Herthoughts，likeafascinatedmoth，wentflutteringtowardthatlight——thatman——thatgirl，whohadknownwar，danger，seendeathnear，hadobtainedevidentlythedevotionofthatman。Theoccurrencesoftheafternoonhadbeenstrangeinthemselves，butwhatstruckherartisticsensewasthevigouroftheirpresentation。Theyoutlinedthemselvesbeforehermemorywiththeclearsimplicityofsomeimmortallegend。Theyweremysterious，butshefeltcertaintheywereabsolutelytrue。Theyembodiedartlessandmasterfulfeelings；such，nodoubt，ashadswayedmankindinthesimplicityofitsyouth。Sheenvied，foramoment，thelotofthathumbleandobscuresister。Nothingstoodbetweenthatgirlandthetruthofhersensations。Shecouldbesincerelycourageous，andtenderandpassionateand——well——ferocious。Whynotferocious？Shecouldknowthetruthofterror——andofaffection，absolutely，withoutartificialtrammels，withoutthepainofrestraint。
　　ThinkingofwhatsuchlifecouldbeMrs。Traversfeltinvadedbythatinexplicableexaltationwhichtheconsciousnessoftheirphysicalcapacitiessooftengivestointellectualbeings。Sheglowedwithasuddenpersuasionthatshealsocouldbeequaltosuchanexistence；andherheartwasdilatedwithamomentarylongingtoknowthenakedtruthofthings；thenakedtruthoflifeandpassionburiedunderthegrowthofcenturies。
　　Sheglowedand，suddenly，shequiveredwiththeshockofcomingtoherselfasifshehadfallendownfromastar。Therewasasoundofripplingwaterandashapelessmassglidedoutofthedarkvoidsheconfronted。Avoicebelowherfeetsaid：
　　"Imadeoutyourshape——onthesky。"Acryofsurpriseexpiredonherlipsandshecouldonlypeerdownward。Lingard，aloneinthebrig’sdinghy，withanotherstrokesentthelightboatnearlyundertheyacht’scounter，laidhisscullsin，androsefromthethwart。Hisheadandshouldersloomedupalongsideandhehadtheappearanceofstandinguponthesea。InvoluntarilyMrs。Traversmadeamovementofretreat。
　　"Stop，"hesaid，anxiously，"don’tspeakloud。Noonemustknow。
　　Wheredoyourpeoplethinkthemselves，Iwonder？Inadockathome？Andyou——"
　　"Myhusbandisnotonboard，"sheinterrupted，hurriedly。
　　"Iknow。"
　　Shebentalittlemoreovertherail。
　　"Thenyouarehavinguswatched。Why？"
　　"Somebodymustwatch。Yourpeoplekeepsuchagoodlook—out——don’tthey？Yes。Eversincedarkoneofmyboatshasbeendodgingasternhere，inthedeepwater。IsworetomyselfI
　　wouldneverseeoneofyou，neverspeaktooneofyouhere，thatIwouldbedumb，blind，deaf。And——hereIam！"
　　Mrs。Travers’alarmandmistrustwerereplacedbyanimmensecuriosity，burning，yetquiet，too，asifbeforetheinevitableworkofdestiny。ShelookeddownwardatLingard。Hisheadwasbared，and，withonehandupontheship’sside，heseemedtobethinkingdeeply。
　　"Becauseyouhadsomethingmoretotellus，"Mrs。Traverssuggested，gently。
　　"Yes，"hesaidinalowtoneandwithoutmovingintheleast。
　　"Willyoucomeonboardandwait？"sheasked。
　　"Who？I！"Heliftedhisheadsoquicklyastostartleher。"I
　　havenothingtosaytohim；andI’llneverputmyfootonboardthiscraft。I’vebeentoldtogo。That’senough。"
　　"Heisaccustomedtobeaddresseddeferentially，"shesaidafterapause，"andyou——"
　　"Whoishe？"askedLingard，simply。
　　Thesethreewordsseemedtohertoscatterherpastintheair——likesmoke。Theyrobbedallthemultitudeofmankindofeveryvestigeofimportance。Shewasamazedtofindthatonthisnight，inthisplace，therecouldbenoadequateanswertothesearchingnaivenessofthatquestion。
　　"Ididn’taskformuch，"Lingardbeganagain。"DidI？Onlythatyouallshouldcomeonboardmybrigforfivedays。That’sall……DoIlooklikealiar？TherearethingsIcouldnottellhim。
　　Icouldn’texplain——Icouldn’t——nottohim——tonoman——tonomanintheworld——"
　　Hisvoicedropped。
　　"Nottomyself，"heendedasifinadream。
　　"Wehaveremainedunmolestedsolonghere，"beganMrs。Traversalittleunsteadily，"thatitmakesitverydifficulttobelieveindanger，now。Wesawnooneallthesedaysexceptthosetwopeoplewhocameforyou。Ifyoumaynotexplain——"
　　"Ofcourse，youcan’tbeexpectedtoseethroughawall，"brokeinLingard。"Thiscoast’slikeawall，butIknowwhat’sontheotherside……Ayachthere，ofallthingsthatfloat！WhenI
　　seteyesonherIcouldfancyshehadn’tbeenmorethananhourfromhome。Nothingbutthelookofhersparsmademethinkofoldtimes。Andthenthefacesofthechapsonboard。Iseemedtoknowthemall。ItwaslikehomecomingtomewhenIwasn’tthinkingofit。AndIhatedthesightofyouall。"
　　"Ifweareexposedtoanyperil，"shesaidafterapauseduringwhichshetriedtopenetratethesecretofpassionhiddenbehindthatman’swords，"itneednotaffectyou。OurotherboatisgonetotheStraitsandeffectivehelpissuretocomeverysoon。"
　　"Affectme！Isthatpreciouswatchmanofyourscomingaft？I
　　don’twantanybodytoknowIcamehereagainbegging，evenofyou。Ishecomingaft？……Listen！I’vestoppedyourotherboat。"
　　Hisheadandshouldersdisappearedasthoughhehaddivedintoadenserlayerofobscurityfloatingonthewater。Thewatchman，whohadtheintentiontostretchhimselfinoneofthedeckchairs，catchingsightoftheowner’swife，walkedstraighttothelampthathungundertheridgepoleoftheawning，andafterfumblingwithitforatimewentawayforwardwithanindolentgait。
　　"Youdared！"Mrs。Traverswhispereddowninanintensetone；anddirectly，Lingard’sheademergedagainbelowherwithanupturnedface。
　　"Itwasdare——orgiveup。ThehelpfromtheStraitswouldhavebeentoolateanyhowifIhadn’tthepowertokeepyousafe；andifIhadthepowerIcouldseeyouthroughit——alone。Iexpectedtofindareasonablemantotalkto。Ioughttohaveknownbetter。Youcomefromtoofartounderstandthesethings。Well，I
　　dared；I’vesentafteryourotherboatafellowwho，withmeathisback，wouldtrytostopthegovernoroftheStraitshimself。
　　Hewilldoit。Perhapsit’sdonealready。Youhavenothingtohopefor。ButIamhere。YousaidyoubelievedImeantwell——"
　　"Yes，"shemurmured。
　　"That’swhyIthoughtIwouldtellyoueverything。Ihadtobeginwiththisbusinessabouttheboat。Andwhatdoyouthinkofmenow？I’vecutyouofffromtherestoftheearth。Youpeoplewoulddisappearlikeastoneinthewater。Youleftoneforeignportforanother。Who’stheretotroubleaboutwhatbecameofyou？Whowouldknow？Whocouldguess？Itwouldbemonthsbeforetheybegantostir。"
　　"Iunderstand，"shesaid，steadily，"wearehelpless。"
　　"Andalone，"headded。
　　Afterapauseshesaidinadeliberate，restrainedvoice：
　　"Whatdoesthismean？Plunder，captivity？"
　　"ItwouldhavemeantdeathifIhadn’tbeenhere，"heanswered。
　　"Butyouhavethepowerto——"
　　""Why，doyouthink，youarealiveyet？"hecried。"Jorgensonhasbeenarguingwiththemonshore，"hewenton，morecalmly，withaswingofhisarmtowardwherethenightseemeddarkest。"Doyouthinkhewouldhavekeptthembackiftheyhadn’texpectedmeeveryday？Hiswordswouldhavebeennothingwithoutmyfist。"
　　Sheheardadullblowstruckonthesideoftheyachtandconcealedinthesamedarknessthatwrappedtheunconcernoftheearthandsea，thefuryandthepainofhearts；shesmiledabovehishead，fascinatedbythesimplicityofimagesandexpressions。
　　Lingardmadeabrusquemovement，thelivelylittleboatbeingunsteadyunderhisfeet，andshespokeslowly，absently，asifherthoughthadbeenlostinthevaguenessofhersensations。
　　"Andthis——this——Jorgenson，yousaid？Whoishe？"
　　"Aman，"heanswered，"amanlikemyself。"
　　"Likeyourself？"
　　"Justlikemyself，"hesaidwithstrangereluctance，asifadmittingapainfultruth。"Moresense，perhaps，butlessluck。
　　Though，sinceyouryachthasturneduphere，Ibegintothinkthatmyluckisnothingmuchtoboastofeither。"
　　"Isourpresenceheresofatal？"
　　"Itmaybedeathtosome。Itmaybeworsethandeathtome。Anditrestswithyouinaway。Thinkofthat！Icanneverfindsuchanotherchanceagain。Butthat’snothing！AmanwhohassavedmylifeonceandthatIpassedmywordtowouldthinkIhadthrownhimover。Butthat’snothing！Listen！AstrueasIstandhereinmyboattalkingtoyou，Ibelievethegirlwoulddieofgrief。"
　　"Youloveher，"shesaid，softly。
　　"Likemyowndaughter，"hecried，low。
　　Mrs。Traverssaid，"Oh！"faintly，andforamomenttherewasasilence，thenhebeganagain：
　　"Lookhere。WhenIwasaboyinatrawler，andlookedatyouyachtpeople，intheChannelports，youwereasstrangetomeastheMalaysherearestrangetoyou。Ilefthomesixteenyearsagoandfoughtmywayallroundtheearth。IhadthetimetoforgetwhereIbegan。Whatareyoutomeagainstthesetwo？IfIwastodiehereonthespotwouldyoucare？Noonewouldcareathome。
　　Nooneinthewholeworld——butthesetwo。"
　　"WhatcanIdo？"sheasked，andwaited，leaningover。
　　Heseemedtoreflect，thenliftinghishead，spokegently：
　　"Doyouunderstandthedangeryouarein？Areyouafraid？"
　　"Iunderstandtheexpressionyouused，ofcourse。Understandthedanger？"shewenton。"No——decidedlyno。And——honestly——Iamnotafraid。"
　　"Aren’tyou？"hesaidinadisappointedvoice。"Perhapsyoudon’tbelieveme？Ibelievedyou，though，whenyousaidyouweresureI
　　meantwell。Itrustedyouenoughtocomehereaskingforyourhelp——tellingyouwhatnooneknows。"
　　"Youmistakeme，"shesaidwithimpulsiveearnestness。"Thisissoextraordinarilyunusual——sudden——outsidemyexperience。"
　　"Aye！"hemurmured，"whatwouldyouknowofdangerandtrouble？
　　You！Butperhapsbythinkingitover——"
　　"Youwantmetothinkmyselfintoafright！"Mrs。Traverslaughedlightly，andinthegloomofhisthoughtthisflashofjoyoussoundwasincongruousandalmostterrible。Nextmomentthenightappearedbrilliantasday，warmassunshine；butwhensheceasedthereturningdarknessgavehimpainasifithadstruckheavilyagainsthisbreast。"Idon’tthinkIcoulddothat，"shefinishedinaserioustone。
　　"Couldn’tyou？"Hehesitated，perplexed。"Thingsarebadenoughtomakeitnoshame。Itellyou，"hesaid，rapidly，"andIamnotatimidman，Imaynotbeabletodomuchifyoupeopledon’thelpme。"
　　"YouwantmetopretendIamalarmed？"sheasked，quickly。
　　"Aye，topretend——aswellyoumay。It’salottoaskofyou——whoperhapsneverhadtomake—believeathinginyourlife——isn’tit？"
　　"Itis，"shesaidafteratime。
　　TheunexpectedbitternessofhertonestruckLingardwithdismay。
　　"Don’tbeoffended，"heentreated。"I’vegottoplanawayoutofthismess。It’snoplayeither。Couldyoupretend？"
　　"Perhaps，ifItriedveryhard。Buttowhatend？"
　　"Youmustallshiftaboardthebrig，"hebegan，speakingquickly，"andthenwemaygetoverthistroublewithoutcomingtoblows。
　　Now，ifyouweretosaythatyouwishit；thatyoufeelunsafeintheyacht——don’tyousee？"
　　"Isee，"shepronounced，thoughtfully。
　　"Thebrigissmallbutthecuddyisfitforalady，"wentonLingardwithanimation。
　　"Hasitnotalreadyshelteredaprincess？"shecommented，coolly。
　　"AndIshallnotintrude。"
　　"Thisisaninducement。"
　　"Nobodywilldaretointrude。Youneedn’tevenseeme。"
　　"Thisisalmostdecisive，only——"
　　"Iknowmyplace。"
　　"Only，Imightnothavetheinfluence，"shefinished。
　　"ThatIcannotbelieve，"hesaid，roughly。"Thelongandtheshortofitisyoudon’ttrustmebecauseyouthinkthatonlypeopleofyourownconditionspeakthetruthalways。"
　　"Evidently，"shemurmured。
　　"Yousaytoyourself——here’safellowdeepinwithpirates，thieves，niggers——"
　　"Tobesure——"
　　"AmanIneversawthelikebefore，"wentonLingard，headlong，"a——ruffian。"
　　Hecheckedhimself，fullofconfusion。Afteratimeheheardhersaying，calmly：
　　"Youarelikeothermeninthis，thatyougetangrywhenyoucannothaveyourwayatonce。"
　　"Iangry！"heexclaimedindeadenedvoice。"Youdonotunderstand。Iamthinkingofyoualso——itishardonme——"
　　"Imistrustnotyou，butmyownpower。YouhaveproducedanunfortunateimpressiononMr。Travers。"
　　"Unfortunateimpression！HetreatedmeasifIhadbeenalong—shoreloafer。Nevermindthat。Heisyourhusband。Fearinthoseyoucareforishardtobearforanyman。Andso，he——"
　　"WhatMachiavellism！"
　　"Eh，whatdidyousay？"
　　"Ionlywonderedwhereyouhadobservedthat。Onthesea？"
　　"Observedwhat？"hesaid，absently。Thenpursuinghisidea——"Onewordfromyououghttobeenough。"
　　"Youthinkso？"
　　"Iamsureofit。Why，evenI，myself——"
　　"Ofcourse，"sheinterrupted。"Butdon’tyouthinkthatafterpartingwithyouonsuch——such——inimicalterms，therewouldbeadifficultyinresumingrelations？"
　　"Amanlikemewoulddoanythingformoney——don’tyousee？"
　　Afterapausesheasked：
　　"Andwouldyoucareforthatargumenttobeused？"
　　"Aslongasyouknowbetter！"
　　Hisvoicevibrated——shedrewbackdisturbed，asifunexpectedlyhehadtouchedher。
　　"Whatcantherebeatstake？"shebegan，wonderingly。
　　"Akingdom，"saidLingard。
　　Mrs。Traversleanedfarovertherail，staring，andtheirfaces，oneabovetheother，cameveryclosetogether。
　　"Notforyourself？"shewhispered。
　　Hefeltthetouchofherbreathonhisforeheadandremainedstillforamoment，perfectlystillasifhedidnotintendtomoveorspeakanymore。
　　"Thosethings，"hebegan，suddenly，"comeinyourway，whenyoudon’tthink，andtheygetallroundyoubeforeyouknowwhatyoumeantodo。WhenIwentintothatbayinNewGuineaIneverguessedwherethatcoursewouldtakemeto。Icouldtellyouastory。Youwouldunderstand！You！You！"
　　Hestammered，hesitated，andsuddenlyspoke，liberatingthevisionsoftwoyearsintothenightwhereMrs。Traverscouldfollowthemasifoutlinedinwordsoffire。
　　VII
　　Histalewasasstartlingasthediscoveryofanewworld。Shewasbeingtakenalongtheboundaryofanexcitingexistence，andshelookedintoitthroughtheguilelessenthusiasmofthenarrator。Theheroicqualityofthefeelingsconcealedwhatwasdisproportionateandabsurdinthatgratitude，inthatfriendship，inthatinexplicabledevotion。Theheadlongfiercenessofpurposeinvestedhisobscuredesignofconquestwiththeproportionsofagreatenterprise。Itwasclearthatnovisionofasubjugatedworldcouldhavebeenmoreinspiringtothemostfamousadventurerofhistory。
　　Fromtimetotimeheinterruptedhimselftoask，confidently，asifhehadbeenspeakingtoanoldfriend，"Whatwouldyouhavedone？"andhurriedonwithoutpausingforapproval。
　　Itstruckherthattherewasagreatpassioninallthis，thebeautyofanimplantedfacultyofaffectionthathadfounditself，itsimmediateneedofanobjectandthewayofexpansion；
　　atendernessexpressedviolently；atendernessthatcouldonlybesatisfiedbybackinghumanbeingsagainsttheirowndestiny。
　　Perhapsherhatredofconvention，trammellingthefranknessofherownimpulses，hadrenderedhermorealerttoperceivewhatisintrinsicallygreatandprofoundwithintheformsofhumanfolly，sosimpleandsoinfinitelyvariedaccordingtotheregionoftheearthandtothemomentoftime。
　　Whatofitthatthenarratorwasonlyarovingseaman；thekingdomofthejungle，themenoftheforest，thelivesobscure！
　　Thatsimplesoulwaspossessedbythegreatnessoftheidea；
　　therewasnothingsordidinitsflamingimpulses。Whensheonceunderstoodthat，thestoryappealedtotheaudacityofherthoughts，andshebecamesocharmedwithwhatsheheardthatsheforgotwhereshewas。Sheforgotthatshewaspersonallyclosetothattalewhichshesawdetached，farawayfromher，truthorfiction，presentedinpicturesquespeech，realonlybytheresponseofheremotion。
　　Lingardpaused。Inthecessationoftheimpassionedmurmurshebegantoreflect。Andatfirstitwasonlyanoppressivenotionoftherebeingsomesignificancethatreallymatteredinthisman’sstory。Thatmatteredtoher。Forthefirsttimetheshadowofdangeranddeathcrossedhermind。Wasthatthesignificance？
　　Suddenly，inaflashofacutediscernment，shesawherselfinvolvedhelplesslyinthatstory，asoneisinvolvedinanaturalcataclysm。
　　Hewasspeakingagain。Hehadnotbeensilentmorethanaminute。
　　ItseemedtoMrs。Traversthatyearshadelapsed，sodifferentnowwastheeffectofhiswords。Hermindwasagitatedasifhiscomingtospeakandconfideinherhadbeenatremendousoccurrence。Itwasafactofherownexistence；itwaspartofthestoryalso。Thiswasthedisturbingthought。Sheheardhimpronounceseveralnames：Belarab，Daman，Tengga，Ningrat。Thesebelongednowtoherlifeandshewasappalledtofindshewasunabletoconnectthesenameswithanyhumanappearance。Theystoodoutalone，asifwrittenonthenight；theytookonasymbolicshape；theyimposedthemselvesuponhersenses。Shewhisperedasifpondering："Belarab，Daman，Ningrat，"andthesebarbaroussoundsseemedtopossessanexceptionalenergy，afatalaspect，thesavourofmadness。
　　"Notoneofthembuthasaheavyscoretosettlewiththewhites。
　　What’sthattome！Ihadsomehowtogetmenwhowouldfight。I
　　riskedmylifetogetthatlot。ImadethempromiseswhichI
　　shallkeep——or——！CanyouseenowwhyIdaredtostopyourboat？
　　IaminsodeepthatIcarefornoSirJohnintheworld。WhenI
　　lookattheworkaheadIcarefornothing。Igaveyouonechance——onegoodchance。ThatIhadtodo。No！IsupposeIdidn’tlookenoughofagentleman。Yes！Yes！That’sit。YetIknowwhatagentlemanis。Ilivedwiththemforyears。Ichummedwiththem—
　　—yes——ongold—fieldsandinotherplaceswhereamanhasgottoshowthestuffthat’sinhim。Someofthemwritefromhometomehere——suchasyouseeme，becauseI——nevermind！AndIknowwhatagentlemanwoulddo。Come！Wouldn’thetreatastrangerfairly？
　　Wouldn’therememberthatnomanisaliartillyouprovehimso？
　　Wouldn’thekeephiswordwherevergiven？Well，Iamgoingtodothat。NotahairofyourheadshallbetouchedaslongasI
　　live！"
　　Shehadregainedmuchofhercomposurebutatthesewordsshefeltthatstaggeringsenseofutterinsecuritywhichisgivenonebythefirsttremorofanearthquake。Itwasfollowedbyanexpectantstillnessofsensations。Sheremainedsilent。Hethoughtshedidnotbelievehim。
　　"Come！Whatonearthdoyouthinkbroughtmehere——to——to——talklikethistoyou？TherewasHassim——RajahTulla，Ishouldsay——whowasaskingmethisafternoon：’Whatwillyoudonowwiththese，yourpeople？’IbelievehethinksyetIfetchedyouhereforsomereason。Youcan’ttellwhatcrookednotiontheywillgetintotheirthickheads。It’senoughtomakeoneswear。"Heswore。
　　"Mypeople！Areyou？Howmuch？Say——howmuch？You’renomoreminethanIamyours。Wouldanyofyoufinefolksathomefaceblackruintosaveafishingsmack’screwfromgettingdrowned？"
　　Notwithstandingthatsenseofinsecuritywhichlingeredfaintlyinhermindshehadnoimageofdeathbeforeher。Shefeltintenselyalive。Shefeltaliveinaflushofstrength，withanimpressionofnoveltyasthoughlifehadbeenthegiftofthisverymoment。Thedangerhiddeninthenightgavenosigntoawakenherterror，buttheworkingsofahumansoul，simpleandviolent，werelaidbarebeforeherandhadthedisturbingcharmofanunheard—ofexperience。Shewaslisteningtoamanwhoconcealednothing。Shesaid，interrogatively：
　　"Andyetyouhavecome？"
　　"Yes，"heanswered，"toyou——andforyouonly。"
　　Thefloodtiderunningstrongoverthebanksmadeaplacidtricklingsoundabouttheyacht’srudder。
　　"Iwouldnotbesavedalone。"
　　"Thenyoumustbringthemoveryourself，"hesaidinasombretone。"There’sthebrig。Youhaveme——mymen——myguns。Youknowwhattodo。
　　"Iwilltry，"shesaid。
　　"Verywell。Iamsorryforthepoordevilsforwardthereifyoufail。Butofcourseyouwon’t。Watchthatlightonthebrig。I
　　hadithoistedonpurpose。Thetroublemaybenearerthanwethink。Twoofmyboatsaregonescoutingandifthenewstheybringmeisbadthelightwillbelowered。Thinkwhatthatmeans。
　　AndI’vetoldyouwhatIhavetoldnobody。Thinkofmyfeelingsalso。ItoldyoubecauseI——becauseIhadto。"
　　Hegaveashoveagainsttheyacht’ssideandglidedawayfromunderhereyes。Aripplingsounddiedout。
　　Shewalkedawayfromtherail。Thelampandtheskylightsshonefaintlyalongthedarkstretchofthedecks。Thiseveningwaslikethelast——likealltheeveningsbefore。
　　"IsallthisIhaveheardpossible？"sheaskedherself。"No——butitistrue。"
　　Shesatdowninadeckchairtothinkandfoundshecouldonlyremember。Shejumpedup。Shewassuresomebodywashailingtheyachtfaintly。Wasthatmanhailing？Shelistened，andhearingnothingwasannoyedwithherselfforbeinghauntedbyavoice。
　　"Hesaidhecouldtrustme。Now，whatisthisdanger？Whatisdanger？"shemeditated。
　　Footstepswerecomingfromforward。Thefigureofthewatchmanflittedvaguelyoverthegangway。Hewaswhistlingsoftlyandvanished。Hollowsoundsintheboatweresucceededbyasplashofoars。Thenightswallowedtheseslightnoises。Mrs。Traverssatdownagainandfoundherselfmuchcalmer。
　　Shehadthefacultyofbeingabletothinkherownthoughts——andthecourage。Shecouldtakenoactionofanykindtillherhusband’sreturn。Lingard’swarningswerenotwhathadimpressedhermost。Thismanhadpresentedhisinnermostselfunclothedbyanysubterfuge。Therewereinplainsighthisdesires，hisperplexities，affections，doubts，hisviolence，hisfolly；andtheexistencetheymadeupwaslawlessbutnotvile。Shehadtoomuchelevationofmindtolookuponhimfromanyotherbutastrictlyhumanstandpoint。Ifhetrustedher（howstrange；whyshouldhe？Washewrong？）sheacceptedthetrustwithscrupulousfairness。Andwhenitdawneduponherthatofallthemenintheworldthisunquestionablywastheonesheknewbest，shehadamomentofwonderfollowedbyanimpressionofprofoundsadness。
　　Itseemedanunfortunatematterthatconcernedheralone。
　　Herthoughtwassuspendedwhileshelistenedattentivelyforthereturnoftheyacht’sboat。Shewasdismayedatthetaskbeforeher。Notasoundbrokethestillnessandshefeltasifshewerelostinemptyspace。Thensuddenlysomeoneamidshipsyawnedimmenselyandsaid："Oh，dear！Oh，dear！"Avoiceasked："Ain’ttheybackyet？"Anegativegruntanswered。
　　Mrs。TraversfoundthatLingardwastouching，becausehecouldbeunderstood。Howsimplewaslife，shereflected。Shewasfrankwithherself。Sheconsideredhimapartfromsocialorganization。
　　Shediscoveredhehadnoplaceinit。Howdelightful！Herewasahumanbeingandthenakedtruthofthingswasnotsoveryfarfromhernotwithstandingthegrowthofcenturies。Thenitoccurredtoherthatthismanbyhisactionstrippedheratonceofherposition，ofherwealth，ofherrank，ofherpast。"Iamhelpless。Whatremains？"sheaskedherself。Nothing！Anybodytheremighthavesuggested："Yourpresence。"Shewastooartificialyettothinkofherbeauty；andyetthepowerofpersonalityispartofthenakedtruthofthings。
　　Shelookedoverhershoulder，andsawthelightatthebrig’sforeyard—armburningwithastrong，calmflameinthedustofstarlightsuspendedabovethecoast。Sheheardtheheavybumpasofaboatrunheadlongagainsttheladder。Theywereback！Sheroseinsuddenandextremeagitation。Whatshouldshesay？Howmuch？Howtobegin？Whysayanything？Itwouldbeabsurd，liketalkingseriouslyaboutadream。Shewouldnotdare！Inamomentshewasdrivenintoastateofmindborderingondistraction。Sheheardsomebodyrunupthegangwaysteps。Withtheideaofgainingtimeshewalkedrapidlyafttothetaffrail。Thelightofthebrigfacedherwithoutaflicker，enormousamongstthesunsscatteredintheimmensityofthenight。