`Afterthesunhadset，thedarknessseemedtodriveuponus，borneineveryfaintpuffofthebreeze。InthemiddleofahedgedpathIsawthearrested，gaunt，watchful，andapparentlyone-leggedsilhouetteofTamb’Itam；andacrosstheduskyspacemyeyedetectedsomethingwhitemovingtoandfrobehindthesupportsoftheroof。AssoonasJim，withTamb’Itamathisheels，hadstarteduponhiseveningrounds，Iwentuptothehousealone，and，unexpectedly，foundmyselfwaylaidbythegirl，whohadbeenclearlywaitingforthisopportunity。
　　`Itishardtotellyouwhatitwaspreciselyshewantedtowrestfromme。Obviouslyitwouldbesomethingverysimple——thesimplestimpossibilityintheworld；as，forinstance，theexactdescriptionoftheformofacloud。Shewantedanassurance，astatement，apromise，anexplanation——I
　　don’tknowhowtocallit：thethinghasnoname。Itwasdarkundertheprojectingroof，andallIcouldseeweretheflowinglinesofhergown，thepalesmallovalofherface，withthewhiteflashofherteeth，and，turnedtowardsme，thebigsombreorbitsofhereyes，wherethereseemedtobeafaintstir，suchasyoumayfancyyoucandetectwhenyouplungeyourgazetothebottomofanimmenselydeepwell。Whatisthatmovesthere？
　　youaskyourself。Isitablindmonsteroronlyalostgleamfromtheuniverse？
　　Itoccurredtome——don’tlaugh——thatallthingsbeingdissimilar，shewasmoreinscrutableinherchildishignorancethantheSphinxpropoundingchildishriddlestowayfarers。ShehadbeencarriedofftoPatusanbeforehereyeswereopen。Shehadgrownupthere；shehadseennothing，shehadknownnothing，shehadnoconceptionofanything。Iaskmyselfwhethersheweresurethatanythingelseexisted。Whatnotionsshemayhaveformedoftheoutsideworldistomeinconceivable：allthatsheknewofitsinhabitantswereabetrayedwomanandasinisterpantaloon。Herloveralsocametoherfromthere，giftedwithirresistibleseductions；butwhatwouldbecomeofherifheshouldreturntotheseinconceivableregionsthatseemedalwaystoclaimbacktheirown？Hermotherhadwarnedherofthiswithtearsbeforeshedied……
　　`Shehadcaughtholdofmyarmfirmly，andassoonasIhadstoppedshehadwithdrawnherhandinhaste。Shewasaudaciousandshrinking。Shefearednothing，butshewascheckedbytheprofoundincertitudeandtheextremestrangeness——abravepersongropinginthedark。IbelongedtothisUnknownthatmightclaimJimforitsownatanymoment。Iwas，asitwere，inthesecretofitsnatureandofitsintentions——theconfidantofathreateningmystery；——armedwithitspowerperhaps!IbelieveshesupposedIcouldwithawordwhiskJimawayoutofherveryarms；itismysoberconvictionshewentthroughagoniesofapprehensionduringmylongtalkswithJim；througharealandintolerableanguishthatmighthaveconceivablydrivenherintoplottingmymurder，hadthefiercenessofhersoulbeenequaltothetremendoussituationithadcreated。Thisismyimpression，anditisallIcangiveyou。Thewholethingdawnedgraduallyuponme，andasitgotclearerandclearerIwasoverwhelmedbyaslowincredulousamazement。Shemademebelieveher，butthereisnowordthatonmylipscouldrendertheeffectoftheheadlongandvehementwhisper，ofthesoftpassionatetones，ofthesuddenbreathlesspauseandtheappealingmovementofthewhitearmsextendedswiftly。Theyfell；theghostlyfigureswayedlikeaslendertreeinthewind，thepaleovalofthefacedrooped；itwasimpossibletodistinguishherfeatures，thedarknessoftheeyeswasunfathomable；twowidesleevesuproseinthedarklikeunfoldingwings，andshestoodsilent，holdingherheadinherhands。’
　　immenselytouched：heryouth，herignorance，herprettybeauty，whichhadthesimplecharmandthedelicatevigourofawild-flower，herpatheticpleading，herhelplessness，appealedtomewithalmostthestrengthofherownunreasonableandnaturalfear。Shefearedtheunknownaswealldo，andherignorancemadetheunknowninfinitelyvast。Istoodforit，formyself，foryoufellows，foralltheworldthatneithercaredforJimnorneededhimintheleast。Iwouldhavebeenreadyenoughtoanswerfortheindifferenceoftheteemingearthbutforthereflectionthathe，too，belongedtothismysteriousunknownofherfears，andthat，howevermuchIstoodfor，Ididnotstandforhim。Thismademehesitate。Amurmurofhopelesspainunsealedmylips。IbeganbyprotestingthatIatleasthadcomewithnointentiontotakeJimaway。
　　`WhydidIcome，then？Afteraslightmovementshewasasstillasamarblestatueinthenight。Itriedtoexplainbriefly：friendship，business；
　　ifIhadanywishinthematteritwasrathertoseehimstay……“Theyalwaysleaveus，“shemurmured。Thebreathofsadwisdomfromthegravewhichherpietywreathedwithflowersseemedtopassinafaintsigh……Nothing，Isaid，couldseparateJimfromher。
　　`Itismyfirmconvictionnow；itwasmyconvictionatthetime；itwastheonlypossibleconclusionfromthefactsofthecase。Itwasnotmademorecertainbyherwhisperinginatoneinwhichonespeakstooneself，“Hesworethistome。““Didyouaskhim？“Isaid。
　　`Shemadeastepnearer。“No。Never!“Shehadaskedhimonlytogoaway。
　　Itwasthatnightontheriver-bank，afterhehadkilledtheman——aftershehadflungthetorchinthewaterbecausehewaslookingatherso。
　　Therewastoomuchlight，andthedangerwasoverthen——foralittletime——foralittletime。HesaidthenhewouldnotabandonhertoCornelius。Shehadinsisted。Shewantedhimtoleaveher。Hesaidthathecouldnot——thatitwasimpossible。Hetrembledwhilehesaidthis。Shehadfelthimtremble……Onedoesnotrequiremuchimaginationtoseethescene，almosttoheartheirwhispers。Shewasafraidforhim，too。Ibelievethatthenshesawinhimonlyapredestinedvictimofdangerswhichsheunderstoodbetterthanhimself。Thoughbynothingbuthismerepresencehehadmasteredherheart，hadfilledallherthoughts，andhadpossessedhimselfofallheraffections，sheunder-estimatedhischancesofsuccess。Itisobviousthatataboutthattimeeverybodywasinclinedtounder-estimatehischances。
　　Strictlyspeakinghedidn’tseemtohaveany。IknowthiswasCornelius’sview。HeconfessedthatmuchtomeinextenuationoftheshadyparthehadplayedinSherifAli’splottodoawaywiththeinfidel。EvenSherifAlihimself，asitseemscertainnow，hadnothingbutcontemptforthewhiteman。Jimwastobemurderedmainlyonreligiousgrounds，Ibelieve。
　　Asimpleactofpietyandsofarinfinitelymeritorious，butotherwisewithoutmuchimportance。InthelastpartofthisopinionCorneliusconcurred。
　　“Honourablesir，“hearguedabjectlyontheonlyoccasionhemanagedtohavemetohimself——“Honourablesir，howwasItoknow？Whowashe？Whatcouldhedotomakepeoplebelievehim？WhatdidMr。Steinmeansendingaboylikethattotalkbigtoanoldservant？Iwasreadytosavehimforeightydollars。Onlyeightydollars。Whydidn’tthefoolgo？WasI
　　togetstabbedmyselfforthesakeofastranger？“Hegrovelledinspiritbeforeme，withhisbodydoubledupinsinuatinglyandhishandshoveringaboutmyknees，asthoughhewerereadytoembracemylegs。“What’seightydollars？Aninsignificantsumtogiveadefencelessoldmanruinedforlifebyadeceasedshe-devil。“Herehewept。ButIanticipate。Ididn’tthatnightchanceuponCorneliustillIhadhaditoutwiththegirl。
　　`ShewasunselfishwhensheurgedJimtoleaveher，andeventoleavethecountry。Itwashisdangerthatwasforemostinherthoughts——evenifshewantedtosaveherself，too——perhapsunconsciously：butthenlookatthewarningshehad，lookatthelessonthatcouldbedrawnfromeverymomentoftherecentlyendedlifeinwhichallhermemorieswerecentred。
　　Shefellathisfeet——shetoldmeso——therebytheriver，inthediscreetlightofstarswhichshowednothingexceptgreatmassesofsilentshadows，indefiniteopenspaces，andtremblingfaintlyuponthebroadstreammadeitappearaswideasthesea。Hehadliftedherup。Heliftedherup，andthenshewouldstrugglenomore。Ofcoursenot。Strongarms，atendervoice，astalwartshouldertorestherpoorlonelylittleheadupon。Theneed——theinfiniteneed——ofallthisfortheachingheart，forthebewilderedmind；——thepromptingsofyouth——thenecessityofthemoment。Whatwouldyouhave？
　　Oneunderstands——unlessoneisincapableofunderstandinganythingunderthesun。Andsoshewascontenttobeliftedup——andheld。“Youknow——Jove!
　　thisisserious——nononsenseinit!“asJimhadwhisperedhurriedlywithatroubledconcernedfaceonthethresholdofhishouse。Idon’tknowsomuchaboutnonsense，buttherewasnothinglightheartedintheirromance：
　　theycametogetherundertheshadowofalife’sdisaster，likeknightandmaidenmeetingtoexchangevowsamongsthauntedruins。Thestarlightwasgoodenoughforthatstory，alightsofaintandremotethatitcannotresolveshadowsintoshapes，andshowtheothershoreofastream。Ididlookuponthestreamthatnightandfromtheveryplace；itrolledsilentandasblackasStyx：thenextdayIwentaway，butIamnotlikelytoforgetwhatitwasshewantedtobesavedfromwhensheentreatedhimtoleaveherwhiletherewastime。Shetoldmewhatitwas，calmed——shewasnowtoopassionatelyinterestedformereexcitement——ininavoiceasquietintheobscurityasherwhitehalf-lostfigure。Shetoldme，“Ididn’twanttodieweeping。“IthoughtIhadnotheardaright。
　　“`Youdidnotwanttodieweeping？“Irepeatedafterher。“Likemymother，“
　　sheaddedreadily。Theoutlinesofherwhiteshapedidnotstirintheleast。“Mymotherhadweptbitterlybeforeshedied，“sheexplained。Aninconceivablecalmnessseemedtohaverisenfromthegroundaroundus，imperceptibly，likethestillriseofafloodinthenight，obliteratingthefamiliarlandmarksofemotions。Therecameuponme，asthoughIhadfeltmyselflosingmyfootinginthemidstofwaters，asuddendread，thedreadoftheunknowndepths。Shewentonexplainingthat，duringthelastmoments，beingalonewithhermother，shehadtoleavethesideofthecouchtogoandsetherbackagainstthedoor，inordertokeepCorneliusout。Hedesiredtogetin，andkeptondrummingwithbothfists，onlydesistingnowandagaintoshouthuskily：“Letmein!Letmein!Letmein!’Inafarcorneruponafewmatsthemoribundwoman，alreadyspeechlessandunabletoliftherarm，rolledherheadover，andwithafeeblemovementofherhandseemedtocommand——“No!No!“andtheobedientdaughter，settinghershoulderswithallherstrengthagainstthedoor，waslookingon。“Thetearsfellfromhereyes——andthenshedied，“concludedthegirlinanimperturbablemonotone，whichmorethananythingelse，morethanthewhitestatuesqueimmobilityofherperson，morethanmerewordscoulddo，troubledmymindprofoundlywiththepassive，irremediablehorrorofthescene。
　　Ithadthepowertodrivemeoutofmyconceptionofexistence，outofthatsheltereachofusmakesforhimselftocreepunderinmomentsofdanger，asatortoisewithdrawswithinitsshell。ForamomentIhadaviewofaworldthatseemedtowearavastanddismalaspectofdisorder，while，intruth，thankstoourunweariedefforts，itisassunnyanarrangementofsmallconveniencesasthemindofmancanconceive。Butstill——itwasonlyamoment：Iwentbackintomyshelldirectly。Onemust——don’tyouknow？——thoughIseemedtohavelostallmywordsinthechaosofdarkthoughtsIhadcontemplatedforasecondortwobeyondthepale。Thesecameback，too，verysoon，forwordsalsobelongtotheshelteringconceptionoflightandorderwhichisourrefuge。Ihadthemreadyatmydisposalbeforeshewhisperedsoftly：“Hesworehewouldneverleaveme，whenwestoodtherealone!Hesworetome!“……“Andisitpossiblethatyou——you!
　　donotbelievehim？“Iasked，sincerelyreproachful，genuinelyshocked。
　　Whycouldn’tshebelieve？Whereforethiscravingforincertitude，thisclingingtofear，asifincertitudeandfearhadbeenthesafeguardsofherlove？Itwasmonstrous。Sheshouldhavemadeforherselfashelterofinexpugnablepeaceoutofthathonestaffection。Shehadnottheknowledge——nottheskillperhaps。Thenighthadcomeonapace；ithadgrownpitch-darkwherewewere，sothatwithoutstirringshehadfadedliketheintangibleformofawistfulandperversespirit。AndsuddenlyIheardherquietwhisperagain：“Othermenhadswornthesamething。“Itwaslikeameditativecommentonsomethoughtsfullofsadness，ofawe。Andsheadded，stilllowerifpossible：“Myfatherdid。“Shepausedthetimetodrawaninaudiblebreath。
　　Herfather，too……Thesewerethethingssheknew!AtonceIsaid：
　　“Ah!butheisnotlikethat。“This，itseemed，shedidnotintendtodispute；
　　butafteratimethestrangestillwhisperwanderingdreamilyintheairstoleintomyears。“Whyishedifferent？Ishebetter？Ishe……““Uponmywordofhonour，“Ibrokein，“Ibelieveheis。“Wesubduedourtonestoamysteriouspitch。AmongstthehutsofJim’sworkmentheyweremostlyliberatedslavesfromtheSherif’sstockadesomebodystartedashrill，drawlingsong。AcrosstheriverabigfireatDoramin’s，Ithinkmadeaglowingball，completelyisolatedinthenight。“Ishemoretrue？“shemurmured。“Yes，“Isaid。“Moretruethananyotherman？“sherepeatedinlingeringaccents。“Nobodyhere，“Isaid，“woulddreamofdoubtinghisword——nobodywoulddare——exceptyou。“
　　`Ithinkshemadeamovementatthis。“Morebrave？“shewentoninachangedtone。“Fearshallneverdrivehimawayfromyou，“Isaidalittlenervously。Thesongstoppedshortonashrillnote，andwassucceededbyseveralvoicestalkinginthedistance。Jim’svoice，too。Iwasstruckbyhersilence。“Whathashebeentellingyou？Hehasbeentellingyousomething？“Iasked。Therewasnoanswer。“Whatisithetoldyou？“Iinsisted。
　　“`DoyouthinkIcantellyou？HowamItoknow？HowamItounderstand？“
　　shecriedatlast。Therewasastir。Ibelieveshewaswringingherhands。
　　“Thereissomethinghecanneverforget。“
　　“`Somuchthebetterforyou，“Isaid，gloomily。
　　“`Whatisit？Whatisit？“Sheputanextraordinaryforceofappealintohersupplicatingtone。“Hesayshehadbeenafraid。HowcanIbelievethis？AmIamadwomantobelievethis？Youallremembersomething!Youallgobacktoit。Whatisit？Youtellme!Whatisthisthing？Isitalive？——isitdead？Ihateit。Itiscruel。Hasitgotafaceandavoice——thiscalamity？
　　Willheseeit——willhehearit？Inhissleepperhapswhenhecannotseeme——andthenariseandgo。Ah!Ishallneverforgivehim。Mymotherhadforgiven——butI，never!Willitbeasign——acall？“
　　`Itwasawonderfulexperience。Shemistrustedhisveryslumbers——andsheseemedtothinkIcouldtellherwhy!Thusapoormortalseducedbythecharmofanapparitionmighthavetriedtowringfromanotherghostthetremendoussecretoftheclaimtheotherworldholdsoveradisembodiedsoulastrayamongstthepassionsofthisearth。TheverygroundonwhichIstoodseemedtomeltundermyfeet。Anditwassosimple，too；butifthespiritsevokedbyourfearsandourunresthaveevertovouchforeachother’sconstancybeforetheforlornmagiciansthatweare，thenI——Ialoneofusdwellersintheflesh——haveshudderedinthehopelesschillofsuchatask。Asign，acall!Howtellinginitsexpressionwasherignorance。
　　Afewwords!Howshecametoknowthem，howshecametopronouncethem，Ican’timagine。Womenfindtheirinspirationinthestressofmomentsthatforusaremerelyawful，absurd，orfutile。Todiscoverthatshehadavoiceatallwasenoughtostrikeaweintotheheart。Hadaspurnedstonecriedoutinpainitcouldnothaveappearedagreaterandmorepitifulmiracle。Thesefewsoundswanderinginthedarkhadmadetheirtwobenightedlivestragictomymind。Itwasimpossibletomakeherunderstand。Ichafedsilentlyatmyimpotence。AndJim，too——poordevil!Whowouldneedhim？