"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。