`Andthisquestionwasputwithanoteofpersonalpridethatmademesmile，asthoughhehadhadahandinregulatingthatuniquespectacle。
　　HehadregulatedsomanythingsinPatusan!Thingsthatwouldhaveappearedasmuchbeyondhiscontrolasthemotionsofthemoonandthestars。
　　`Itwasinconceivable。ThatwasthedistinctivequalityofthepartintowhichSteinandIhadtumbledhimunwittingly，withnoothernotionthantogethimoutoftheway；outofhisownway，beitunderstood。Thatwasourmainpurpose，though，Iown，Imighthavehadanothermotivewhichhadinfluencedmealittle。Iwasabouttogohomeforatime；anditmaybeIdesired，morethanIwasawareofmyself，todisposeofhim——todisposeofhim，youunderstand——beforeIleft。Iwasgoinghome，andhehadcometomefromthere，withhismiserabletroubleandhisshadowyclaim，likeamanpantingunderaburdeninamist。IcannotsayIhadeverseenhimdistinctly——noteventothisday，afterIhadmylastviewofhim；butitseemedtomethatthelessIunderstoodthemoreIwasboundtohiminthenameofthatdoubtwhichistheinseparablepartofourknowledge。
　　Ididnotknowsomuchmoreaboutmyself。Andthen，Irepeat，Iwasgoinghome——tothathomedistantenoughforallitshearthstonestobelikeonehearthstone，bywhichthehumblestofushastherighttosit。Wewanderinourthousandsoverthefaceoftheearth，theillustriousandtheobscure，earningbeyondtheseasourfame，ourmoney，oronlyacrustofbread；
　　butitseemstomethatforeachofusgoinghomemustbelikegoingtorenderanaccount。Wereturntofaceoursuperiors，ourkindred，ourfriends——thosewhomweobey，andthosewhomwelove；buteventheywhohaveneither，themostfree，lonely，irresponsible，andbereftofties——eventhoseforwhomhomeholdsnodearface，nofamiliarvoice——eventheyhavetomeetthespiritthatdwellswithintheland，underitssky，initsair，initsvalleys，andonitsrises，initsfields，initswatersanditstrees——amutefriend，judge，andinspirer。Saywhatyoulike，togetitsjoy，tobreatheitspeace，tofaceitstruth，onemustreturnwithaclearconsciousness。Allthismayseemtoyousheersentimentalism；andindeedveryfewofushavethewillorthecapacitytolookconsciouslyunderthesurfaceoffamiliaremotions。Therearethegirlswelove，themenwelookupto，thetenderness，thefriendships，theopportunities，thepleasures!Butthefactremainsthatyoumusttouchyourrewardwithcleanhands，lestitturntodeadleaves，tothorns，inyourgrasp。Ithinkitisthelonely，withoutafiresideoranaffectiontheymaycalltheirown，thosewhoreturnnottoadwellingbuttothelanditself，tomeetitsdisembodied，eternal，andunchangeablespirit——itisthosewhounderstandbestitsseverity，itssavingpower，thegraceofitssecularrighttoourfidelity，toourobedience。Yes!
　　fewofusunderstand，butweallfeelitthough，andIsayallwithoutexception，becausethosewhodonotfeeldonotcount。Eachbladeofgrasshasitsspotonearthwhenceitdrawsitslife，itsstrength；andsoismanrootedtothelandfromwhichhedrawshisfaithtogetherwithhislife。Idon’tknowhowmuchJimunderstood；butIknowhefelt，hefeltconfusedlybutpowerfully，thedemandofsomesuchtruthorsomesuchillusion——I
　　don’tcarehowyoucallit，thereissolittledifference，andthedifferencemeanssolittle。Thethingisthatinvirtueofhisfeelinghemattered。
　　Hewouldnevergohomenow。Nothe。Never。Hadhebeencapableofpicturesquemanifestationshewouldhaveshudderedatthethoughtandmadeyoushudder，too。Buthewasnotofthatsort，thoughhewasexpressiveenoughinhisway。Beforetheideaofgoinghomehewouldgrowdesperatelystiffandimmovable，withloweredchinandpoutedlips，andwithinthosecandidblueeyesofhisgloweringdarklyunderafrown，asifbeforesomethingunbearable，asifbeforesomethingrevolting。Therewasimaginationinthathardskullofhis，overwhichthethickclusteringhairfittedlikeacap。Astome，IhavenoimaginationIwouldbemorecertainabouthimto-day，ifIhad，andIdonotmeantoimplythatIfiguredtomyselfthespiritofthelanduprisingabovethewhitecliffsofDover，toaskmewhatI——returningwithnobonesbroken，sotospeak——haddonewithmyveryyoungbrother。Icouldnotmakesuchamistake。Iknewverywellhewasofthoseaboutwhomthereisnoinquiry；Ihadseenbettermengoout，disappear，vanishutterly，withoutprovokingasoundofcuriosityorsorrow。Thespiritoftheland，asbecomestherulerofgreatenterprises，iscarelessofinnumerablelives。
　　Woetothestragglers!Weexistonlyinsofaraswehangtogether。Hehadstraggledinaway；hehadnothungon；buthewasawareofitwithanintensitythatmadehimtouching，justasaman’smoreintenselifemakeshisdeathmoretouchingthanthedeathofatree。Ihappenedtobehandy，andIhappenedtobetouched。That’sallthereistoit。Iwasconcernedastothewayhewouldgoout。Itwouldhavehurtmeif，forinstance，hehadtakentodrink。TheearthissosmallthatIwasafraidof，someday，beingwaylaidbyablear-eyed，swollen-faced，besmirchedloafer，withnosolestohiscanvasshoes，andwithaflutterofragsabouttheelbows，who，onthestrengthofoldacquaintance，wouldaskforaloanoffivedollars。Youknowtheawfuljauntybearingofthesescarecrowscomingtoyoufromadecentpast，theraspingcarelessvoice，thehalf-avertedimpudentglances——thosemeetingsmoretryingtoamanwhobelievesinthesolidarityofourlivesthanthesightofanimpenitentdeathbedtoapriest。That，totellyouthetruth，wastheonlydangerIcouldseeforhimandforme；butIalsomistrustedmywantofimagination。Itmightevencometosomethingworse，insomewayitwasbeyondmypowersoffancytoforesee。
　　Hewouldn’tletmeforgethowimaginativehewas，andyourimaginativepeopleswingfartherinanydirection，asifgivenalongerscopeofcableintheuneasyanchorageoflife。Theydo。Theytaketodrink，too。ItmaybeIwasbelittlinghimbysuchafear。HowcouldItell？EvenSteincouldsaynomorethanthathewasromantic。Ionlyknewhewasoneofus。Andwhatbusinesshadhetoberomantic？Iamtellingyousomuchaboutmyowninstinctivefeelingsandbemusedreflectionsbecausethereremainssolittletobetoldofhim。Heexistedforme，andafterallitisonlythroughmethatheexistsforyou。I’veledhimoutbythehand；Ihaveparadedhimbeforeyou。Weremycommonplacefearsunjust？Iwon’tsay——notevennow。Youmaybeabletotellbetter，sincetheproverbhasitthattheonlookersseemostofthegame。Atanyrate，theyweresuperfluous。
　　Hedidnotgoout，notatall；onthecontrary，hecameonwonderfully，cameonstraightasadieandinexcellentform，whichshowedthathecouldstayaswellasspurt。Ioughttobedelighted，foritisavictoryinwhichIhadtakenmypart；butIamnotsopleasedasIwouldhaveexpectedtobe。Iaskmyselfwhetherhisrushhadreallycarriedhimoutofthatmistinwhichheloomedinterestingifnotverybig，withfloatingoutlines——astraggleryearninginconsolablyforhishumbleplaceintheranks。Andbesides，thelastwordisnotsaid——probablyshallneverbesaid。Arenotourlivestooshortforthatfullutterancewhichthroughallourstammeringsisofcourseouronlyandabidingintention？Ihavegivenupexpectingthoselastwords，whosering，iftheycouldonlybepronounced，wouldshakebothheavenandearth。Thereisnevertimetosayourlastword——thelastwordofourlove，ofourdesire，faith，remorse，submission，revolt。Theheavenandtheearthmustnotbeshaken，Isuppose——atleast，notbyuswhoknowsomanytruthsabouteither。MylastwordsaboutJimshallbefew。Iaffirmhehadachievedgreatness；butthethingwouldbedwarfedinthetelling，orratherinthehearing。Frankly，itisnotmywordsthatImistrustbutyourminds。IcouldbeeloquentwereInotafraidyoufellowshadstarvedyourimaginationstofeedyourbodies。Idonotmeantobeoffensive；itisrespectabletohavenoillusions——andsafe——andprofitable——anddull。Yetyou，too，inyourtimemusthaveknowntheintensityoflife，thatlightofglamourcreatedintheshockoftrifles，asamazingastheglowofsparksstruckfromacoldstone——andasshort-lived，alas!’
　　LordJim：Chapter22CHAPTERXXII`THEconquestoflove，honour，men’sconfidence——theprideofit，thepowerofit，arefitmaterialsforaheroictale；onlyourmindsarestruckbytheexternalsofsuchasuccess，andtoJim’ssuccesstherewerenoexternals。Thirtymilesofforestshutitofffromthesightofanindifferentworld，andthenoiseofthewhitesurfalongthecoastoverpoweredthevoiceoffame。Thestreamofcivilization，asifdividedonaheadlandahundredmilesnorthofPatusan，brancheseastandsouth-east，leavingitsplainsandvalleys，itsoldtreesanditsoldmankind，neglectedandisolated，suchasaninsignificantandcrumblingisletbetweenthetwobranchesofamighty，devouringstream。Youfindthenameofthecountryprettyoftenincollectionsofoldvoyages。Theseventeenth-centurytraderswentthereforpepper，becausethepassionforpepperseemedtoburnlikeaflameofloveinthebreastofDutchandEnglishadventurersaboutthetimeofJamestheFirst。Wherewouldn’ttheygoforpepper!Forabagofpeppertheywouldcuteachother’sthroatswithouthesitation，andwouldforsweartheirsouls，ofwhichtheyweresocarefulotherwise：thebizarreobstinacyofthatdesiremadethemdefydeathinathousandshapes；theunknownseas，theloathsomeandstrangediseases；wounds，captivity，hunger，pestilence，anddespair。Itmadethemgreat!Byheavens!itmadethemheroic；
　　anditmadethempathetic，too，intheircravingfortradewiththeinflexibledeathlevyingitstollonyoungandold。Itseemsimpossibletobelievethatmeregreedcouldholdmentosuchasteadfastnessofpurpose，tosuchablindpersistenceinendeavourandsacrifice。Andindeedthosewhoadventuredtheirpersonsandlivesriskedalltheyhadforaslenderreward。Theylefttheirbonestoliebleachingondistantshores，sothatwealthmightflowtothelivingathome。Tous，theirlesstriedsuccessors，theyappearmagnified，notasagentsoftradebutasinstrumentsofarecordeddestiny，pushingoutintotheunknowninobediencetoaninwardvoice，toanimpulsebeatingintheblood，toadreamofthefuture。Theywerewonderful；anditmustbeownedtheywerereadyforthewonderful。Theyrecordeditcomplacentlyintheirsufferings，intheaspectoftheseas，inthecustomsofstrangenations，inthegloryofsplendidrulers。
　　`InPatusantheyhadfoundlotsofpepper，andhadbeenimpressedbythemagnificenceandthewisdomoftheSultan；butsomehow，afteracenturyofchequeredintercourse，thecountryseemstodropgraduallyoutofthetrade。Perhapsthepepperhadgivenout。Beitasitmay，nobodycaresforitnow；thegloryhasdeparted，theSultanisanimbecileyouthwithtwothumbsonhislefthandandanuncertainandbeggarlyrevenueextortedfromamiserablepopulationandstolenfromhimbyhismanyuncles。
　　`ThisofcourseIhavefromStein。Hegavemetheirnamesandashortsketchofthelifeandcharacterofeach。Hewasasfullofinformationaboutnativestatesasanofficialreport，butinfinitelymoreamusing。
　　Hehadtoknow。Hetradedinsomany，andinsomedistricts——asinPatusan，forinstance——hisfirmwastheonlyonetohaveanagencybyspecialpermitfromtheDutchauthorities。TheGovernmenttrustedhisdiscretion，anditwasunderstoodthathetookalltherisks。Themenheemployedunderstoodthat，too，buthemadeitworththeirwhileapparently。Hewasperfectlyfrankwithmeoverthebreakfast-tableinthemorning。Asfarashewasawarethelastnewswasthirteenmonthsold，hestatedprecisely，utterinsecurityforlifeandpropertywasthenormalcondition。TherewereinPatusanantagonisticforces，andoneofthemwasRajahAllang，theworstoftheSultan’suncles，thegovernoroftheriver，whodidtheextortingandthestealing，andgrounddowntothepointofextinctionthecountry-bornMalays，who，utterlydefenceless，hadnoteventheresourceofemigrating——“forindeed，“asSteinremarked，“wherecouldtheygo，andhowcouldtheygetaway？“Nodoubttheydidnotevendesiretogetaway。Theworldwhichiscircumscribedbyloftyimpassablemountainshasbeengivenintothehandofthehigh-born，andthisRajahtheyknew：hewasoftheirownroyalhouse。Ihadthepleasureofmeetingthegentlemanlateron。
　　Hewasadirty，little，used-upoldmanwithevileyesandaweakmouth，whoswallowedanopiumpilleverytwohours，andindefianceofcommondecencyworehishairuncoveredandfallinginwildstringylocksabouthiswizenedgrimyface。Whengivingaudiencehewouldclamberuponasortofnarrowstageerectedinahalllikearuinousbarnwitharottenbamboofloor，throughthecracksofwhichyoucouldseetwelveorfifteenfeetbelowtheheapsofrefuseandgarbageofallkindslyingunderthehouse。
　　Thatiswhereandhowhereceiveduswhen，accompaniedbyJim，Ipaidhimavisitofceremony。Therewereaboutfortypeopleintheroom，andperhapsthreetimesasmanyinthegreatcourtyardbelow。Therewasconstantmovement，comingandgoing，pushingandmurmuring，atourbacks。Afewyouthsingaysilksglaredfromthedistance；themajority，slavesandhumbledependants，werehalfnaked，inraggedsarongs，dirtywithashesandmud-stains。I