TheroughwordsbeatliketheblowsofthewavesonthebowsofthericketyboatfromLimainthedayswhenDickwasmixingpaints，makinglove，drawingdevilsandangelsinthehalfdark，andwonderingwhetherthenextminutewouldputtheItaliancaptain’sknifebetweenhisshoulder-bladesAndthego-feverwhichismorerealthanmanydoctors’
diseases，wakedandraged，urginghimwholovedMaisiebeyondanythingintheworld，togoawayandtastetheoldhot，unregeneratelifeagain，——toscuffle，swear，gamble，andlovelightloveswithhisfellows；totakeshipandknowtheseaoncemore，andbyherbegetpictures；
totalktoBinatamongthesandsofPortSaidwhileYellow’Tinamixedthedrinks；tohearthecrackleofmusketry，andseethesmokerolloutward，thinandthickenagaintilltheshiningblackfacescamethrough，andinthathelleverymanwasstrictlyresponsibleforhisownhead，andhisownalone，andstruckwithanunfetteredarmItwasimpossible，utterlyimpossible，but——
’“Oh，ourfathersinthechurchyard，Sheisolderthanye，Andourgraveswillbethegreener。”
SaidTheMenoftheSea。’
’Whatistheretohinder？’saidTorpenhow，inthelonghushthatfollowedthesong。
’Yousaidalittletimesincethatyouwouldn’tcomeforawalkroundtheworld，Torp。’
’Thatwasmonthsago，andIonlyobjectedtoyourmakingmoneyfortravellingexpensesYou’veshotyourbolthereandithasgonehomeGoawayanddosomework，andseesomethings。’
’Getsomeofthefatoffyou；you’redisgracefullyoutofcondition，’
saidtheNilghai，makingaplungefromthechairandgraspingahandfulofDickgenerallyovertherightribs’Softasputty——puretallowbornofover-feedingTrainitoff，Dickie。’
’We’reallequallygross，NilghaiNexttimeyouhavetotakethefieldyou’llsitdown，winkyoureyes，gasp，anddieinafit。’
’NevermindYougoawayonashipGotoLimaagain，ortoBrazil。
There’salwaystroubleinSouthAmerica。’
’DoyousupposeIwanttobetoldwheretogo？GreatHeavens，theonlydifficultyistoknowwhereI’mtostopButIshallstayhere，asI
toldyoubefore。’
’Thenyou’llbeburiedinKensalGreenandturnintoadipocerewiththeothers，’saidTorpenhow’Areyouthinkingofcommissionsinhand？PayforfeitandgoYou’vemoneyenoughtotravelasakingifyouplease。’
’You’vethegrisliestnotionsofamusement，TorpIthinkIseemyselfshippingfirstclassonasix-thousand-tonhotel，andaskingthethirdengineerwhatmakestheenginesgoround，andwhetheritisn’tverywarminthestokeholdHo！ho！IshouldshipasaloaferifeverI
shippedatall，whichI’mnotgoingtodoIshallcompromise，andgoforasmalltriptobeginwith。’
’That’ssomethingatanyrateWherewillyougo？’saidTorpenhow。
’Itwoulddoyouallthegoodintheworld，oldman。’
TheNilghaisawthetwinkleinDick’seye，andrefrainedfromspeech。
’IshallgointhefirstplacetoRathray’sstable，whereIshallhireonehorse，andtakehimverycarefullyasfarasRichmondHillThenI
shallwalkhimbackagain，incaseheshouldaccidentallyburstintoalatherandmakeRathrayangryIshalldothatto-morrow，forthesakeofairandexercise。’
’Bah！’DickhadbarelytimetothrowuphisarmandwardoffthecushionthatthedisgustedTorpenhowheavedathishead。
’Airandexerciseindeed，’saidtheNilghai，sittingdownheavilyonDick。
’Let’sgivehimalittleofbothGetthebellows，Torp。’
Atthispointtheconferencebrokeupindisorder，becauseDickwouldnotopenhismouthtilltheNilghaiheldhisnosefast，andtherewassometroubleinforcingthenozzleofthebellowsbetweenhisteeth；andevenwhenitwasthereheweaklytriedtopuffagainsttheforceoftheblast，andhischeeksblewupwithagreatexplosion；andtheenemybecominghelplesswithlaughterhesobeatthemovertheheadwithasoftsofacushionthatthatbecameunsewnanddistributeditsfeathers，andBinkie，interferinginTorpenhow’sinterests，wasbundledintothehalf-emptybagandadvisedtoscratchhiswayout，whichhedidafterawhile，travellingrapidlyupanddownthefloorintheshapeofanagitatedgreenhaggis，andwhenhecameoutlookingforsatisfaction，thethreepillarsofhisworldwerepickingfeathersoutoftheirhair。
’Aprophethasnohonourinhisowncountry，’saidDick，ruefully，dustinghisknees’Thisfilthyfluffwillneverbrushoffmylegs。’
’Itwasallforyourowngood，’saidtheNilghai’Nothinglikeairandexercise。’
’Allforyourgood，’saidTorpenhow，notintheleastwithreferencetopastclowning’ItwouldletyoufocusthingsattheirproperworthandpreventyourbecomingslackinthishothouseofatownIndeeditwould，oldmanIshouldn’thavespokenifIhadn’tthoughtsoOnly，youmakeajokeofeverything。’
’BeforeGodIdonosuchthing，’saidDick，quicklyandearnestly。
’Youdon’tknowmeifyouthinkthat。’
Idon’tthinkit，’saidtheNilghai。
’Howcanfellowslikeourselves，whoknowwhatlifeanddeathreallymean，daretomakeajokeofanything？Iknowwepretendit，tosaveourselvesfrombreakingdownorgoingtotheotherextremeCan’tIsee，oldman，howyou’realwaysanxiousaboutme，andtrytoadvisemetomakemyworkbetter？DoyousupposeIdon’tthinkaboutthatmyself？
Butyoucan’thelpme——youcan’thelpme——notevenyouImustplaymyownhandaloneinmyownway。’
’Hear，hear，’fromtheNilghai。
’What’stheonethingintheNilghaiSagathatI’veneverdrawnintheNungapungaBook？’DickcontinuedtoTorpenhow，whowasalittleastonishedattheoutburst。
NowtherewasoneblankpageinthebookgivenovertothesketchthatDickhadnotdrawnofthecrowningexploitintheNilghai’slife；
whenthatman，beingyoungandforgettingthathisbodyandbonesbelongedtothepaperthatemployedhim，hadriddenoversunburnedslipperygrassintherearofBredow’sbrigadeonthedaythatthetroopersflungthemselvesatCaurobert’sartillery，andforaughttheyknewtwentybattalionsinfront，tosavethebattered24thGermanInfantry，togivetimetodecidethefateofVionville，andtolearneretheirremnantcamebacktoFlavigaythatcavalrycanattackandcrumpleandbreakunshakeninfantryWheneverhewasinclinedtothinkoveralifethatmighthavebeenbetter，anincomethatmighthavebeenlarger，andasoulthatmighthavebeenconsiderablycleaner，theNilghaiwouldcomforthimselfwiththethought，’IrodewithBredow’sbrigadeatVionville，’andtakeheartforanylesserbattlethenextdaymightbring。
’Iknow，’hesaidverygravely’Iwasalwaysgladthatyouleftitout。’
’IleftitoutbecauseNilghaitaughtmewhattheGermanyarmylearnedthen，andwhatSchmidttaughttheircavalryIdon’tknowGerman。
Whatisit？“Takecareofthetimeandthedressingwilltakecareofitself。”Imustridemyownlinetomyownbeat，oldman。’
’TempeistrichtungYou’velearnedyourlessonwell，’saidtheNilghai。
’HemustgoaloneHespeakstruth，Torp。’
’MaybeI’maswrongasIcanbe——hideouslywrongImustfindthatoutformyself，asIhavetothinkthingsoutformyself，butIdaren’tturnmyheadtodressbythenextmanIthurtsmeagreatdealmorethanyouknownottobeabletogo，butIcannot，that’sallImustdomyownworkandlivemyownlifeinmyownway，becauseI’mresponsibleforboth。
Onlydon’tthinkIfrivolaboutit，TorpIhavemyownmatchesandsulphur，andI’llmakemyownhell，thanks。’
TherewasanuncomfortablepauseThenTorpenhowsaidblandly，’WhatdidtheGovernorofNorthCarolinasaytotheGovernorofSouthCarolina？’
’ExcellentnotionItisalongtimebetweendrinksTherearethemakingsofaveryfinepriginyou，Dick，’saidtheNilghai。
’I’veliberatedmymind，estimableBinkie，withthefeathersinhismouth。’Dickpickedupthestillindignantoneandshookhimtenderly。
’You’retiedupinasackandmadetorunaboutblind，Binkie-wee，withoutanyreason，andithashurtyourlittlefeelingsNevermind。
Sicvolo，sicjubeo，stetprorationevoluntas，anddon’tsneezeinmyeyebecauseItalkLatinGood-night。’
Hewentoutoftheroom。
’That’sdistinctlyoneforyou，’saidtheNilghai’ItoldyouitwashopelesstomeddlewithhimHe’snotpleased。’
’He’dswearatmeifheweren’tIcan’tmakeitoutHehasthego-feveruponhimandhewon’tgoIonlyhopethathemayn’thavetogosomedaywhenhedoesn’twantto，’saidTorpenhow。
*
InhisownroomDickwassettlingaquestionwithhimself——andthequestionwaswhetheralltheworld，andallthatwastherein，andaburningdesiretoexploitboth，wasworthonethreepennypiecethrownintotheThames。
’Itcameofseeingthesea，andI’macurtothinkaboutit，’hedecided。
’Afterall，thehoneymoonwillbethattour——withreservations；only。
onlyIdidn’trealisethattheseawassostrongIdidn’tfeelitsomuchwhenIwaswithMaisieThesedamnablesongsdiditHe’sbeginningagain。’
ButitwasonlyHerrick’sNightpiecetoJuliathattheNilghaisang，andbeforeitwasendedDickreappearedonthethreshold，notaltogetherclothedindeed，butinhisrightmind，thirstyandatpeace。
ThemoodhadcomeandgonewiththerisingandthefallingofthetidebyFortKeeling。
CHAPTERIX
’IfIhavetakenthecommonclayAndwroughtitcunninglyIntheshapeofagodthatwasdiggedaclod，Thegreaterhonourtome。’
’Ifthouhasttakenthecommonclay，AndthyhandsbenotfreeFromthetaintofthesoil，thouhastmadethyspoilThegreatershametothee。’——
TheTwoPotters-
HEDIDnoworkofanykindfortherestoftheweekThencameanotherSundayHedreadedandlongedforthedayalways，butsincethered-hairedgirlhadsketchedhimtherewasrathermoredreadthandesireinhismind。
HefoundthatMaisiehadentirelyneglectedhissuggestionsaboutline-workShehadgoneoffatscorefiledwithsomeabsurdnotionfora’fancyhead。’ItcostDicksomethingtocommandhistemper。
’What’sthegoodofsuggestinganything？’hesaidpointedly。
’Ah，butthiswillbeapicture，——arealpicture；andIknowthatKamiwillletmesendittotheSalonYoudon’tmind，doyou？’
’IsupposenotButyouwon’thavetimefortheSalon。’
MaisiehesitatedalittleSheevenfeltuncomfortable。
’We’regoingovertoFranceamonthsoonerbecauseofitIshallgettheideasketchedouthereandworkitupatKami’s。
Dick’sheartstoodstill，andhecameveryneartobeingdisgustedwithhisqueenwhocoulddonowrong’JustwhenIthoughtIhadmadesomeheadway，shegoesoffchasingbutterfliesIt’stoomaddening！’
Therewasnopossibilityofarguing，forthered-hairedgirlwasinthestudioDickcouldonlylookunutterablereproach。
’I’msorry，’hesaid，’andIthinkyoumakeamistakeButwhat’stheideaofyournewpicture？’
’Itookitfromabook。’
’That’sbad，tobeginwithBooksaren’ttheplacesforpictures。
And——’
’It’sthis，’saidthered-hairedgirlbehindhim’IwasreadingittoMaisietheotherdayfromTheCityofDreadfulNightD’youknowthebook？’
’AlittleIamsorryIspokeTherearepicturesinitWhathastakenherfancy？’
’ThedescriptionoftheMelancolia——
’Herfoldedwingsasofamightyeagle，ButalltooimpotenttolifttheregalRobustnessofherearth-bornstrengthandpride。
AndhereagainMaisie，getthetea，dear。
’Theforeheadchargedwithbalefulthoughtsanddreams，Thehouseholdbunchofkeys，thehousewife’sgown，Voluminousindented，andyetrigidAsthoughashellofburnishedmetalfrigid，Herfeetthick-shodtotreadallweaknessdown。’
TherewasnoattempttoconcealthescornofthelazyvoiceDickwinced。
’ButthathasbeendonealreadybyanobscureartistbythenameofDurer，’saidhe’Howdoesthepoemrun？——
’Threecenturiesandthreescoreyearsago，Withphantasiesofhispeculiarthought。
YoumightaswelltrytorewriteHamletItwillbeawasteoftime。
’No，itwon’t，’saidMaisie，puttingdowntheteacupswithaclattertoreassureherself’AndImeantodoitCan’tyouseewhatabeautifulthingitwouldmake？’
’Howinperditioncanonedoworkwhenonehasn’thadthepropertraining？AnyfoolcangetanotionItneedstrainingtodrivethethingthrough，——trainingandconviction；notrushingafterthefirstfancy。’
Dickspokebetweenhisteeth。
’Youdon’tunderstand，’saidMaisie’IthinkIcandoit。’
Againthevoiceofthegirlbehindhim——
’Baffledandbeatenback，sheworksonstill；
Wearyandsickofsoul，sheworksthemore。
Sustainedbyherindomitablewill，Thehandsshallfashion，andthebrainshallpore，Andallhersorrowshallbeturnedtolabour——
IfancyMaisiemeanstoembodyherselfinthepicture。’
’Sittingonathroneofrejectedpictures？No，Ishan’t，dearThenotioninitselfhasfascinatedme——Ofcourseyoudon’tcareforfancyheads，Dick。
Idon’tthinkyoucoulddothemYoulikebloodandbones。’
’That’sadirectchallengeIfyoucandoaMelancoliathatisn’tmerelyasorrowfulfemalehead，Icandoabetterone；andIwill，tooWhatd’youknowaboutMelacolias？’Dickfirmlybelievedthathewaseventhentastingthree-quartersofallthesorrowintheworld。
’Shewasawoman，’saidMaisie，’andshesufferedagreatdeal，——tillshecouldsuffernomoreThenshebegantolaughatitall，andthenI
paintedherandsenthertotheSalon。’
Thered-hairedgirlroseupandlefttheroom，laughing。
DicklookedatMaisiehumblyandhopelessly。
’Nevermindaboutthepicture，’hesaid’AreyoureallygoingbacktoKami’sforamonthbeforeyourtime？’
’Imust，ifIwanttogetthepicturedone。’
’Andthat’sallyouwant？’
’OfcourseDon’tbestupid，Dick。’
’Youhaven’tthepowerYouhaveonlytheideas——theideasandthelittlecheapimpulsesHowyoucouldhavekeptatyourworkfortenyearssteadilyisamysterytomeSoyouarereallygoing，——amonthbeforeyouneed？’
’Imustdomywork。’