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。