Anthonyandhebehavedwithadiscretionbeyondhisyears。Somenicechildrenoftendo；andsurelyitisnotfromreflection。Theyhavetheirowninspirations。YoungPowell’sinspirationconsistedinbeing”enthusiastic”aboutMrs。Anthony。’Enthusiastic’isreallygood。Andhewasamongstthemlikeachild，sensitive，impressionable，plastic——butunabletofindforhimselfanysortofcomment。
Idon’tknowhowmuchminemaybeworth；butIbelievethatjustthenthetensionofthefalsesituationwasatitshighest。Ofalltheformsofferedtousbylifeitistheonedemandingacoupletorealizeitfully，whichisthemostimperative。Pairingoffisthefateofmankind。Andiftwobeingsthrowntogether，mutuallyattracted，resistthenecessity，failinunderstandingandvoluntarilystopshortofthe——theembrace，inthenoblestmeaningoftheword，thentheyarecommittingasinagainstlife，thecallofwhichissimple。Perhapssacred。Andthepunishmentofitisaninvasionofcomplexity，atormenting，forciblytortuousinvolutionoffeelings，thedeepestformofsufferingfromwhichindeedsomethingsignificantmaycomeatlast，whichmaybecriminalorheroic，maybemadnessorwisdom——orevenastraightifdespairingdecision。
PowellontakinghiseyesofftheoldgentlemannoticedCaptainAnthony，swarthyasanAfrican，bythesideofFlorawhiterthanthelilies，takehishandkerchiefoutandwipeoffhisforeheadthesweatofanguish——likeamanwhoisovercome。”Andnowonder，”
commentedMr。Powellhere。Thenthecaptainsaid，”Hadn’tyoubettergobacktoyourroom。”ThiswastoMrs。Anthony。Hetriedtosmileather。”Whydoyoulookstartled？Thisnightislikeanyothernight。””Which，”Powellagaincommentedtomeearnestly，”wasalie……Nowonderhesweated。”YouseefromthisthevalueofPowell’scomments。Mrs。Anthonythensaid:”Whyareyousendingmeaway？””Why！Thatyoushouldgotosleep。Thatyoushouldrest。”AndCaptainAnthonyfrowned。Thensharply，”Youstayhere，Mr。Powell。
Ishallwantyoupresently。”
AsamatteroffactPowellhadnotmoved。Floradidnotmindhispresence。Hehimselfhadthefeelingofbeingofnoaccounttothosethreepeople。HewaslookingatMrs。Anthonyasunabashedastheproverbialcatlookingataking。Mrs。Anthonyglancedathim。
Shedidnotmove，grippedbyaninexplicablepremonition。ShehadarrivedattheverylimitofherenduranceastheobjectofAnthony’smagnanimity；shewasthepreyofanintuitivedreadofshedidnotknowwhatmysteriousinfluence；shefeltherselfbeingpushedbackintothatsolitude，thatmoralloneliness，whichhadmadeallherlifeintolerable。Andthen，inthatclosecommunionestablishedagainwithAnthony，shefelt——asonthatnightinthegarden——theforceofhispersonalfascination。Thepassivequietnesswithwhichshelookedathimgavehertheappearanceofapersonbewitched——or，say，mesmericallyputtosleep——beyondanynotionofhersurroundings。
AftertellingMr。Powellnottogoawaythecaptainremainedsilent。
SuddenlyMrs。Anthonypushedbackherloosehairwithadecisivegestureofherarmsandmovedstillnearertohim。”Here’spapaupyet，”shesaid，butshedidnotlooktowardsMr。Smith。”Whyisit？
Andyou？Ican’tgoonlikethis，Roderick——betweenyoutwo。
Don’t。”
Anthonyinterruptedherasifsomethinghaduntiedhistongue。”Ohyes。Here’syourfather。And……Whynot。Perhapsitisjustaswellyoucameout。Betweenustwo？Isthatit？Iwon’tpretendIdon’tunderstand。Iamnotblind。ButIcan’tfightanylongerforwhatIhaven’tgot。Idon’tknowwhatyouimaginehashappened。Somethinghasthough。Onlyyouneedn’tbeafraid。Noshadowcantouchyou——becauseIgiveup。Ican’tsaywehadmuchtalkaboutit，yourfatherandI，but，thelongandtheshortofitis，thatImustlearntolivewithoutyou——whichIhavetoldyouwasimpossible。Iwasspeakingthetruth。ButIhavedonefighting，orwaiting，orhoping。Yes。Youshallgo。”
AtthispointMr。Powellwhoheconfessedtomewaslisteningwithuncomprehendingawe，heardbehindhisbackatriumphantchucklingsound。Itgavehimtheshudders，hesaid，tomentionitnow；butatthetime，exceptforanotherchilldownthespine，ithadnotthepowertodestroyhisabsorptioninthescenebeforehiseyes，andbeforehisearstoo，becausejustthenCaptainAnthonyraisedhisvoicegrimly。Perhapshetoohadheardthechuckleoftheoldman。”Yourfatherhasfoundanargumentwhichmakesmepause，ifitdoesnotconvinceme。No！Ican’tanswerit。I——Idon’twanttoanswerit。Isimplysurrender。Heshallhavehiswaywithyou——andwithme。Only，”headdedinagloomyloweredtonewhichstruckMr。
Powellasifapedalhadbeenputdown，”onlyitshalltakealittletime。Ihaveneverliedtoyou。Never。Irenouncenotonlymychancebutmylife。Inafewdays，directlywegetintoport，theverymomentwedo，I，whohavesaidIcouldneverletyougo，I
shallletyougo。”
TotheinnocentbeholderAnthonyseemedatthispointtobecomephysicallyexhausted。Myviewisthattheutterfalsenessofhis，I
maysay，aspirations，thevanityofgraspingtheemptyair，hadcometohimwithanoverwhelmingforce，leavinghimdisarmedbeforetheother’smadandsinistersincerity。Ashehadsaidhimselfhecouldnotfightforwhathedidnotpossess；hecouldnotfacesuchathingasthisforthesakeofhismeremagnanimity。Thenormalalonecanovercometheabnormal。Hecouldnotevenreproachthatmanoverthere。”Iownmyselfbeaten，”hesaidinafirmertone。”Youarefree。IletyouoffsinceImust。”
Powell，theonlooker，affirmsthatattheseincomprehensiblewordsMrs。Anthonystiffenedintotheveryimageofastonishment，withafrightenedstareandfrozenlips。Butnextminuteacrycameoutfromherheart，notveryloudbutofaqualitywhichmadenotonlyCaptainAnthonyhewasnotlookingather，notonlyhimbutalsothemoredistantandequallyunpreparedyoungman，catchtheirbreath:”ButIdon’twanttobeletoff，”shecried。
Shewassostillthatoneaskedoneselfwhetherthecryhadcomefromher。TherestlessshufflebehindPowell’sbackstoppedshort，theintermittentshadowychucklingceasedtoo。YoungPowell，glancinground，sawMr。Smithraisehisheadwithhisfadedeyesverystill，puckeredatthecorners，likeamanperceivingsomethingcomingathimfromagreatdistance。AndMrs。Anthony’svoicereachedPowell’sears，entreatingandindignant。”Youcan’tcastmeofflikethis，Roderick。Iwon’tgoawayfromyou。Iwon’t——”
PowellturnedaboutanddiscoveredthenthatwhatMr。Smithwaspuckeringhiseyesat，wasthesightofhisdaughterclingingroundCaptainAnthony’sneck——asightnotinitselfimproper，butwhichhadthepowertomoveyoungPowellwithabashfullyprofoundemotion。Itwasdifferentfromhisemotionwhilespyingattherevelationsoftheskylight，butinthiscasetoohefeltthediscomfort，ifnottheguilt，ofanunseenbeholder。Experiencewasbeingpileduponhisyoungshoulders。Mrs。Anthony’shairhungbackinadarkmasslikethehairofadrownedwoman。Shelookedasifshewouldletgoandsinktothefloorifthecaptainweretowithholdhissustainingarm。Butthecaptainobviouslyhadnosuchintention。StandingfirmandstillhegazedwithsombreeyesatMr。
Smith。ForatimethelowconvulsivesobbingofMr。Smith’sdaughterwastheonlysoundtotroublethesilence。ThestrengthofAnthony’sclasppressingFloratohisbreastcouldnotbedoubtedevenatthatdistance，andsuddenly，awakeningtohisopportunity，hebegantopartlysupporther，partlycarryherinthedirectionofhercabin。Hisheadwasbentoverhersolicitously，thenrecollectinghimself，withaglancefullofunwontedfire，hisvoiceringinginanoteunknowntoMr。Powell，hecriedtohim，”Don’tyougoondeckyet。IwantyoutostaydownheretillIcomeback。
TherearesomeinstructionsIwanttogiveyou。”
Andbeforetheyoungmancouldanswer，Anthonyhaddisappearedinthestern-cabin，burdenedandexulting。”Instructions，”commentedMr。Powell。”Thatwasallright。Verylikely；buttheywouldbesuchinstructionsas，Ithoughttomyself，noship’sofficerperhapshadeverbeengivenbefore。Itmademefeelalittlesicktothinkwhattheywouldbedealingwith，probably。Butthere！Everythingthathappensonboardshiponthehighseashasgottobedealtwithsomehow。Therearenospecialpeopletoflytoforassistance。AndthereIwaswiththatoldmanleftinmycharge。Whenhenoticedmelookingathimhestartedtoshuffleagainathwartthesaloon。Hekepthishandsrammedinhispockets，hewasasstiff-backedasever，onlyhisheadhungdown。
Afterabithesaysinhisgentlesofttone:”Didyouseeit？”
TherewereinPowell’sheadnospecialwordstofitthehorrorofhisfeelings。Sohesaid——hehadtosaysomething，”GoodGod！Whatwereyouthinkingof，Mr。Smith，totryto……”Andthenheleftoff。Hedarednotuttertheawfulwordpoison。Mr。Smithstoppedhisprowl。”Think！Whatdoyouknowofthinking。Idon’tthink。Thereissomethinginmyheadthatthinks。Thethoughtsinmen，it’slikebeingdrunkwithliquoror——Youcan’tstopthem。Amanwhothinkswillthinkanything。No！Buthaveyouseenit。Haveyou？””ItellyouIhave！Iamcertain！”saidPowellforcibly。”Iwaslookingatyouallthetime。You’vedonesomethingtothedrinkinthatglass。”
ThenPowelllosthisbreathsomehow。Mr。Smithlookedathimcuriously，withmistrust。”Mygoodyoungman，Idon’tknowwhatyouaretalkingabout。Iaskyou——haveyouseen？Whowouldhavebelievedit？withherarmsroundhisneck。When！Oh！Ha！Ha！Youdidsee！Didn’tyou？Itwasn’tadelusion——wasit？Herarmsround……ButIhaveneverwhollytrustedher。””ThenIflewoutathim，saidMr。Powell。ItoldhimhewasjollyluckytohavefallenuponCaptainAnthony。Amaninamillion。Hestartedagainshufflingtoandfro。”Youtoo，”hesaidmournfully，keepinghiseyesdown。”Eh？Wonderfulman？ButhaveyouanotionwhoIam？Listen！IhavebeentheGreatMr。deBarral。Sotheyprinteditinthepaperswhiletheyweregettingupaconspiracy。
AndIhavebeendoingtime。AndnowIambroughtlow。”Hisvoicedieddowntoamerebreath。”Broughtlow。”
Hetookhishandsoutofhispocket，draggedthecapdownonhisheadandstuckthembackintohispockets，exactlyasifpreparinghimselftogooutintoagreatwind。”Butnotsolowastoputupwiththisdisgrace，toseeher，fastinthisfellow’sclutches，withoutdoingsomething。Shewouldn’tlistentome。Frightened？
Silly？Ihadtothinkofsomewaytogetheroutofthis。Didyouthinkshecaredforhim？No！Wouldanybodyhavethoughtso？No！
Shepretendeditwasformysake。Shecouldn’tunderstandthatifI
hadn’tbeenanoldmanIwouldhaveflownathisthroatmonthsago。
AsitwasIwastemptedeverytimehelookedather。Mygirl。
Ough！Anymanbutthis。Andallthetimethewickedlittlefoolwaslyingtome。Itwastheirplot，theirconspiracy！Theseconspiraciesarethedevil。Shehasbeenleadingmeon，tillshehasfairlyputmyheadundertheheelofthatjailer，ofthatscoundrel，ofherhusband……Treachery！Bringingmelow。Lowerthanherself。Inthedirt。That’swhatitmeans。Doesn’tit？
Underhisheel！”
Hepausedinhisrestlessshuffleandagain，seizinghiscapwithbothhands，draggeditfuriouslyrightdownonhisears。Powellhadlosthimselfinlisteningtothesebrokenravings，inlookingatthatoldfeverishfacewhen，suddenly，quickaslightning，Mr。Smithspunround，snatchedupthecaptain’sglassandwithastifled，hurriedexclamation，”Here’sluck，”tossedtheliquordownhisthroat。”Iknownowthemeaningoftheword’Consternation，’”wentonMr。
Powell。”Thatwasexactlymystateofmind。Ithoughttomyselfdirectly:There’snothinginthatdrink。Ihavebeendreaming，I
havemadetheawfulestmistake！……”
Mr。Smithputtheglassdown。HestoodbeforePowellunharmed，quieteddown，inalisteningattitude，hisheadinclinedononeside，chewinghisthinlips。Suddenlyheblinkedqueerly，grabbedPowell’sshoulderandcollapsed，subsidingallatonceasthoughhehadgonesoftallover，asapieceofsilkstuffcollapses。Powellseizedhisarminstinctivelyandcheckedhisfall；butassoonasMr。Smithwasfairlyonthefloorhejerkedhimselffreeandbackedaway。Almostasquickherushedforwardagainandtriedtoliftupthebody。Butdirectlyheraisedhisshouldersheknewthatthemanwasdead！Dead！
Heloweredhimdowngently。Hestoodoverhimwithoutfearoranyotherfeeling，almostindifferent，faraway，asitwere。Andthenhemadeanotherstartand，ifhehadnotkeptMrs。Anthonyalwaysinhismind，hewouldhaveletoutayellforhelp。Hestaggeredtohercabin-door，and，asitwas，hiscallfor”CaptainAnthony”burstoutofhimmuchtooloud；buthemadeagreateffortofself-
control。”Iamwaitingformyorders，sir，”hesaidoutsidethatdoordistinctly，inasteadytone。
Itwasverystillinthere；stillasdeath。Thenheheardashuffleoffeetandthecaptain’svoice”Allright。Coming。”Heleanedhisbackagainstthebulkheadasyouseeadrunkenmansometimesproppedupagainstawall，halfdoubledup。Inthatattitudethecaptainfoundhim，whenhecameout，pullingthedoortoafterhimquickly。
AtonceAnthonylethiseyesrunalloverthecabin。Powell，withoutaword，clutchedhisforearm，ledhimroundtheendofthetableandbegantojustifyhimself。”Icouldn’tstophim，”hewhisperedshakily。”Hewastooquickforme。Hedrankitupandfelldown。”Butthecaptainwasnotlistening。HewaslookingdownatMr。Smith，thinkingperhapsthatitwasamerechancehisownbodywasnotlyingthere。Theydidnotwanttospeak。Theymadesignstoeachotherwiththeireyes。ThecaptaingraspedPowell’sshoulderasifinaviceandglancedatMrs。Anthony’scabindoor，anditwasenough。Heknewthattheyoungmanunderstoodhim。
Rather！Silence！Silenceforeveraboutthis。Theirveryglancesbecamestealthy。Powelllookedfromthebodytothedoorofthedeadman’sstate-room。Thecaptainnoddedandlethimgo；andthenPowellcreptover，hookedthedooropenandcreptbackwithfearfulglancestowardsMrs。Anthony’scabin。Theystoopedoverthecorpse。
CaptainAnthonylifteduptheshoulders。
Mr。Powellshuddered。”I’llneverforgetthatinterminablejourneyacrossthesaloon，stepbystep，holdingourbreath。ForpartofthewaythedrawnhalfofthecurtainconcealedusfromviewhadMrs。Anthonyopenedherdoor；butIdidn’tdrawafreebreathtillafterwelaidthebodydownontheswingingcot。Thereflectionofthesaloonlightleftmostofthecabinintheshadow。Mr。Smith’srigid，extendedbodylookedshadowytoo，shadowyandalive。Youknowhealwayscarriedhimselfasstiffasapoker。Westoodbythecotasthoughwaitingforhimtomakeusasignthathewantedtobeleftalone。Thecaptainthrewhisarmovermyshoulderandsaidinmyveryear:”Thesteward’llfindhiminthemorning。””Imadenoanswer。Itwasforhimtosay。Itwasperhapsthebestway。It’snousetalkingaboutmythoughts。Theywerenotconcernedwithmyself，noryetwiththatoldmanwhoterrifiedmemorenowthanwhenhewasalive。HimwhomIpitiedwasthecaptain。
Hewhispered。”Iamcertainofyou，Mr。Powell。Youhadbettergoondecknow。Astome……”andIsawhimraisehishandstohisheadasifdistracted。Buthislastwordsbeforewestoleoutthatcabinsticktomymindwiththeverytoneofhismutter——tohimself，nottome:”No！No！Iamnotgoingtostumblenowoverthatcorpse。”
***”ThisiswhatourMr。Powellhadtotellme，”saidMarlow，changinghistone。IwasgladtolearnthatFloradeBarralhadbeensavedfromTHATsinistershadowatleastfallinguponherpath。
Wesatsilentthen，mymindrunningontheendofdeBarral，ontheirresistiblepressureofimaginarygriefs，crushingconscience，scruples，prudence，undertheirever-expandingvolume；onthesombreandvenomousironyintheobsessionwhichhadmasteredthatoldman。”Well，”Isaid。”Thestewardfoundhim，”Mr。Powellrousedhimself。”Hewentintherewithacupofteaatfiveandofcoursedroppedit。Iwasonwatchagain。Hereeleduptomeondeckpaleasdeath。Ihadbeenexpectingit；andyetIcouldhardlyspeak。”Goandtellthecaptainquietly，”Imanagedtosay。Heranoffmuttering”MyGod！
MyGod！”andI’mhangedifhedidn’tgethystericalwhiletryingtotellthecaptain，andstartscreaminginthesaloon，”Fullydressed！
Dead！Fullydressed！”Mrs。Anthonyranoutofcoursebutshedidn’tgethysterical。Franklin，whowastheretoo，toldmethatshehidherfaceonthecaptain’sbreastandthenhewentoutandleftthemthere。ItwasdaysbeforeMrs。Anthonywasseenondeck。
ThefirsttimeIspoketohershegavemeherhandandsaid，”Mypoorfatherwasquitefondofyou，Mr。Powell。”ShestartedwipinghereyesandIfledtotheothersideofthedeck。Onewouldliketoforgetallthishadevercomenearher。”
Butclearlyhecouldnot，becauseafterlightinghispipehebeganmusingaloud:”Verystrongstuffitmusthavebeen。Iwonderwherehegotit。Itcouldhardlybeatacommonchemist。Well，hehaditfromsomewhere——amerepinchitmusthavebeen，nomore。””Ihavemytheory，”observedMarlow，”whichtoacertainextentdoesawaywiththeaddedhorrorofacoldlypremeditatedcrime。Chancehadsteppedintheretoo。ItwasnotMr。Smithwhoobtainedthepoison。ItwastheGreatdeBarral。Anditwasnotmeantfortheobscure，magnanimousconquerorofFloradeBarral；itwasmeantforthenotoriousfinancierwhoseenterpriseshadnothingtodowithmagnanimity。Hehadhisphysicianinhisdaysofgreatness。Ievenseemtorememberthatthemanwascalledatthetrialonsomesmallpointorother。IcanimaginethatdeBarralwenttohimwhenhesaw，ashecouldhardlyhelpseeing，thepossibilityofa”triumphofenviousrivals”——aheavysentence。
Idoubtifforloveorevenformoney，butIthinkpossibly，frompitythatmanprovidedhimwithwhatMr。Powellcalled”strongstuff。”FromwhatPowellsawoftheveryactIamfairlycertainitmusthavebeencontainedinacapsuleandthathehaditabouthimonthelastdayofhistrial，perhapssecuredbyastitchinhiswaistcoatpocket。Hedidn’tuseit。Why？Didhethinkofhischildatthelastmoment？Wasitwantofcourage？Wecan’ttell。
Buthefounditinhisclotheswhenhecameoutofjail。Ithadescapedinvestigationiftherewasany。Chancehadarmedhim。Andchancealone，thechanceofMr。Powell’slife，forcedhimtoturntheabominableweaponagainsthimself。
IimpartedmytheorytoMr。Powellwhoaccepteditatonceas，inasense，favourabletothefatherofMrs。Anthony。Thenhewavedhishand。”Don’tletusthinkofit。”
Iacquiescedandverysoonheobserveddreamily:”IwaswithCaptainandMrs。Anthonysailingallovertheworldfornearonsixyears。AlmostaslongasFranklin。””Ohyes！WhataboutFranklin？”Iasked。
Powellsmiled。”HelefttheFerndaleayearorsoafterwards，andI
tookhisplace。CaptainAnthonyrecommendedhimforacommand。Youdon’tthinkCaptainAnthonywouldchuckamanasidelikeanoldglove。ButofcourseMrs。Anthonydidnotlikehimverymuch。I
don’tthinksheeverletoutawhisperagainsthimbutCaptainAnthonycouldreadherthoughts。
AndagainPowellseemedtolosehimselfinthepast。Iasked，forsuddenlythevisionoftheFynespassedthroughmymind。”Anychildren？”
Powellgaveastart。”No！No！Neverhadanychildren，”andagainsubsided，puffingathisshortbriarpipe。”Wherearetheynow？”IinquirednextasifanxioustoascertainthatallFyne’sfearshadbeenmisplacedandvainasourfearsoftenare；thattherewerenoundesirablecousinsforhisdeargirls，nodangerofintrusionontheirspotlesshome。Powelllookedroundatmeslowly，hispipesmoulderinginhishand。”Don’tyouknow？”heutteredinadeepvoice。”Knowwhat？””ThattheFerndalewaslostthisfouryearsormore。Sunk。
Collision。AndCaptainAnthonywentdownwithher。””Youdon’tsayso！”IcriedquiteaffectedasifIhadknownCaptainAnthonypersonally。”Was——wasMrs。Anthonylosttoo？””YoumightaswellaskifIwaslost，”Mr。Powellrejoinedsotestilyastosurpriseme。”Youseemehere，——don’tyou。”
Hewasquitehuffy，butnoticingmywonderingstarehesmoothedhisruffledplumes。Andinamusingtone。”Yes。Goodmengooutasiftherewasnouseforthemintheworld。
Itseemsasiftherewerethingsthat，astheTurkssay，arewritten。Orelsefatehasatryandsometimesmissesitsmark。Yourememberthatcloseshavewehadofbeingrundownatnight，Itoldyouof，myfirstvoyagewiththem。Thisgoitwasjustatdawn。A
flatcalmandafogthickenoughtoslicewithaknife。Onlytherewerenoexplosivesonboard。IwasondeckandIrememberthecursed，murderousthingloomingupalongsideandCaptainAnthonywewerebothondeckcallingout，”GoodGod！What’sthis！Shoutforallhands，Powell，tosavethemselves。There’snodynamiteonboardnow。Iamgoingtogetthewife！……”Iyelled，allthewatchondeckyelled。Crash！”
Mr。Powellgaspedattherecollection。”ItwasaBelgianGreenStarliner，theWestland，”hewenton，”commandedbyoneofthosestop-
for-nothingskippers。FlahertywashisnameandIhopehewilldiewithoutabsolution。ShecuthalfthroughtheoldFerndaleandaftertheblowtherewasasilencelikedeath。NextIheardthecaptainbackondeckshouting，”Setyourenginesslowahead，”andahowlof”Yes，yes，”answeringhimfromherforecastle；andthenawholecrowdofpeopleuptherebeganmakingarowinthefog。Theywerethrowingropesdowntousindozens，Imustsay。IandthecaptainfastenedoneofthemunderMrs。Anthony’sarms:Iremembershehadasortofdimsmileonherface。””Haulupcarefully，”Ishoutedtothepeopleonthesteamer’sdeck。”You’vegotawomanonthatline。”
Thecaptainsawherlandeduptheresafe。Andthenwemadearushroundourdeckstoseenoonewasleftbehind。Aswegotbackthecaptainsays:”Hereshe’sgoneatlast，Powell；thedearoldthing！
Rundownatsea。””Indeedsheisgone，”Isaid。”Butitmighthavebeenworse。Shinupthisrope，sir，forGod’ssake。Iwillsteadyitforyou。””Whatareyouthinkingabout，”hesaysangrily。”Itisn’tmyturn。
Upwithyou。”
ThesewerethelastwordsheeverspokeonearthIsuppose。Iknewhemeanttobethelasttoleavehisship，soIswarmedupasquickasIcould，andthosedamnedlunaticsuptheregrabatmefromabove，lugmein，dragmealongaftthroughtherowandtheriotofthesilliestexcitementIeverdidsee。Somebodyhailsfromthebridge，”Haveyougotthemallonboard？”andadozensillyassesstartyellingalltogether，”Allsaved！Allsaved，”andthenthataccursedIrishmanonthebridge，withmeroaringNo！No！tillI
thoughtmyheadwouldburst，ringshisenginesastern。Heringstheenginesastern——Ifightinglikemadtomakemyselfheard！Andofcourse……”
Isawtears，ashowerofthemfalldownMr。Powell’sface。Hisvoicebroke。”TheFerndalewentdownlikeastoneandCaptainAnthonywentdownwithher，thefinestman’ssoulthateverleftasailor’sbody。I
ravedlikeamaniac，likeadevil，withalotoffoolscrowdingroundmeandasking，”Aren’tyouthecaptain？””Iwasn’tfittotietheshoe-stringsofthemanyouhavedrowned，”
Iscreamedatthem……Well！Well！Icouldseeformyselfthatitwasnogoodloweringaboat。Youcouldn’thaveseenheralongside。Nouse。Andonlythink，Marlow，itwasIwhohadtogoandtellMrs。Anthony。Theyhadtakenherdownbelowsomewhere，first-classsaloon。Ihadtogoandtellher！ThatFlaherty，Godforgivehim，comestomeaswhiteasasheet，”Ithinkyouaretheproperperson。”Godforgivehim。Iwishedtodieahundredtimes。
Alotofkindladies，passengers，werechatteringexcitedlyaroundMrs。Anthony——arealparrothouse。Theship’sdoctorwentbeforeme。Hewhispersrightandleftandthentherefallsasuddenhush。
Yes，Iwishedmyselfdead。ButMrs。Anthonywasabrick。
HereMr。Powellfairlyburstintotears。”NoonecouldhelplovingCaptainAnthony。Ileaveyoutoimaginewhathewastoher。Yetbeforetheweekwasoutitwasshewhowashelpingmetopullmyselftogether。””IsMrs。AnthonyinEnglandnow？”Iaskedafterawhile。
Hewipedhiseyeswithoutanyfalseshame。”Ohyes。”Hebegantolookformatches，andwhiledivingfortheboxunderthetableadded:”Andnotveryfarfromhereeither。Thatlittlevillageupthere——youknow。””No！Really！OhIsee！”
Mr。Powellsmokedausterely，verydetached。ButIcouldnotlethimofflikethis。Theslybeggar。Sothiswasthesecretofhispassionforsailingabouttheriver，thereasonofhisfondnessforthatcreek。”AndIsuppose，”Isaid，”thatyouarestillas’enthusiastic’asever。Eh？IfIwereyouIwouldjustmentionmyenthusiasmtoMrs。
Anthony。Whynot？”
Hecaughthisfallingpipeneatly。ButifwhattheFrenchcalleffarementwaseverexpressedonahumancountenanceitwasonthisoccasion，testifyingtohismodesty，hissensibilityandhisinnocence。Helookedafraidofsomebodyoverhearingmyaudacious——
almostsacrilegioushint——asiftherehadnotbeenamileandahalfoflonelymarshlandanddykesbetweenusandthenearesthumanhabitation。Andthenperhapsherememberedthesoothingfactforheallowedagleamtolightuphiseyes，likethereflectionofsomeinwardfiretendedinthesanctuaryofhisheartbyadevotionaspureasthatofanyvestal。
Itflashedandwentout。Hesmiledabashfulsmile，sighed:”Pah！Foolishness。Yououghttoknowbetter，”hesaid，moresadthanannoyed。”ButIforgotthatyouneverknewCaptainAnthony，”
headdedindulgently。
IremindedhimthatIknewMrs。Anthony；evenbeforehe——anoldfriendnow——hadeverseteyesonher。AndashetoldmethatMrs。
AnthonyhadheardofourmeetingsIwonderedwhethershewouldcaretoseeme。Mr。Powellvolunteerednoopinionthen；butnexttimewelayinthecreekhesaid，”Shewillbeverypleased。Youhadbettergoto-day。”
TheafternoonwaswelladvancedbeforeIapproachedthecottage。
Theamenityofafinedayinitsdeclinesurroundedmewithabeneficent，acalminginfluence；Ifeltitinthesilenceoftheshadylane，inthepureair，inthebluesky。Itisdifficulttoretainthememoryoftheconflicts，miseries，temptationsandcrimesofmen’sself-seekingexistencewhenoneisalonewiththecharmingserenityoftheunconsciousnature。BreathingthedreamlesspeacearoundthepicturesquecottageIwasapproaching，itseemedtomethatitmustreigneverywhere，overalltheglobeofwaterandlandandintheheartsofallthedwellersonthisearth。
Floracamedowntothegardengatetomeetme，nolongertheperverselytempting，sorrowful，wispofwhitemistdriftinginthecomplicatedbaddreamofexistence。Neitherdidshelooklikeaforsakenelf。Istammeredoutstupidly，”Againinthecountry，Miss……Mrs……”Shewasverygood，returnedthepressureofmyhand，butwewereslightlyembarrassed。Thenwelaughedalittle。
Thenwebecamegrave。
Iamnoloverofday-breaks。Youknowhowthin，equivocal，isthelightofthedawn。Butshewasnowhertrueself，shewaslikeafinetranquilafternoon——andnotsoveryfaradvancedeither。A
womannotmuchoverthirty，withadazzlingcomplexionandalittlecolour，alotofhair，asmoothbrow，afinechin，andonlytheeyesoftheFloraoftheolddays，absolutelyunchanged。
IntheroomintowhichsheledmewefoundaMissSomebody——Ididn’tcatchthename，——anunobtrusive，evenanindistinct，middle-agedpersoninblack。Acompanion。Allveryproper。Shecameandwentandevensatdownattimesintheroom，butalittleapart，withsomesewing。BythetimeshehadbroughtinalightedlampIhadheardallthedetailswhichreallymatterinthisstory。BetweenmeandherwhowasonceFloradeBarraltheconversationwasnotlikelytokeepstrictlytotheweather。
Thelamphadarosyshade；anditsglowwreathedherinperpetualblushes，madeherappearwonderfullyyoungasshesatbeforemeinadeep，high-backedarm-chair。Iasked:”TellmewhatisityousaidinthatfamousletterwhichsoupsetMrs。Fyne，andcausedlittleFynetointerfereinthisoffensivemanner？””Itwassimplycrude，”shesaidearnestly。”IwasfeelingrecklessandIwroterecklessly。IknewshewoulddisapproveandIwrotefoolishly。Itwastheechoofherownstupidtalk。IsaidthatI
didnotloveherbrotherbutthatIhadnoscrupleswhateverinmarryinghim。”
Shepaused，hesitating，thenwithashyhalf-laugh:”IreallybelievedIwassellingmyself，Mr。Marlow。AndIwasproudofit。WhatIsufferedafterwardsIcouldn’ttellyou；
becauseIonlydiscoveredmyloveformypoorRoderickthroughagoniesofrageandhumiliation。Icametosuspecthimofdespisingme；butIcouldnotputittothetestbecauseofmyfather。Oh！I
wouldnothavebeentooproud。ButIhadtosparepoorpapa’sfeelings。Roderickwasperfect，butIfeltasthoughIwereontherackandnotallowedeventocryout。Papa’sprejudiceagainstRoderickwasmygreatestgrief。Itwasdistracting。Itfrightenedme。Oh！Ihavebeenmiserable！ThatnightwhenmypoorfatherdiedsuddenlyIamcertaintheyhadsomesortofdiscussion，aboutme。ButIdidnotwanttoholdoutanylongeragainstmyownheart！
Icouldnot。”
Shestoppedshort，thenimpulsively:”Truthwillout，Mr。Marlow。””Yes，”Isaid。
Shewentonmusingly。”Sorrowandhappinessweremingledatfirstlikedarknessandlight。
FormonthsIlivedinaduskoffeelings。Butitwasquiet。Itwaswarm……”
Againshepaused，thengoingbackinherthoughts。”No！Therewasnoharminthatletter。Itwassimplyfoolish。WhatdidIknowoflifethen？Nothing。ButMrs。Fyneoughttohaveknownbetter。Shewrotealettertoherbrother，alittlelater。YearsafterwardsRoderickallowedmetoglanceatit。Ifoundinitthissentence:
’ForyearsItriedtomakeafriendofthatgirl；butIwarnyouoncemorethatshehasthenatureofaheartlessadventuress……’
Adventuress！”repeatedFloraslowly。”Sobeit。Ihavehadafineadventure。””Itwasfine，then，”Isaidinterested。”Thefinestintheworld！Onlythink！IlovedandIwasloved，untroubled，atpeace，withoutremorse，withoutfear。Alltheworld，alllifeweretransformedforme。AndhowmuchIhaveseen！Howgoodpeopleweretome！Roderickwassomuchlikedeverywhere。
Yes，Ihaveknownkindnessandsafety。Themostfamiliarthingsappearedlightedupwithanewlight，clothedwithalovelinessI
hadneversuspected。Theseaitself！……Youareasailor。Youhavelivedyourlifeonit。Butdoyouknowhowbeautifulitis，howstrong，howcharming，howfriendly，howmighty……”
Ilistenedamazedandtouched。Shewassilentonlyalittlewhile。”Itwastoogoodtolast。Butnothingcanrobmeofitnow……
Don’tthinkthatIrepine。Iamnotevensadnow。Yes，Ihavebeenhappy。ButIrememberalsothetimewhenIwasunhappybeyondendurance，beyonddesperation。Yes。Yourememberthat。Andlateron，too。TherewasatimeonboardtheFerndalewhentheonlymomentsofreliefIknewwerewhenImadeMr。Powelltalktomealittleonthepoop。Youlikehim？——Don’tyou？””Excellentfellow，”Isaidwarmly。”Youseehimoften？””Ofcourse。Ihardlyknowanothersoulintheworld。Iamalone。
Andhehasplentyoftimeonhishands。Hisauntdiedafewyearsago。He’sdoingnothing，Ibelieve。””Heisfondofthesea，”Iremarked。”Helovesit。””Heseemstohavegivenitup，”shemurmured。”Iwonderwhy？”
Sheremainedsilent。”Perhapsitisbecausehelovessomethingelsebetter，”Iwenton。”Come，Mrs。Anthony，don’tletmecarryawayfromheretheideathatyouareaselfishperson，huggingthememoryofyourpasthappiness，likearichmanhistreasure，forgettingthepooratthegate。”
Irosetogo，foritwasgettinglate。Shegotupinsomeagitationandwentoutwithmeintothefragrantdarknessofthegarden。ShedetainedmyhandforamomentandthenintheveryvoiceoftheFloraofolddays，withtheexactintonation，showingtheoldmistrust，theolddoubtofherself，theoldscaroftheblowreceivedinchildhood，patheticandfunny，shemurmured，”Doyouthinkitpossiblethatheshouldcareforme？””Justaskhimyourself。Youarebrave。””Oh，Iambraveenough，”shesaidwithasigh。”Thendo。Forifyoudon’tyouwillbewrongingthatpatientmancruelly。”
Idepartedleavingherdumb。Nextday，seeingPowellmakingpreparationstogoashore，IaskedhimtogivemyregardstoMrs。
Anthony。Hepromisedhewould。”Listen，Powell，”Isaid。”Wegottoknoweachotherbychance？””Oh，quite！”headmitted，adjustinghishat。”Andthescienceoflifeconsistsinseizingeverychancethatpresentsitself，”Ipursued。”Doyoubelievethat？””Gospeltruth，”hedeclaredinnocently。”Well，don’tforgetit。””Oh，I！Idon’texpectnowanythingtopresentitself，”hesaid，jumpingashore。
Hedidn’tturnupathighwater。IsetmysailandjustasIhadcastofffromthebank，roundtheblackbarn，inthedusk，twofiguresappearedandstoodsilent，indistinct。”Isthatyou，Powell？”Ihailed。”AndMrs。Anthony，”hisvoicecameimpressivelythroughthesilenceofthegreatmarsh。”Iamnotsailingto-night。IhavetoseeMrs。
Anthonyhome。””ThenImustevengoalone，”Icried。
Flora’svoicewishedme”bonvoyage”inamostfriendlybuttremuloustone。”Youshallhearfrommebeforelong，”shoutedPowell，suddenly，justasmyboathadclearedthemouthofthecreek。”Thiswasyesterday，”addedMarlow，lollinginthearm-chairlazily。”Ihaven’theardyet；butIexpecttohearanymoment……Whatonearthareyougrinningatinthissarcasticmanner？Iamnotafraidofgoingtochurchwithafriend。Hangitall，forallmybeliefinChanceIamnotexactlyapagan……”
End