowmeekCharleycouldbewiththatoldwoman。Onlyononeoccasionhewhisperedtome，\'I\'mjollygladsheisn\'tMaggie\'saunt，exceptbymarriage。That\'snosortofrelationship。\'ButI
thinkheletMaggiehavetoomuchofherownway。
Shewashoppingalloverthatshipinheryachtingskirtandaredtamo\'shanterlikeabrightbirdonadeadblacktree。Theoldsaltsusedtogrintothemselveswhentheysawhercomingalong，andofferedtoteachherknotsorsplices。Ibelieveshelikedthemen，forCharley\'ssake，Isuppose。
\"Asyoumayimagine，thefiendishpropensitiesofthatcursedshipwereneverspokenofonboard。Notinthecabin，atanyrate。Onlyonceonthehome-
wardpassageCharleysaid，incautiously，somethingaboutbringingallhercrewhomethistime。CaptainColchesterbegantolookuncomfortableatonce，andthatsilly，hard-bittenoldwomanflewoutatCharleyasthoughhehadsaidsomethingindecent。Iwasquiteconfoundedmyself；astoMaggie，shesatcompletelymystified，openingherblueeyesverywide。Ofcourse，beforeshewasadayoldershewormeditalloutofme。
Shewasaverydifficultpersontolieto。
\"\'Howawful，\'shesaid，quitesolemn。\'Somanypoorfellows。Iamgladthevoyageisnearlyover。I
won\'thaveamoment\'speaceaboutCharleynow。\'
\"IassuredherCharleywasallright。IttookmorethanthatshipknewtogetoveraseamanlikeCharley。
Andsheagreedwithme。
\"NextdaywegotthetugoffDungeness；andwhenthetow-ropewasfastCharleyrubbedhishandsandsaidtomeinanundertone——
\"\'We\'vebaffledher，Ned。\'
\'\"Lookslikeit，\'Isaid，withagrinathim。Itwasbeautifulweather，andtheseaassmoothasamillpond。
Wewentuptheriverwithoutashadowoftroubleexceptonce，whenoffHoleHaven，thebrutetookasuddensheerandnearlyhadabargeanchoredjustclearofthefairway。ButIwasaft，lookingafterthesteer-
ing，andshedidnotcatchmenappingthattime。
Charleycameuponthepoop，lookingveryconcerned。
\'Closeshave，\'sayshe。
\"\'Nevermind，Charley，\'Ianswered，cheerily。
\'You\'vetamedher。\'
\"Weweretotowrightuptothedock。TheriverpilotboardedusbelowGravesend，andthefirstwordsIheardhimsaywere:\'Youmayjustaswelltakeyourportanchorinboardatonce，Mr。Mate。\'
\"ThishadbeendonewhenIwentforward。IsawMaggieontheforecastleheadenjoyingthebustleandIbeggedhertogoaft，butshetooknonoticeofme，ofcourse。ThenCharley，whowasverybusywiththeheadgear，caughtsightofherandshoutedinhisbiggestvoice:\'Getofftheforecastlehead，Maggie。You\'reinthewayhere。\'Forallanswershemadeafunnyfaceathim，andIsawpoorCharleyturnaway，hidingasmile。
Shewasflushedwiththeexcitementofgettinghomeagain，andherblueeyesseemedtosnapelectricsparksasshelookedattheriver。Acollierbrighadgoneroundjustaheadofus，andourtughadtostopherenginesinahurrytoavoidrunningintoher。
\"Inamoment，asisusuallythecase，alltheshippinginthereachseemedtogetintoahopelesstangle。A
schoonerandaketchgotupasmallcollisionalltothemselvesrightinthemiddleoftheriver。Itwasexcitingtowatch，and，meantime，ourtugremainedstopped。Anyothershipthanthatbrutecouldhavebeencoaxedtokeepstraightforacoupleofminutes——
butnotshe!Herheadfelloffatonce，andshebegantodriftdown，takinghertugalongwithher。Inoticedaclusterofcoastersatanchorwithinaquarterofamileofus，andIthoughtIhadbetterspeaktothepilot。
\'Ifyoulethergetamongstthatlot，\'Isaid，quietly，\'shewillgrindsomeofthemtobitsbeforewegetheroutagain。\'
\"\'Don\'tIknowher!\'crieshe，stampinghisfootinaperfectfury。Andheoutwithhiswhistletomakethatbotheredtuggettheship\'sheadupagainasquickaspossible。Heblewlikemad，wavinghisarmtoport，andpresentlywecouldseethatthetug\'sengineshadbeensetgoingahead。Herpaddleschurnedthewater，butitwasasifshehadbeentryingtotowarock——shecouldn\'tgetaninchoutofthatship。
Againthepilotblewhiswhistle，andwavedhisarmtoport。Wecouldseethetug\'spaddlesturningfasterandfasteraway，broadonourbow。