TheroughwordsbeatliketheblowsofthewavesonthebowsofthericketyboatfromLimainthedayswhenDickwasmixingpaints，makinglove，drawingdevilsandangelsinthehalfdark，andwonderingwhetherthenextminutewouldputtheItaliancaptain’sknifebetweenhisshoulder-bladesAndthego-feverwhichismorerealthanmanydoctors’
　　diseases，wakedandraged，urginghimwholovedMaisiebeyondanythingintheworld，togoawayandtastetheoldhot，unregeneratelifeagain，——toscuffle，swear，gamble，andlovelightloveswithhisfellows；totakeshipandknowtheseaoncemore，andbyherbegetpictures；
　　totalktoBinatamongthesandsofPortSaidwhileYellow’Tinamixedthedrinks；tohearthecrackleofmusketry，andseethesmokerolloutward，thinandthickenagaintilltheshiningblackfacescamethrough，andinthathelleverymanwasstrictlyresponsibleforhisownhead，andhisownalone，andstruckwithanunfetteredarmItwasimpossible，utterlyimpossible，but——
　　’“Oh，ourfathersinthechurchyard，Sheisolderthanye，Andourgraveswillbethegreener。”
　　SaidTheMenoftheSea。’
　　’Whatistheretohinder？’saidTorpenhow，inthelonghushthatfollowedthesong。
　　’Yousaidalittletimesincethatyouwouldn’tcomeforawalkroundtheworld，Torp。’
　　’Thatwasmonthsago，andIonlyobjectedtoyourmakingmoneyfortravellingexpensesYou’veshotyourbolthereandithasgonehomeGoawayanddosomework，andseesomethings。’
　　’Getsomeofthefatoffyou；you’redisgracefullyoutofcondition，’
　　saidtheNilghai，makingaplungefromthechairandgraspingahandfulofDickgenerallyovertherightribs’Softasputty——puretallowbornofover-feedingTrainitoff，Dickie。’
　　’We’reallequallygross，NilghaiNexttimeyouhavetotakethefieldyou’llsitdown，winkyoureyes，gasp，anddieinafit。’
　　’NevermindYougoawayonashipGotoLimaagain，ortoBrazil。
　　There’salwaystroubleinSouthAmerica。’
　　’DoyousupposeIwanttobetoldwheretogo？GreatHeavens，theonlydifficultyistoknowwhereI’mtostopButIshallstayhere，asI
　　toldyoubefore。’
　　’Thenyou’llbeburiedinKensalGreenandturnintoadipocerewiththeothers，’saidTorpenhow’Areyouthinkingofcommissionsinhand？PayforfeitandgoYou’vemoneyenoughtotravelasakingifyouplease。’
　　’You’vethegrisliestnotionsofamusement，TorpIthinkIseemyselfshippingfirstclassonasix-thousand-tonhotel，andaskingthethirdengineerwhatmakestheenginesgoround，andwhetheritisn’tverywarminthestokeholdHo！ho！IshouldshipasaloaferifeverI
　　shippedatall，whichI’mnotgoingtodoIshallcompromise，andgoforasmalltriptobeginwith。’
　　’That’ssomethingatanyrateWherewillyougo？’saidTorpenhow。
　　’Itwoulddoyouallthegoodintheworld，oldman。’
　　TheNilghaisawthetwinkleinDick’seye，andrefrainedfromspeech。
　　’IshallgointhefirstplacetoRathray’sstable，whereIshallhireonehorse，andtakehimverycarefullyasfarasRichmondHillThenI
　　shallwalkhimbackagain，incaseheshouldaccidentallyburstintoalatherandmakeRathrayangryIshalldothatto-morrow，forthesakeofairandexercise。’
　　’Bah！’DickhadbarelytimetothrowuphisarmandwardoffthecushionthatthedisgustedTorpenhowheavedathishead。
　　’Airandexerciseindeed，’saidtheNilghai，sittingdownheavilyonDick。
　　’Let’sgivehimalittleofbothGetthebellows，Torp。’
　　Atthispointtheconferencebrokeupindisorder，becauseDickwouldnotopenhismouthtilltheNilghaiheldhisnosefast，andtherewassometroubleinforcingthenozzleofthebellowsbetweenhisteeth；andevenwhenitwasthereheweaklytriedtopuffagainsttheforceoftheblast，andhischeeksblewupwithagreatexplosion；andtheenemybecominghelplesswithlaughterhesobeatthemovertheheadwithasoftsofacushionthatthatbecameunsewnanddistributeditsfeathers，andBinkie，interferinginTorpenhow’sinterests，wasbundledintothehalf-emptybagandadvisedtoscratchhiswayout，whichhedidafterawhile，travellingrapidlyupanddownthefloorintheshapeofanagitatedgreenhaggis，andwhenhecameoutlookingforsatisfaction，thethreepillarsofhisworldwerepickingfeathersoutoftheirhair。
　　’Aprophethasnohonourinhisowncountry，’saidDick，ruefully，dustinghisknees’Thisfilthyfluffwillneverbrushoffmylegs。’
　　’Itwasallforyourowngood，’saidtheNilghai’Nothinglikeairandexercise。’
　　’Allforyourgood，’saidTorpenhow，notintheleastwithreferencetopastclowning’ItwouldletyoufocusthingsattheirproperworthandpreventyourbecomingslackinthishothouseofatownIndeeditwould，oldmanIshouldn’thavespokenifIhadn’tthoughtsoOnly，youmakeajokeofeverything。’
　　’BeforeGodIdonosuchthing，’saidDick，quicklyandearnestly。
　　’Youdon’tknowmeifyouthinkthat。’
　　Idon’tthinkit，’saidtheNilghai。
　　’Howcanfellowslikeourselves，whoknowwhatlifeanddeathreallymean，daretomakeajokeofanything？Iknowwepretendit，tosaveourselvesfrombreakingdownorgoingtotheotherextremeCan’tIsee，oldman，howyou’realwaysanxiousaboutme，andtrytoadvisemetomakemyworkbetter？DoyousupposeIdon’tthinkaboutthatmyself？
　　Butyoucan’thelpme——youcan’thelpme——notevenyouImustplaymyownhandaloneinmyownway。’
　　’Hear，hear，’fromtheNilghai。
　　’What’stheonethingintheNilghaiSagathatI’veneverdrawnintheNungapungaBook？’DickcontinuedtoTorpenhow，whowasalittleastonishedattheoutburst。
　　NowtherewasoneblankpageinthebookgivenovertothesketchthatDickhadnotdrawnofthecrowningexploitintheNilghai’slife；
　　whenthatman，beingyoungandforgettingthathisbodyandbonesbelongedtothepaperthatemployedhim，hadriddenoversunburnedslipperygrassintherearofBredow’sbrigadeonthedaythatthetroopersflungthemselvesatCaurobert’sartillery，andforaughttheyknewtwentybattalionsinfront，tosavethebattered24thGermanInfantry，togivetimetodecidethefateofVionville，andtolearneretheirremnantcamebacktoFlavigaythatcavalrycanattackandcrumpleandbreakunshakeninfantryWheneverhewasinclinedtothinkoveralifethatmighthavebeenbetter，anincomethatmighthavebeenlarger，andasoulthatmighthavebeenconsiderablycleaner，theNilghaiwouldcomforthimselfwiththethought，’IrodewithBredow’sbrigadeatVionville，’andtakeheartforanylesserbattlethenextdaymightbring。
　　’Iknow，’hesaidverygravely’Iwasalwaysgladthatyouleftitout。’
　　’IleftitoutbecauseNilghaitaughtmewhattheGermanyarmylearnedthen，andwhatSchmidttaughttheircavalryIdon’tknowGerman。
　　Whatisit？“Takecareofthetimeandthedressingwilltakecareofitself。”Imustridemyownlinetomyownbeat，oldman。’
　　’TempeistrichtungYou’velearnedyourlessonwell，’saidtheNilghai。
　　’HemustgoaloneHespeakstruth，Torp。’
　　’MaybeI’maswrongasIcanbe——hideouslywrongImustfindthatoutformyself，asIhavetothinkthingsoutformyself，butIdaren’tturnmyheadtodressbythenextmanIthurtsmeagreatdealmorethanyouknownottobeabletogo，butIcannot，that’sallImustdomyownworkandlivemyownlifeinmyownway，becauseI’mresponsibleforboth。
　　Onlydon’tthinkIfrivolaboutit，TorpIhavemyownmatchesandsulphur，andI’llmakemyownhell，thanks。’
　　TherewasanuncomfortablepauseThenTorpenhowsaidblandly，’WhatdidtheGovernorofNorthCarolinasaytotheGovernorofSouthCarolina？’
　　’ExcellentnotionItisalongtimebetweendrinksTherearethemakingsofaveryfinepriginyou，Dick，’saidtheNilghai。
　　’I’veliberatedmymind，estimableBinkie，withthefeathersinhismouth。’Dickpickedupthestillindignantoneandshookhimtenderly。
　　’You’retiedupinasackandmadetorunaboutblind，Binkie-wee，withoutanyreason，andithashurtyourlittlefeelingsNevermind。
　　Sicvolo，sicjubeo，stetprorationevoluntas，anddon’tsneezeinmyeyebecauseItalkLatinGood-night。’
　　Hewentoutoftheroom。
　　’That’sdistinctlyoneforyou，’saidtheNilghai’ItoldyouitwashopelesstomeddlewithhimHe’snotpleased。’
　　’He’dswearatmeifheweren’tIcan’tmakeitoutHehasthego-feveruponhimandhewon’tgoIonlyhopethathemayn’thavetogosomedaywhenhedoesn’twantto，’saidTorpenhow。
　　*
　　InhisownroomDickwassettlingaquestionwithhimself——andthequestionwaswhetheralltheworld，andallthatwastherein，andaburningdesiretoexploitboth，wasworthonethreepennypiecethrownintotheThames。
　　’Itcameofseeingthesea，andI’macurtothinkaboutit，’hedecided。
　　’Afterall，thehoneymoonwillbethattour——withreservations；only。
　　onlyIdidn’trealisethattheseawassostrongIdidn’tfeelitsomuchwhenIwaswithMaisieThesedamnablesongsdiditHe’sbeginningagain。’
　　ButitwasonlyHerrick’sNightpiecetoJuliathattheNilghaisang，andbeforeitwasendedDickreappearedonthethreshold，notaltogetherclothedindeed，butinhisrightmind，thirstyandatpeace。
　　ThemoodhadcomeandgonewiththerisingandthefallingofthetidebyFortKeeling。
　　CHAPTERIX
　　’IfIhavetakenthecommonclayAndwroughtitcunninglyIntheshapeofagodthatwasdiggedaclod，Thegreaterhonourtome。’
　　’Ifthouhasttakenthecommonclay，AndthyhandsbenotfreeFromthetaintofthesoil，thouhastmadethyspoilThegreatershametothee。’——
　　TheTwoPotters-
　　HEDIDnoworkofanykindfortherestoftheweekThencameanotherSundayHedreadedandlongedforthedayalways，butsincethered-hairedgirlhadsketchedhimtherewasrathermoredreadthandesireinhismind。
　　HefoundthatMaisiehadentirelyneglectedhissuggestionsaboutline-workShehadgoneoffatscorefiledwithsomeabsurdnotionfora’fancyhead。’ItcostDicksomethingtocommandhistemper。
　　’What’sthegoodofsuggestinganything？’hesaidpointedly。
　　’Ah，butthiswillbeapicture，——arealpicture；andIknowthatKamiwillletmesendittotheSalonYoudon’tmind，doyou？’
　　’IsupposenotButyouwon’thavetimefortheSalon。’
　　MaisiehesitatedalittleSheevenfeltuncomfortable。
　　’We’regoingovertoFranceamonthsoonerbecauseofitIshallgettheideasketchedouthereandworkitupatKami’s。
　　Dick’sheartstoodstill，andhecameveryneartobeingdisgustedwithhisqueenwhocoulddonowrong’JustwhenIthoughtIhadmadesomeheadway，shegoesoffchasingbutterfliesIt’stoomaddening！’
　　Therewasnopossibilityofarguing，forthered-hairedgirlwasinthestudioDickcouldonlylookunutterablereproach。
　　’I’msorry，’hesaid，’andIthinkyoumakeamistakeButwhat’stheideaofyournewpicture？’
　　’Itookitfromabook。’
　　’That’sbad，tobeginwithBooksaren’ttheplacesforpictures。
　　And——’
　　’It’sthis，’saidthered-hairedgirlbehindhim’IwasreadingittoMaisietheotherdayfromTheCityofDreadfulNightD’youknowthebook？’
　　’AlittleIamsorryIspokeTherearepicturesinitWhathastakenherfancy？’
　　’ThedescriptionoftheMelancolia——
　　’Herfoldedwingsasofamightyeagle，ButalltooimpotenttolifttheregalRobustnessofherearth-bornstrengthandpride。
　　AndhereagainMaisie，getthetea，dear。
　　’Theforeheadchargedwithbalefulthoughtsanddreams，Thehouseholdbunchofkeys，thehousewife’sgown，Voluminousindented，andyetrigidAsthoughashellofburnishedmetalfrigid，Herfeetthick-shodtotreadallweaknessdown。’
　　TherewasnoattempttoconcealthescornofthelazyvoiceDickwinced。
　　’ButthathasbeendonealreadybyanobscureartistbythenameofDurer，’saidhe’Howdoesthepoemrun？——
　　’Threecenturiesandthreescoreyearsago，Withphantasiesofhispeculiarthought。
　　YoumightaswelltrytorewriteHamletItwillbeawasteoftime。
　　’No，itwon’t，’saidMaisie，puttingdowntheteacupswithaclattertoreassureherself’AndImeantodoitCan’tyouseewhatabeautifulthingitwouldmake？’
　　’Howinperditioncanonedoworkwhenonehasn’thadthepropertraining？AnyfoolcangetanotionItneedstrainingtodrivethethingthrough，——trainingandconviction；notrushingafterthefirstfancy。’
　　Dickspokebetweenhisteeth。
　　’Youdon’tunderstand，’saidMaisie’IthinkIcandoit。’
　　Againthevoiceofthegirlbehindhim——
　　’Baffledandbeatenback，sheworksonstill；
　　Wearyandsickofsoul，sheworksthemore。
　　Sustainedbyherindomitablewill，Thehandsshallfashion，andthebrainshallpore，Andallhersorrowshallbeturnedtolabour——
　　IfancyMaisiemeanstoembodyherselfinthepicture。’
　　’Sittingonathroneofrejectedpictures？No，Ishan’t，dearThenotioninitselfhasfascinatedme——Ofcourseyoudon’tcareforfancyheads，Dick。
　　Idon’tthinkyoucoulddothemYoulikebloodandbones。’
　　’That’sadirectchallengeIfyoucandoaMelancoliathatisn’tmerelyasorrowfulfemalehead，Icandoabetterone；andIwill，tooWhatd’youknowaboutMelacolias？’Dickfirmlybelievedthathewaseventhentastingthree-quartersofallthesorrowintheworld。
　　’Shewasawoman，’saidMaisie，’andshesufferedagreatdeal，——tillshecouldsuffernomoreThenshebegantolaughatitall，andthenI
　　paintedherandsenthertotheSalon。’
　　Thered-hairedgirlroseupandlefttheroom，laughing。
　　DicklookedatMaisiehumblyandhopelessly。
　　’Nevermindaboutthepicture，’hesaid’AreyoureallygoingbacktoKami’sforamonthbeforeyourtime？’
　　’Imust，ifIwanttogetthepicturedone。’
　　’Andthat’sallyouwant？’
　　’OfcourseDon’tbestupid，Dick。’
　　’Youhaven’tthepowerYouhaveonlytheideas——theideasandthelittlecheapimpulsesHowyoucouldhavekeptatyourworkfortenyearssteadilyisamysterytomeSoyouarereallygoing，——amonthbeforeyouneed？’
　　’Imustdomywork。’