\"Yes……？\"sheaccentuatedinterrogatively。
\"Youhavetheawfulnessofthepredestined。You，too，arethepreyofdreams。\"
\"NotoftheMoors，then，\"sheuttered，calmly，beginningtheotherplait。D’Alcacerfollowedtheoperationtotheend。Closeagainsther，herdiaphanousshadowonthemuslinreproducedherslightestmovements。D’Alcacerturnedhiseyesaway。
\"No！Nobarbarianshalltouchyou。BecauseifitcomestothatI
believeHEwouldbecapableofkillingyouhimself。\"
Aminuteelapsedbeforehestoleaglanceinherdirection。Shewasleaningbackagain，herhandshadfallenonherlapandherheadwithaplaitofhaironeachsideofherface，herheadincrediblychangedincharacterandsuggestingsomethingmedieval，ascetic，droopeddreamilyonherbreast。
D’Alcacerwaited，holdinghisbreath。Shedidn’tmove。Inthedimgleamofjewelledclasps，thefaintsheenofgoldembroideriesandtheshimmerofsilks，shewaslikeafigureinafadedpainting。Onlyherneckappeareddazzlinglywhiteinthesmokyrednessofthelight。D’Alcacer’swonderapproachedafeelingofawe。HewasonthepointofmovingawayquietlywhenMrs。
Travers，withoutstirringintheleast，lethimhearthewords：
\"Ihavetoldhimthateverydayseemedmoredifficulttolive。
Don’tyouseehowimpossiblethisis？\"
D’AlcacerglancedrapidlyacrosstheCagewhereMr。Traversseemedtobeasleepallinaheapandpresentingaruffledappearancelikeasickbird。Nothingwasdistinctofhimbutthebaldpatchonthetopofhishead。
\"Yes，\"hemurmured，\"itismostunfortunate……Iunderstandyouranxiety，Mrs。Travers，but……\"
\"Iamfrightened，\"shesaid。
Hereflectedamoment。\"Whatanswerdidyouget？\"heasked，softly。
\"Theanswerwas：’Patience。’\"
D’Alcacerlaughedalittle。——\"Youmaywelllaugh，\"murmuredMrs。
Traversinatoneofanguish。——\"That’swhyIdid，\"hewhispered。
\"Patience！Didn’theseethehorrorofit？\"——\"Idon’tknow。Hewalkedaway，\"saidMrs。Travers。Shelookedimmovablyatherhandsclaspedinherlap，andthenwithaburstofdistress，\"Mr。
d’Alcacer，whatisgoingtohappen？\"——\"Ah，youareaskingyourselfthequestionatlast。THATwillhappenwhichcannotbeavoided；andperhapsyouknowbestwhatitis。\"——\"No。Iamstillaskingmyselfwhathewilldo。\"——\"Ah，thatisnotformetoknow，\"declaredd’Alcacer。\"Ican’ttellyouwhathewilldo，butIknowwhatwillhappentohim。\"——\"Tohim，yousay！Tohim！\"shecried。——\"Hewillbreakhisheart，\"saidd’Alcacer，distinctly，bendingalittleoverthechairwithaslightgaspathisownaudacity——andwaited。
\"Croyez—vous？\"cameatlastfromMrs。Traversinanaccentsocoldlylanguidthatd’Alcacerfeltashudderrundownhisspine。
Wasitpossiblethatshewasthatkindofwoman，heaskedhimself。Didsheseenothingintheworldoutsideherself？Wassheabovethecommonestkindofcompassion？Hecouldn’tsuspectMrs。Traversofstupidity；butshemighthavebeenheartlessand，likesomewomenofherclass，quiteunabletorecognizeanyemotionintheworldexceptherown。D’Alcacerwasshockedandatthesametimehewasrelievedbecauseheconfessedtohimselfthathehadventuredveryfar。However，inherhumanityshewasnotvulgarenoughtobeoffended。Shewasnottheslaveofsmallmeannesses。Thisthoughtpleasedd’Alcacerwhohadschooledhimselfnottoexpecttoomuchfrompeople。Buthedidn’tknowwhattodonext。Afterwhathehadventuredtosayandafterthemannerinwhichshehadmethisaudacitytheonlythingtodowastochangetheconversation。Mrs。Traversremainedperfectlystill。\"IwillpretendthatIthinksheisasleep，\"hethoughttohimself，meditatingaretreatontip—toe。
Hedidn’tknowthatMrs。Traverswassimplytryingtorecoverthefullcommandofherfaculties。Hiswordshadgivenheraterribleshock。Aftermanagingtoutterthisdefensive\"croyez—vous\"whichcameoutofherlipscoldandfaintasifinalasteffortofdyingstrength，shefeltherselfturnrigidandspeechless。Shewasthinking，stiffalloverwithemotion：\"D’Alcacerhasseenit！Howmuchmorehashebeenabletosee？\"Shedidn’taskherselfthatquestioninfearorshamebutwitharecklessresignation。Outofthatshockcameasensationofpeace。A
glowingwarmthpassedthroughallherlimbs。Ifd’Alcacerhadpeeredbythatsmokylightintoherfacehemighthaveseenonherlipsafatalisticsmilecomeandgo。Butd’Alcacerwouldnothavedreamedofdoingsuchathing，and，besides，hisattentionjustthenwasdrawninanotherdirection。Hehadheardsubduedexclamations，hadnoticedastironthedecksoftheEmma，andevensomesortofnoiseoutsidetheship。
\"Thesearestrangesounds，\"hesaid。
\"Yes，Ihear，\"Mrs。Traversmurmured，uneasily。
VagueshapesglidedoutsidetheCage，barefooted，almostnoiseless，whisperingMalaywordssecretly。
\"Itseemsasthoughaboathadcomealongside，\"observedd’Alcacer，lendinganattentiveear。\"Iwonderwhatitmeans。Inourposition……\"
\"Itmaymeananything，\"interruptedMrs。Travers。
\"Jaffirishere，\"saidavoiceinthedarknessoftheafterendoftheship。Thenthereweresomemorewordsinwhichd’Alcacer’sattentiveearcaughttheword\"surat。\"
\"Amessageofsomesorthascome，\"hesaid。\"TheywillbecallingCaptainLingard。Iwonderwhatthoughtsorwhatdreamsthiscallwillinterrupt。\"Hespokelightly，lookingnowatMrs。Traverswhohadalteredherpositioninthechair；andbytheirtonesandattitudesthesetwomighthavebeenonboardtheyachtsailingtheseainperfectsafety。\"You，ofcourse，aretheonewhowillbetold。Don’tyoufeelasortofexcitement，Mrs。Travers？\"
\"Ihavebeenlatelyexhortedtopatience，\"shesaidinthesameeasytone。\"IcanwaitandIimagineIshallhavetowaittillthemorning。\"
\"Itcan’tbeverylateyet，\"hesaid。\"Timewithushasbeenstandingstillforeversolong。Andyetthismaybethehouroffate。\"
\"Isthisthefeelingyouhaveatthisparticularmoment？\"
\"Ihavehadthatfeelingforaconsiderablenumberofmomentsalready。Atfirstitwasexciting。NowIamonlymoderatelyanxious。Ihaveemployedmytimeingoingoverallmypastlife。\"
\"Canonereallydothat？\"
\"Yes。Ican’tsayIhavebeenboredtoextinction。Iamstillalive，asyousee；butIhavedonewiththatandIfeelextremelyidle。ThereisonlyonethingIwouldliketodo。Iwanttofindafewwordsthatcouldconveytoyoumygratitudeforallyourfriendlinessinthepast，atthetimewhenyouletmeseesomuchofyouinLondon。IfeltalwaysthatyoutookmeonmyowntermsandthatsokindlythatoftenIfeltinclinedtothinkbetterofmyself。ButIamafraidIamwearyingyou，Mrs。Travers。\"
\"Iassureyouyouhaveneverdonethat——inthepast。AndastothepresentmomentIbegyounottogoaway。Staybymeplease。
Wearenotgoingtopretendthatwearesleepyatthisearlyhour。\"
D’Alcacerbroughtastoolclosetothelongchairandsatdownonit。\"Oh，yes，thepossiblehouroffate，\"hesaid。\"Ihavearequesttomake，Mrs。Travers。Idon’taskyoutobetrayanything。Whatwouldbethegood？Theissuewhenitcomeswillbeplainenough。ButIshouldliketogetawarning，justsomethingthatwouldgivemetimetopullmyselftogether，tocomposemyselfasitwere。Iwantyoutopromisemethatifthebalancetipsagainstusyouwillgivemeasign。Youcould，forinstance，seizetheopportunitywhenIamlookingatyoutoputyourlefthandtoyourforeheadlikethis。ItisagesturethatIhaveneverseenyoumake，andso……\"
\"Jorgenson！\"Lingard’svoicewasheardforwardwherethelightofalanternappearedsuddenly。Then，afterapause，Lingardwasheardagain：\"Here！\"
Thenthesilentminutesbegantogoby。Mrs。Traversreclininginherchairandd’Alcacersittingonthestoolwaitedmotionlesswithoutaword。PresentlythroughthesubduedmurmursandagitationpervadingthedarkdeckoftheEmmaMrs。Traversheardafirmfootstep，and，lanterninhand，Lingardappearedoutsidethemuslincage。
\"Willyoucomeoutandspeaktome？\"hesaid，loudly。\"Notyou。
Thelady，\"headdedinanauthoritativetoneasd’Alcacerrosehastilyfromthestool。\"IwantMrs。Travers。\"
\"Ofcourse，\"mutteredd’AlcacertohimselfandasheopenedthedooroftheCagetoletMrs。Traversslipthroughhewhisperedtoher，\"Thisisthehouroffate。\"
Shebrushedpasthimswiftlywithouttheslightestsignthatshehadheardthewords。OntheafterdeckbetweentheCageandthedeckhouseLingardwaited，lanterninhand。Nobodyelsewasvisibleabout；butd’Alcacerfeltintheairthepresenceofsilentandexcitedbeingshoveringoutsidethecircleoflight。
LingardraisedthelanternasMrs。Traversapproachedandd’Alcacerheardhimsay：
\"Ihavehadnewswhichyououghttoknow。Letusgointothedeckhouse。\"
D’Alcacersawtheirheadslightedupbytheraisedlanternsurroundedbythedepthsofshadowwithaneffectofamarvellousandsymbolicvision。HeheardMrs。Traverssay\"Iwouldrathernothearyournews，\"inatonethatmadethatsensitiveobserverpurseuphislipsinwonder。Hethoughtthatshewasover—wrought，thatthesituationhadgrowntoomuchforhernerves。Butthiswasnotthetoneofafrightenedperson。Itflashedthroughhismindthatshehadbecomeself—conscious，andtherehestoppedinhisspeculation。Thatfriendofwomenremaineddiscreeteveninhisthoughts。HesteppedbackwardfurtherintotheCageandwithoutsurprisesawMrs。TraversfollowLingardintothedeckhouse。
IV
Lingardstoodthelanternonthetable。Itslightwasverypoor。
Hedroppedontothesea—chestheavily。He，too，wasover—wrought。Hisflannelshirtwasopenattheneck。Hehadabroadbeltroundhiswaistandwaswithouthisjacket。Beforehim，Mrs。Travers，straightandtallinthegaysilks，cottons，andmuslinsofheroutlandishdress，withtheendsofthescarfthrownoverherhead，hangingdowninfrontofher，lookeddimlysplendidandwithablackglanceoutofherwhiteface。Hesaid：
\"Doyou，too，wanttothrowmeover？Itellyouyoucan’tdothatnow。\"
\"Iwasn’tthinkingofthrowingyouover，butIdon’tevenknowwhatyoumean。ThereseemtobenoendofthingsIcan’tdo。
Hadn’tyoubettertellmeofsomethingthatIcoulddo？Haveyouanyideayourselfwhatyouwantfromme？\"
\"Youcanletmelookatyou。Youcanlistentome。Youcanspeaktome。\"
\"Frankly，Ihavenevershirkeddoingallthosethings，wheneveryouwantedmeto。Youhaveledme……\"
\"Iledyou！\"criedLingard。
\"Oh！Itwasmyfault，\"shesaid，withoutanger。\"Imusthavedreamedthenthatitwasyouwhocametomeinthedarkwiththetaleofyourimpossiblelife。CouldIhavesentyouaway？\"
\"Iwishyouhad。Whydidn’tyou？\"
\"Doyouwantmetotellyouthatyouwereirresistible？HowcouldIhavesentyouaway？Butyou！Whatmadeyoucomebacktomewithyourveryheartonyourlips？\"
WhenLingardspokeafteratimeitwasinjerkysentences。
\"Ididn’tstoptothink。Ihadbeenhurt。Ididn’tthinkofyoupeopleasladiesandgentlemen。IthoughtofyouaspeoplewhoselivesIheldinmyhand。Howwasitpossibletoforgetyouinmytrouble？ItisyourfacethatIbroughtbackwithmeonboardmybrig。Idon’tknowwhy。Ididn’tlookatyoumorethanatanybodyelse。Ittookmeallmytimetokeepmytemperdownlestitshouldburnyouallup。Ididn’twanttoberudetoyoupeople，butIfounditwasn’tveryeasybecausethreatsweretheonlyargumentIhad。WasIveryoffensive，Mrs。Travers？\"
Shehadlistenedtenseandveryattentive，almoststern。Anditwaswithouttheslightestchangeofexpressionthatshesaid：
\"IthinkthatyouboreyourselfappropriatelytothestateoflifetowhichithaspleasedGodtocallyou。\"
\"Whatstate？\"mutteredLingardtohimself。\"IamwhatIam。TheycallmeRajahLaut，KingTom，andsuchlike。Ithinkitamusedyoutohearit，butIcantellyouitisnojoketohavesuchnamesfastenedonone，eveninfun。Andthoseverynameshaveinthemsomethingwhichmakesallthisaffairherenosmallmattertoanybody。\"
Shestoodbeforehimwithaset，severeface。——\"Didyoucallmeoutinthisalarmingmanneronlytoquarrelwithme？\"——\"No，butwhydoyouchoosethistimetotellmethatmycomingforhelptoyouwasnothingbutimpudenceinyoursight？Well，Ibegyourpardonforintrudingonyourdignity。\"——\"Youmisunderstoodme，\"
saidMrs。Travers，withoutrelaxingforamomenthercontemplativeseverity。\"Suchaflatteringthinghadneverhappenedtomebeforeanditwillneverhappentomeagain。Butbelieveme，KingTom，youdidmetoomuchhonour。Jorgensonisperfectlyrightinbeingangrywithyouforhavingtakenawomanintow。\"——\"Hedidn’tmeantoberude，\"protestedLingard，earnestly。Mrs。Traversdidn’tevensmileatthisintrusionofapointofmannersintotheatmosphereofanguishandsuspensethatseemedalwaystoarisebetweenherandthismanwho，sittingonthesea—chest，hadraisedhiseyestoherwithanairofextremecandourandseemedunabletotakethemoffagain。Shecontinuedtolookathimsternlybyatremendouseffortofwill。
\"Howchangedyouare，\"hemurmured。
Hewaslostinthedepthsofthesimplestwonder。Sheappearedtohimvengefulandasifturnedforeverintostonebeforehisbewilderedremorse。Forever。SuddenlyMrs。Traverslookedroundandsatdowninthechair。Herstrengthfailedherbutsheremainedausterewithherhandsrestingonthearmsofherseat。
Lingardsigheddeeplyanddroppedhiseyes。Shedidnotdarerelaxhermusclesforfearofbreakingdownaltogetherandbetrayingarecklessimpulsewhichlurkedatthebottomofherdismay，toseizetheheadofd’Alcacer’sManofFate，pressittoherbreastonce，flingitfaraway，andvanishherself，vanishoutoflifelikeawraith。TheManofFatesatsilentandbowed，yetwithasuggestionofstrengthinhisdejection。\"IfIdon’tspeak，\"Mrs。Traverssaidtoherself，withgreatinwardcalmness，\"Ishallburstintotears。\"Shesaidaloud，\"Whatcouldhavehappened？Whathaveyoudraggedmeinherefor？Whydon’tyoutellmeyournews？\"
\"Ithoughtyoudidn’twanttohear。Ibelieveyoureallydon’twantto。Whatisallthistoyou？Ibelievethatyoudon’tcareanythingaboutwhatIfeel，aboutwhatIdoandhowIend。I
verilybelievethatyoudon’tcarehowyouendyourself。I
believeyounevercaredforyourownoranybody’sfeelings。I
don’tthinkitisbecauseyouarehard，Ithinkitisbecauseyoudon’tknow，anddon’twanttoknow，andareangrywithlife。\"
Heflourishedanarmrecklessly，andMrs。Traversnoticedforthefirsttimethatheheldasheetofpaperinhishand。
\"Isthatyournewsthere？\"sheasked，significantly。\"It’sdifficulttoimaginethatinthiswildernesswritingcanhaveanysignificance。Andwhoonearthherecouldsendyounewsonpaper？
Willyouletmeseeit？CouldIunderstandit？IsitinEnglish？
Come，KingTom，don’tlookatmeinthisawfulway。\"
Shegotupsuddenly，notinindignation，butasifattheendofherendurance。Thejewelledclasps，thegoldembroideries，gleamedelusivelyamongstthefoldsofherdraperieswhichemittedamysteriousrustle。
\"Ican’tstandthis，\"shecried。\"Ican’tstandbeinglookedatlikethis。Nowomancouldstandit。Nowomanhaseverbeenlookedatlikethis。Whatcanyousee？HatredIcouldunderstand。Whatisityouthinkmecapableof？\"
\"Youareveryextraordinary，\"murmuredLingard，whohadregainedhisself—possessionbeforethatoutburst。
\"Verywell，andyouareextraordinary，too。That’sunderstood——herewearebothunderthatcurseandhavingtofacetogetherwhatevermayturnup。Butwhoonearthcouldhavesentyouthiswriting？\"
\"Who？\"repeatedLingard。\"Why，thatyoungfellowthatblunderedonmybriginthedark，bringingaboatloadoftroublealongsideonthatquietnightinCarimataStraits。ThedarkestnightIhaveeverknown。Anaccursednight。\"
Mrs。Traversbitherlip，waitedalittle，thenaskedquietly：
\"Whatdifficultyhashegotintonow？\"
\"Difficulty！\"criedLingard。\"Heisimmenselypleasedwithhimself，theyoungfool。Youknow，whenyousenthimtotalktomethateveningyoulefttheyacht，hecamewithaloadedpistolinhispocket。Andnowhehasgoneanddoneit。\"
\"Doneit？\"repeatedMrs。Traversblankly。\"Donewhat？\"
ShesnatchedfromLingard’sunresistingpalmthesheetofpaper。
WhileshewassmoothingitLingardmovedroundandstoodcloseatherelbow。Sheranquicklyoverthefirstlines，thenhereyessteadied。AttheendshedrewaquickbreathandlookedupatLingard。TheirfaceshadneverbeensoclosetogetherbeforeandMrs。Travershadasurprisingsecondofaperfectlynewsensation。Shelookedaway。——\"Doyouunderstandwhatthisnewsmeans？\"hemurmured。Mrs。Traversletherhandfallbyherside。
\"Yes，\"shesaidinalowtone。\"Thecompactisbroken。\"
Carterhadbegunhisletterwithoutanypreliminaries：
Youclearedoutinthemiddleofthenightandtooktheladyawaywithyou。Youleftmenoproperorders。ButasasailormanI
lookeduponmyselfasleftinchargeoftwoshipswhilewithinhalfamileonthatsandbankthereweremorethanahundredpiraticalcut—throatswatchingmeascloselyassomanytigersabouttoleap。Dayswentbywithoutawordofyouorthelady。Toleavetheshipsoutsideandgoinlandtolookforyouwasnottobethoughtofwithallthosepirateswithinspringingdistance。
Putyourselfinmyplace。Can’tyouimaginemyanxiety，mysleeplessnights？Eachnightworsethanthenightbefore。Andstillnowordfromyou。Icouldn’tsitstillandworrymyheadoffaboutthingsIcouldn’tunderstand。Iamasailorman。Myfirstdutywastotheships。IhadtoputanendtothisimpossiblesituationandIhopeyouwillagreethatIhavedoneitinaseamanlikeway。OnemistymorningImovedthebrignearerthesandbankanddirectlythemistclearedIopenedfireontheprausofthosesavageswhichwereanchoredinthechannel。Weaimedwideatfirsttogivethosevagabondsthatwereonboardachancetoclearoutandjointheirfriendscampedonthesands。I
didn’twanttokillpeople。Thenwegotthelongguntobearandinaboutanhourwehadthebottomknockedoutofthetwopraus。
Thesavagesonthebankhowledandscreamedateveryshot。TheyaremightyangrybutIdon’tcarefortheirangernow，forbysinkingtheirprausIhavemadethemasharmlessasaflockoflambs。Theyneedn’tstarveontheirsandbankbecausetheyhavetwoorthreedugoutshauleduponthesandandtheymayferrythemselvesandtheirwomentothemainlandwhenevertheylike。
IfancyIhaveactedasaseamanandasaseamanIintendtogoonacting。NowIhavemadetheshipssafeIshallsetaboutwithoutlossoftimetryingtogettheyachtoffthemud。Whenthat’sdoneIshallarmtheboatsandproceedinshoretolookforyouandtheyacht’sgentry，andshan’tresttillIknowwhetheranyorallofyouareabovetheearthyet。
Ihopethesewordswillreachyou。JustaswehaddonethebusinessofthoseprausthemanyousentoffthatnightinCarimatatostopourchiefofficercamesailinginfromthewestwithourfirstgigintowandtheboat’screwallwell。YourserangtellsmeheisamosttrustworthymessengerandthathisnameisJaffir。Heseemsonlytooanxioustotrytogettoyouassoonaspossible。Irepeat，shipsandmenhavebeenmadesafeandIdon’tmeantogiveyouupdeadoralive。
\"Youarequickintakingthepoint，\"saidLingardinadullvoice，whileMrs。Travers，withthesheetofpapergrippedinherhand，lookedintohisfacewithanxiouseyes。\"Hehasbeensmartandnomistake。\"
\"Hedidn’tknow，\"murmuredMrs。Travers。
\"No，hedidn’tknow。ButcouldItakeeverybodyintomyconfidence？\"protestedLingardinthesamelowtone。\"AndyetwhoelsecouldItrust？Itseemedtomethathemusthaveunderstoodwithoutbeingtold。Butheistooyoung。Hemaywellbeproudaccordingtohislights。Hehasdonethatjoboutsideverysmartly——damnhissmartness！Andherewearewithallourlivesdependingonmyword——whichisbrokennow，Mrs。Travers。Itisbroken。\"
Mrs。Traversnoddedathimslightly。
\"Theywouldsoonerhaveexpectedtoseethesunandthemoonfalloutofthesky，\"Lingardcontinuedwithrepressedfire。NextmomentitseemedtohavegoneoutofhimandMrs。Traversheardhimmutteradisconnectedphrase……\"Theworlddownaboutmyears。\"
\"Whatwillyoudo？\"shewhispered。
\"WhatwillIdo？\"repeatedLingard，gently。\"Oh，yes——do。Mrs。
Travers，doyouseethatIamnothingnow？Justnothing。\"
Hehadlosthimselfinthecontemplationofherfaceturnedtohimwithanexpressionofawedcuriosity。TheshockoftheworldcomingdownabouthisearsinconsequenceofCarter’ssmartnesswassoterrificthatithaddulledhissensibilitiesinthemannerofagreatpainorofagreatcatastrophe。Whatwastheretolookatbutthatwoman’sface，inaworldwhichhadlostitsconsistency，itsshape，anditspromisesinamoment？
Mrs。Traverslookedaway。SheunderstoodthatshehadputtoLingardanimpossiblequestion。Whatwaspresentingitselftoherasaproblemwastothatmanacrisisoffeeling。ObviouslyCarter’sactionhadbrokenthecompactenteredintowithDaman，andshewasintelligentenoughtounderstandthatitwasthesortofthingthatcouldnotbeexplainedaway。Itwasn’thorrorthatshefelt，butasortofconsternation，somethinglikethediscomfitureofpeoplewhohavejustmissedtheirtrain。Itwasonlymoreintense。Therealdismayhadyettomakeitswayintohercomprehension。ToLingarditwasablowstruckstraightathisheart。
HewasnotangrywithCarter。Thefellowhadactedlikeaseaman。
Carter’sconcernwasfortheships。InthisfatalityCarterwasamereincident。Therealcauseofthedisasterwassomewhereelse，wasother，andmoreremote。AndatthesametimeLingardcouldnotdefendhimselffromafeelingthatitwasinhimself，too，somewhereintheunexploreddepthsofhisnature，somethingfatalandunavoidable。Hemutteredtohimself：
\"No。Iamnotaluckyman。\"
Thiswasbutafeebleexpressionofthediscoveryofthetruththatsuddenlyhadcomehometohimasifdrivenintohisbreastbyarevealingpowerwhichhaddecidedthatthiswastobetheendofhisfling。Buthewasnotthemantogivehimselfuptotheexaminationofhisownsensations。Hisnaturalimpulsewastograpplewiththecircumstancesandthatwaswhathewastryingtodo；buthemissednowthatsenseofmasterywhichishalfthebattle。Conflictofsomesortwastheveryessenceofhislife。
Butthiswassomethinghehadneverknownbefore。Thiswasaconflictwithinhimself。Hehadtofaceunsuspectedpowers，foesthathecouldnotgoouttomeetatthegate。Theywerewithin，asthoughhehadbeenbetrayedbysomebody，bysomesecretenemy。
Hewasreadytolookroundforthatsubtletraitor。Asortofblanknessfellonhismindandhesuddenlythought：\"Why！It’smyself。\"
Immediatelyafterwardhehadaclear，mercilessrecollectionofHassimandImmada。Hesawthemfaroffbeyondtheforests。Oh，yes，theyexisted——withinhisbreast！
\"Thatwasanight！\"hemuttered，lookingstraightatMrs。
Travers。Hehadbeenlookingatherallthetime。Hisglancehadheldherunderaspell，butforawholeinterminableminutehehadnotbeenawareofheratall。Atthemurmurofhiswordsshemadeaslightmovementandhesawheragain。——\"Whatnight？\"shewhispered，timidly，likeanintruder。Shewasastonishedtoseehimsmile。——\"Notlikethisone，\"hesaid。\"Youmademenoticehowquietandstillitwas。Yes。Listenhowstillitis。\"
Bothmovedtheirheadsslightlyandseemedtolendanear。Therewasnotamurmur，sigh，rustle，splash，orfootfall。Nowhispers，notremors，notasoundofanykind。TheymighthavebeenaloneonboardtheEmma，abandonedevenbytheghostofCaptainJorgensondepartedtorejointheBarqueWildRoseontheshoreoftheCimmeriansea。——\"It’slikethestillnessoftheend，\"saidMrs。Traversinalow，equablevoice。——\"Yes，butthat，too，isfalse，\"saidLingardinthesametone。——\"Idon’tunderstand，\"
Mrs。Traversbegan，hurriedly，afterashortsilence。\"Butdon’tusethatword。Don’tuseit，KingTom！Itfrightensmebyitsmeresound。\"
Lingardmadenosign。HisthoughtswerebackwithHassimandImmada。TheyoungchiefandhissisterhadgoneupcountryonavoluntarymissiontopersuadeBelarabtoreturntohisstockadeandtotakeupagainthedirectionofaffairs。TheycarriedurgentmessagesfromLingard，whoforBelarabwastheveryembodimentoftruthandforce，thatunquestionedforcewhichhadpermittedBelarabtoindulgeinallhismelancholyhesitations。
Butthosetwoyoungpeoplehadalsosomepersonalprestige。TheywereLingard’sheart’sfriends。Theywerelikehischildren。Butbesidethat，theirhighbirth，theirwarlikestory，theirwanderings，adventures，andprospectshadgiventhemaglamouroftheirown。