Jorgenson，standingbythetaffrail，notedthefaintreddishglowinthemassiveblacknessofthefurthershore。Jorgensonnotedthingsquickly，cursorily，perfunctorily，asphenomenaunrelatedtohisownapparitionalexistenceofavisitingghost。Theywerebutpassagesinthegameofmenwhowerestillplayingatlife。
Heknewtoowellhowmuchthatgamewasworthtobeconcernedaboutitscourse。Hehadgivenupthehabitofthinkingforsolongthatthesuddenresumptionofitirkedhimexceedingly，especiallyashehadtothinkontowardaconclusion。Inthatworldofeternaloblivion，ofwhichhehadtastedbeforeLingardmadehimstepbackintothelifeofmen，allthingsweresettledonceforall。Hewasirritatedbyhisownperplexitywhichwaslikeareminderofthatmortalitymadeupofquestionsandpassionsfromwhichhehadfanciedhehadfreedhimselfforever。
ByanaturalassociationhiscontemptuousannoyanceembracedtheexistenceofMrs。Travers，too，forhowcouldhethinkofTomLingard，ofwhatwasgoodorbadforKingTom，withoutthinkingalsoofthatwomanwhohadmanagedtoputtheghostofasparkevenintohisownextinguishedeyes？Shewasofnoaccount；butTom’sintegritywas。ItwasofTomthathehadtothink，ofwhatwasgoodorbadforTominthatabsurdanddeadlygameofhislife。FinallyhereachedtheconclusionthattobegiventheringwouldbegoodforTomLingard。Justtobegiventheringandnomore。Theringandnomore。
\"Itwillhelphimtomakeuphismind，\"mutteredJorgensoninhismoustache，asifcompelledbyanobscureconviction。Itwasonlythenthathestirredslightlyandturnedawayfromtheloomofthefiresonthedistantshore。Mrs。Traversheardhisfootstepspassingagainalongthesideofthedeckhouse——andthistimeneverraisedherhead。Thatmanwassleepless，mad，childish，andinflexible。Hewasimpossible。Hehauntedthedecksofthathulkaimlessly……
Itwas，however，inpursuanceofaverydistinctaimthatJorgensonhadgoneforwardagaintoseekJaffir。
ThefirstremarkhehadtooffertoJaffir’sconsiderationwasthattheonlypersonintheworldwhohadtheremotestchanceofreachingBelarab’sgateonthatnightwasthattallwhitewomantheRajahLauthadbroughtonboard，thewifeofoneofthecaptivewhitechiefs。SurprisemadeJaffirexclaim，buthewasn’tpreparedtodenythat。Itwaspossiblethatformanyreasons，somequitesimpleandothersverysubtle，thosesonsoftheEvilOnebelongingtoTenggaandDamanwouldrefrainfromkillingawhitewomanwalkingalonefromthewater’sedgetoBelarab’sgate。Yes，itwasjustpossiblethatshemightwalkunharmed。
\"Especiallyifshecarriedablazingtorch，\"mutteredJorgensoninhismoustache。HetoldJaffirthatshewassittingnowinthedark，mourningsilentlyinthemannerofwhitewomen。Shehadmadeagreatoutcryinthemorningtobeallowedtojointhewhitemenonshore。He，Jorgenson，hadrefusedherthecanoe。
Eversinceshehadsecludedherselfinthedeckhouseingreatdistress。
Jaffirlistenedtoitallwithoutparticularsympathy。AndwhenJorgensonadded，\"Itisinmymind，OJaffir，toletherhaveherwillnow，\"heansweredbya\"Yes，byAllah！lethergo。Whatdoesitmatter？\"ofthegreatestunconcern，tillJorgensonadded：
\"Yes。AndshemaycarrytheringtotheRajahLaut。\"
JorgensonsawJaffir，thegrimandimpassiveJaffir，giveaperceptiblestart。ItseemedatfirstanimpossibletasktopersuadeJaffirtopartwiththering。Thenotionwastoomonstroustoenterhismind，tomovehisheart。Butatlasthesurrenderedinanawedwhisper，\"Godisgreat。Perhapsitisherdestiny。\"
BeingaWajomanhedidnotregardwomenasuntrustworthyorunequaltoataskrequiringcourageandjudgment。OncehegotoverthepersonalfeelinghehandedtheringtoJorgensonwithonlyonereservation，\"Youknow，Tuan，thatshemustonnoaccountputitonherfinger。\"
\"Letherhangitroundherneck，\"suggestedJorgenson，readily。
AsJorgensonmovedtowardthedeckhouseitoccurredtohimthatperhapsnowthatwomanTomLingardhadtakenintowmighttakeitintoherheadtorefusetoleavetheEmma。Thisdidnotdisturbhimverymuch。Allthosepeoplemovedinthedark。Hehimselfatthatparticularmomentwasmovinginthedark。BeyondthesimplewishtoguideLingard’sthoughtinthedirectionofHassimandImmada，tohelphimtomakeuphismindatlasttoaruthlessfidelitytohispurposeJorgensonhadnootheraim。Theexistenceofthosewhiteshadnomeaningonearth。Theywerethesortofpeoplethatpasswithoutleavingfootprints。Thatwomanwouldhavetoactinignorance。Andifsherefusedtogotheninignoranceshewouldhavetostayonboard。Hewouldtellhernothing。
Asamatteroffact，hediscoveredthatMrs。Traverswouldsimplyhavenothingtodowithhim。Shewouldnotlistentowhathehadtosay。Shedesiredhim，amerewearyvoiceconfinedinthedarknessofthedeckcabin，togoawayandtroublehernomore。
ButtheghostofJorgensonwasnoteasilyexorcised。He，too，wasamerevoiceintheouterdarkness，inexorable，insistingthatsheshouldcomeoutondeckandlisten。Atlasthefoundtherightwordstosay。
\"ItissomethingaboutTomthatIwanttotellyou。Youwishhimwell，don’tyou？\"
Afterthisshecouldnotrefusetocomeoutondeck，andoncethereshelistenedpatientlytothatwhiteghostmutteringandmumblingaboveherdroopinghead。
\"Itseemstome，CaptainJorgenson，\"shesaidafterhehadceased，\"thatyouaresimplytriflingwithme。Afteryourbehaviourtomethismorning，Icanhavenothingtosaytoyou。\"
\"Ihaveacanoeforyounow，\"mumbledJorgenson。
\"Youhavesomenewpurposeinviewnow，\"retortedMrs。Traverswithspirit。\"Butyouwon’tmakeitcleartome。Whatisitthatyouhaveinyourmind？\"
\"Tom’sinterest。\"
\"Areyoureallyhisfriend？\"
\"Hebroughtmehere。Youknowit。Hehastalkedalottoyou。\"
\"Hedid。ButIaskmyselfwhetheryouarecapableofbeinganybody’sfriend。\"
\"Youaskyourself！\"repeatedJorgenson，veryquietandmorose。
\"IfIamnothisfriendIshouldliketoknowwhois。\"
Mrs。Traversasked，quickly：\"What’sallthisaboutaring？Whatring？\"
\"Tom’sproperty。Hehashaditforyears。\"
\"Andhegaveittoyou？Doesn’thecareforit？\"
\"Don’tknow。It’sjustathing。\"
\"Butithasameaningasbetweenyouandhim。Isthatso？\"
\"Yes。Ithas。Hewillknowwhatitmeans。\"
\"Whatdoesitmean？\"
\"Iamtoomuchhisfriendnottoholdmytongue。\"
\"What！Tome！\"
\"Andwhoareyou？\"wasJorgenson’sunexpectedremark。\"Hehastoldyoutoomuchalready。\"
\"Perhapshehas，\"whisperedMrs。Travers，asiftoherself。\"Andyouwantthatringtobetakentohim？\"sheasked，inaloudertone。
\"Yes。Atonce。Forhisgood。\"
\"Areyoucertainitisforhisgood？Whycan’tyou……\"
Shecheckedherself。Thatmanwashopeless。Hewouldnevertellanythingandtherewasnomeansofcompellinghim。Hewasinvulnerable，unapproachable……Hewasdead。
\"Justgiveittohim，\"mumbledJorgensonasthoughpursuingamerefixedidea。\"Justslipitquietlyintohishand。Hewillunderstand。\"
\"Whatisit？Advice，warning，signalforaction？\"
\"Itmaybeanything，\"utteredJorgenson，morosely，butasitwereinamollifiedtone。\"It’smeantforhisgood。\"
\"Oh，ifIonlycouldtrustthatman！\"musedMrs。Travers，halfaloud。
Jorgenson’sslightnoiseinthethroatmighthavebeentakenforanexpressionofsympathy。Butheremainedsilent。
\"Really，thisismostextraordinary！\"criedMrs。Travers，suddenlyaroused。\"Whydidyoucometome？Whyshoulditbemytask？Whyshouldyouwantmespeciallytotakeittohim？\"
\"Iwilltellyouwhy，\"saidJorgenson’sblankvoice。\"It’sbecausethereisnooneonboardthishulkthatcanhopetogetaliveinsidethatstockade。Thismorningyoutoldmeyourselfthatyouwerereadytodie——forTom——orwithTom。Well，riskitthen。Youaretheonlyonethathashalfachancetogetthrough—
—andTom，maybe，iswaiting。\"
\"Theonlyone，\"repeatedMrs。TraverswithanabruptmovementforwardandanextendedhandbeforewhichJorgensonsteppedbackapace。\"Riskit！Certainly！Where’sthatmysteriousring？\"
\"Ihavegotitinmypocket，\"saidJorgenson，readily；yetnearlyhalfaminuteelapsedbeforeMrs。Traversfeltthecharacteristicshapebeingpressedintoherhalf—openpalm。\"Don’tletanybodyseeit，\"Jorgensonadmonishedherinamurmur。\"Hideitsomewhereaboutyou。Whynothangitroundyourneck？\"
Mrs。Travers’handremainedfirmlyclosedonthering。\"Yes，thatwilldo，\"shemurmured，hastily。\"I’llbebackinamoment。Geteverythingready。\"Withthosewordsshedisappearedinsidethedeckhouseandpresentlythreadsoflightappearedintheintersticesoftheboards。Mrs。Travershadlightedacandleinthere。Shewasbusyhangingthatringroundherneck。Shewasgoing。Yes——takingtheriskforTom’ssake。
\"Nobodycanresistthatman，\"Jorgensonmutteredtohimselfwithincreasingmoroseness。\"_I_couldn’t。\"
IV
Jorgenson，afterseeingthecanoeleavetheship’sside，ceasedtoliveintellectually。Therewasnoneedformorethinking，foranydisplayofmentalingenuity。Hehaddonewithitall。AllhisnotionswereperfectlyfixedandhecouldgoovertheminthesameghostlywayinwhichhehauntedthedeckoftheEmma。AtthesightoftheringLingardwouldreturntoHassimandImmada，nowcaptives，too，thoughJorgensoncertainlydidnotthinktheminanyseriousdanger。WhathadhappenedreallywasthatTenggawasnowholdinghostages，andthoseJorgensonlookeduponasLingard’sownpeople。Theywerehis。Hehadgoneinwiththemdeep，verydeep。TheyhadaholdandaclaimonKingTomjustasmanyyearsagopeopleofthatveryracehadhadaholdandaclaimonhim，Jorgenson。OnlyTomwasamuchbiggerman。Averybigman。Nevertheless，Jorgensondidn’tseewhyheshouldescapehisownfate——Jorgenson’sfate——tobeabsorbed，captured，madetheirowneitherinfailureorinsuccess。ItwasanunavoidablefatalityandJorgensonfeltcertainthattheringwouldcompelLingardtofaceitwithoutflinching。WhathereallywantedLingardtodowastoceasetotaketheslightestinterestinthosewhites——whowerethesortofpeoplethatleftnofootprints。
Perhapsatfirstsight，sendingthatwomantoLingardwasnotthebestwaytowardthatend。Jorgenson，however，hadadistinctimpressioninwhichhismorningtalkwithMrs。Travershadonlyconfirmedhim，thatthosetwohadquarrelledforgood。As，indeed，wasunavoidable。WhatdidTomLingardwantwithanywoman？TheonlywomaninJorgenson’slifehadcomeinbywayofexchangeforalotofcottonstuffsandseveralbrassguns。ThisfactcouldnotbutaffectJorgenson’sjudgmentsinceobviouslyinthiscasesuchatransactionwasimpossible。Thereforethecasewasnotserious。Itdidn’texist。WhatdidexistwasLingard’srelationtotheWajoexiles，agreatandwarlikeadventuresuchasnoroverinthoseseashadeverattempted。
ThatTenggawasmuchmorereadytonegotiatethantofight，theoldadventurerhadnottheslightestdoubt。HowLingardwoulddealwithhimwasnotaconcernofJorgenson’s。Thatwouldbeeasyenough。NothingpreventedLingardfromgoingtoseeTenggaandtalkingtohimwithauthority。AllthatambitiouspersonreallywantedwastohaveashareinLingard’swealth，inLingard’spower，inLingard’sfriendship。AyearbeforeTenggahadonceinsinuatedtoJorgenson，\"InwhatwayamIlessworthyofbeingafriendthanBelarab？\"
Itwasadistinctoverture，adisclosureoftheman’sinnermostmind。Jorgenson，ofcourse，hadmetitwithaprofoundsilence。
Histaskwasnotdiplomacybutthecareofstores。
AftertheeffortofconnectedmentalprocessesinordertobringaboutMrs。Travers’departurehewasanxioustodismissthewholematterfromhismind。Thelastthoughthegavetoitwasseverelypractical。ItoccurredtohimthatitwouldbeadvisabletoattractinsomewayorotherLingard’sattentiontothelagoon。
Inthelanguageoftheseaasinglerocketisproperlyasignalofdistress，but，inthecircumstances，agroupofthreesentupsimultaneouslywouldconveyawarning。Hegavehisordersandwatchedtherocketsgoupfinelywithatrailofredsparks，aburstingofwhitestarshighupintheair，andthreeloudreportsinquicksuccession。Thenheresumedhispacingofthewholelengthofthehulk，confidentthatafterthisTomwouldguessthatsomethingwasupandsetaclosewatchoverthelagoon。NodoubtthesemysteriousrocketswouldhaveadisturbingeffectonTenggaandhisfriendsandcauseagreatexcitementintheSettlement；butforthatJorgensondidnotcare。TheSettlementwasalreadyinsuchaturmoilthatalittlemoreexcitementdidnotmatter。WhatJorgensondidnotexpect，however，wasthesoundofamusket—shotfiredfromthejunglefacingthebowsoftheEmma。Itcausedhimtostopdeadshort。Hehadhearddistinctlythebulletstrikethecurveofthebowforward。\"Somehot—headedassfiredthat，\"hesaidtohimself，contemptuously。ItsimplydisclosedtohimthefactthathewasalreadybesiegedontheshoresideandsetatresthisdoubtsastothelengthTenggawaspreparedtogo。Anylength！OfcoursetherewasstilltimeforTomtoputeverythingrightwithsixwords，unless……Jorgensonsmiled，grimly，inthedarkandresumedhistirelesspacing。
WhatamusedhimwastoobservethefirewhichhadbeenburningnightanddaybeforeTengga’sresidencesuddenlyextinguished。Hepicturedtohimselfthewildrushwithbamboobucketstothelagoonshore，theconfusion，thehurryandjostlinginagreathissingofwatermidstcloudsofsteam。TheimageofthefatTengga’sconsternationappealedtoJorgenson’ssenseofhumourforaboutfiveseconds。Thenhetookupthebinocularsfromtheroofofthedeckhouse。
TheburstingofthethreewhitestarsoverthelagoonhadgivenhimamomentaryglimpseoftheblackspeckofthecanoetakingoverMrs。Travers。Hecouldn’tfinditagainwiththeglass，itwastoodark；butthepartoftheshoreforwhichitwassteeredwouldbesomewhereneartheangleofBelarab’sstockadenearesttothebeach。ThisJorgensoncouldmakeoutinthefaintrosyglareoffiresburninginside。JorgensonwascertainthatLingardwaslookingtowardtheEmmathroughthemostconvenientloopholehecouldfind。
AsobviouslyMrs。Traverscouldnothavepaddledherselfacross，twomenweretakingherover；andforthesteersmanshehadJaffir。ThoughhehadassentedtoJorgenson’splanJaffirwasanxioustoaccompanytheringasnearaspossibletoitsdestination。Nothingbutdirenecessityhadinducedhimtopartwiththetalisman。Crouchinginthesternandflourishinghispaddlefromsidetosideheglaredatthebackofthecanvasdeck—chairwhichhadbeenplacedinthemiddleforMrs。Travers。
Wrappedupinthedarknessshereclinedinitwithhereyesclosed，faintlyawareoftheringhunglowonherbreast。Asthecanoewasratherlargeitwasmovingveryslowly。Thetwomendippedtheirpaddleswithoutasplash：andsurrenderingherselfpassively，inatemporaryrelaxationofallherlimbs，tothisadventureMrs。Travershadnosenseofmotionatall。She，too，likeJorgenson，wastiredofthinking。Sheabandonedherselftothesilenceofthatnightfullofrousedpassionsanddeadlypurposes。Sheabandonedherselftoanillusoryfeeling；totheimpressionthatshewasreallyresting。Forthefirsttimeinmanydaysshecouldtastethereliefofbeingalone。Themenwithherwerelessthannothing。Shecouldnotspeaktothem；shecouldnotunderstandthem；thecanoemighthavebeenmovingbyenchantment——ifitdidmoveatall。Likeahalf—conscioussleepershewasonthevergeofsayingtoherself，\"WhatastrangedreamIamhaving。\"
ThelowtonesofJaffir’svoicestoleintoitquietlytellingthementoceasepaddling，andthelongcanoecametoarestslowly，nomorethantenyardsfromthebeach。Thepartyhadbeenprovidedwithatorchwhichwastobelightedbeforethecanoetouchedtheshore，thusgivingacharacterofopennesstothisdesperateexpedition。\"Andifitdrawsfireonus，\"JaffirhadcommentedtoJorgenson，\"well，then，weshallseewhosefateitistodieonthisnight。\"
\"Yes，\"hadmutteredJorgenson。\"Weshallsee。\"
Jorgensonsawatlastthesmalllightofthetorchagainsttheblacknessofthestockade。Hestrainedhishearingforapossiblevolleyofmusketryfirebutnosoundcametohimoverthebroadsurfaceofthelagoon。Overtherethemanwiththetorch，theotherpaddler，andJaffirhimselfimpellingwithagentlemotionofhispaddlethecanoetowardtheshore，hadtheglisteningeyeballsandthetensefacesofsilentexcitement。TheruddyglaresmoteMrs。Travers’closedeyelidsbutshedidn’topenhereyestillshefeltthecanoetouchthestrand。Thetwomenleapedinstantlyoutofit。Mrs。Traversrose，abruptly。Nobodymadeasound。Shestumbledoutofthecanoeontothebeachandalmostbeforeshehadrecoveredherbalancethetorchwasthrustintoherhand。Theheat，thenearnessoftheblazeconfusedandblindedhertill，instinctively，sheraisedthetorchhighaboveherhead。Foramomentshestoodstill，holdingaloftthefierceflamefromwhichafewsparkswerefallingslowly。
AnakedbronzearmlightedfromabovepointedoutthedirectionandMrs。Traversbegantowalktowardthefeaturelessblackmassofthestockade。Whenafterafewstepsshelookedbackoverhershoulder，thelagoon，thebeach，thecanoe，themenshehadjustlefthadbecomealreadyinvisible。Shewasalonebearingupablazingtorchonanearththatwasadumbshadowshiftingunderherfeet。Atlastshereachedfirmergroundandthedarklengthofthepalisadeuntouchedasyetbythelightofthetorchseemedtoherimmense，intimidating。Shefeltreadytodropfromsheeremotion。Butshemovedon。
\"Alittlemoretotheleft，\"shoutedastrongvoice。
Itvibratedthroughallherfibres，rousinglikethecallofatrumpet，wentfarbeyondher，filledallthespace。Mrs。Traversstoodstillforamoment，thencastingfarawayfromhertheburningtorchranforwardblindlywithherhandsextendedtowardthegreatsoundofLingard’svoice，leavingbehindherthelightflaringandsplutteringontheground。Shestumbledandwasonlysavedfromafallbyherhandscomingincontactwiththeroughstakes。Thestockaderosehighaboveherheadandsheclungtoitwithwidelyopenarms，pressingherwholebodyagainsttheruggedsurfaceofthatenormousandunscalablepalisade。Sheheardthroughitlowvoicesinside，heavythuds；andfeltateveryblowaslightvibrationofthegroundunderherfeet。Sheglancedfearfullyoverhershoulderandsawnothinginthedarknessbuttheexpiringglowofthetorchshehadthrownawayandthesombreshimmerofthelagoonborderingtheopaquedarknessoftheshore。
Herstrainedeyeballsseemedtodetectmysteriousmovementsinthedarknessandshegavewaytoirresistibleterror，toashrinkingagonyofapprehension。Wasshetobetransfixedbyabroadblade，tothehigh，immovablewallofwoodagainstwhichshewasflatteningherselfdesperately，asthoughshecouldhopetopenetrateitbythemereforceofherfear？Shehadnoideawhereshewas，butasamatteroffactshewasalittletotheleftoftheprincipalgateandalmostexactlyunderoneoftheloopholesofthestockade。Herexcessiveanguishpassedintoinsensibility。Sheceasedtohear，tosee，andeventofeelthecontactofthesurfacetowhichsheclung。Lingard’svoicesomewherefromtheskyaboveherheadwasdirectingher，distinct，veryclose，fullofconcern。
\"Youmuststooplow。Loweryet。\"
Thestagnantbloodofherbodybegantopulsatelanguidly。Shestoopedlow——loweryet——solowthatshehadtosinkonherknees，andthenbecameawareofafaintsmellofwoodsmokemingledwiththeconfusedmurmurofagitatedvoices。Thiscametoherthroughanopeningnohigherthanherheadinherkneelingposture，andnowiderthanthebreadthoftwostakes。Lingardwassayinginatoneofdistress：
\"Icouldn’tgetanyofthemtounbarthegate。\"
Shewasunabletomakeasound。——\"Areyouthere？\"Lingardasked，anxiously，soclosetohernowthatsheseemedtofeeltheverybreathofhiswordsonherface。Itrevivedhercompletely；sheunderstoodwhatshehadtodo。Sheputherheadandshouldersthroughtheopening，wasatonceseizedunderthearmsbyaneagergripandfeltherselfpulledthroughwithanirresistibleforceandwithsuchhastethatherscarfwasdraggedoffherhead，itsfringeshavingcaughtintheroughtimber。Thesameeagergripliftedherup，stoodheronherfeetwithoutherhavingtomakeanyexertiontowardthatend。ShebecameawarethatLingardwastryingtosaysomething，butsheheardonlyaconfusedstammeringexpressiveofwonderanddelightinwhichshecaughtthewords\"You……you……\"deliriouslyrepeated。
Hedidn’treleasehisholdofher；hishelpfulandirresistiblegriphadchangedintoacloseclasp，acrushingembrace，theviolenttakingpossessionbyanembodiedforcethathadbrokenlooseandwasnottobecontrolledanylonger。Ashisgreatvoicehaddoneamomentbefore，hisgreatstrength，too，seemedabletofillallspaceinitsenvelopingandundeniableauthority。Everytimeshetriedinstinctivelytostiffenherselfagainstitsmight，itreacted，affirmingitsfiercewill，itsupliftingpower。Severaltimesshelostthefeelingofthegroundandhadasensationofhelplessnesswithoutfear，oftriumphwithoutexultation。Theinevitablehadcometopass。Shehadforeseenit——andallthetimeinthatdarkplaceandagainsttheredglowofcampfireswithinthestockadethemaninwhosearmsshestruggledremainedshadowytohereyes——toherhalf—closedeyes。
Shethoughtsuddenly，\"Hewillcrushmetodeathwithoutknowingit。\"
Hewaslikeablindforce。Sheclosedhereyesaltogether。Herheadfellbackalittle。Notinstinctivelybutwithwilfulresignationandasitwerefromasenseofjusticesheabandonedherselftohisarms。Theeffectwasasthoughshehadsuddenlystabbedhimtotheheart。Helethergososuddenlyandcompletelythatshewouldhavefallendowninaheapifshehadnotmanagedtocatchholdofhisforearm。Heseemedpreparedforitandforamomentallherweighthungonitwithoutmovingitsrigiditybyahair’sbreadth。BehindherMrs。Traversheardtheheavythudofblowsonwood，theconfusedmurmursandmovementsofmen。
Avoicesaidsuddenly，\"It’sdone，\"withsuchemphasisthatthough，ofcourse，shedidn’tunderstandthewordsithelpedhertoregainpossessionofherself；andwhenLingardaskedherverylittleaboveawhisper：\"Whydon’tyousaysomething？\"sheansweredreadily，\"Letmegetmybreathfirst。\"
Roundthemallsoundshadceased。Themenhadsecuredagaintheopeningthroughwhichthosearmshadsnatchedherintoamomentofself—forgetfulnesswhichhadleftheroutofbreathbutuncrushed。Asifsomethingimperativehadbeensatisfiedshehadamomentofinwardserenity，aperiodofpeacewithoutthoughtwhile，holdingtothatarmthattremblednomorethananarmofiron，shefeltstealthilyoverthegroundforoneofthesandalswhichshehadlost。Oh，yes，therewasnodoubtofit，shehadbeencarriedofftheearth，withoutshame，withoutregret。Butshewouldnothavelethimknowofthatdroppedsandalforanythingintheworld。Thatlostsandalwasassymbolicasadroppedveil。Buthedidnotknowofit。Hemustneverknow。