’Youcan’tunderstand，BessWeareinsightoflandnow，andsoonweshallliebackandthinkaboutwhatwe’vedoneI’llgiveyouthreemonths’paywhenthepicture’sfinished，andnexttimeIhaveanymoreworkinhand——butthatdoesn’tmatterWon’tthreemonths’paymakeyouhatemeless？’
’No，itwon’t！Ihateyou，andI’llgoonhatingyouMrTorpenhowwon’tspeaktomeanymoreHe’salwayslookingatmaps。’
BessiedidnotsaythatshehadagainlaidsiegetoTorpenhow，orthatattheendofourpassionatepleadinghehadpickedherup，givenherakiss，andputheroutsidethedoorwiththerecommendationnottobealittlefoolHespentmostofhistimeinthecompanyoftheNilghai，andtheirtalkwasofwarinthenearfuture，thehiringoftransports，andsecretpreparationsamongthedockyardsHedidnotwishtoseeDicktillthepicturewasfinished。
’He’sdoingfirst-classwork，’hesaidtotheNilghai，’andit’squiteoutofhisregularlineBut，forthematterofthat，so’shisinfernalsoaking。’
’NevermindLeavehimaloneWhenhehascometohissensesagainwe’llcarryhimofffromthisplaceandlethimbreathecleanair。
PoorDick！Idon’tenvyyou，Torp，whenhiseyesfail。’
’Yes，itwillbeacaseof“Godhelpthemanwho’schainedtoourDavie。”
Theworstisthatwedon’tknowwhenitwillhappen，andIbelievetheuncertaintyandthewaitinghavesentDicktothewhiskeymorethananythingelse。’
’HowtheArabwhocuthisheadopenwouldgrinifheknew！’
’He’satperfectlibertytogrinifhecanHe’sdeadThat’spoorconsolationnow。’
IntheafternoonofthethirddayTorpenhowheardDickcallingforhim。
’Allfinished！’heshouted’I’vedoneit！Comein！Isn’tsheabeauty？
Isn’tsheadarling？I’vebeendowntohelltogether；butisn’tsheworthit？’
Torpenhowlookedattheheadofawomanwholaughed，——afull-lipped，hollow-eyedwomanwholaughedfromoutofthecanvasasDickhadintendedshewould。
’Whotaughtyouhowtodoit？’saidTorpenhow’ThetouchandnotionhavenothingtodowithyourregularworkWhatafaceitis！Whateyes，andwhatinsolence！’Unconsciouslyhethrewbackhisheadandlaughedwithher’She’sseenthegameplayedout，——Idon’tthinkshehadagoodtimeofit，——andnowshedoesn’tcareIsn’tthattheidea？’
’Exactly。’
’Wheredidyougetthemouthandchinfrom？Theydon’tbelongtoBess。’
’They’re——someoneelse’sButisn’titgood？Isn’titthunderinggood？
Wasn’titworththewhiskey？IdiditAloneIdidit，andit’sthebestI
cando。’Hedrewhisbreathsharply，andwhispered，’JustGod！
whatcouldInotdotenyearshence，ifIcandothisnow！——Bytheway，whatdoyouthinkofit，Bess？’
ThegirlwasbitingherlipsSheloathedTorpenhowbecausehehadtakennonoticeofher。
’Ithinkit’sjustthehorridest，beastliestthingIeversaw，’sheanswered，andturnedaway。
’Morethanyouwillbeofthatwayofthinking，youngwoman——Dick，there’sasortofmurderous，viperinesuggestioninthepoiseoftheheadthatIdon’tunderstand，’saidTorpenhow。
That’strick-work，’saidDick，chucklingwithdelightatbeingcompletelyunderstood’Icouldn’tresistonelittlebitofsheerswaggerIt’saFrenchtrick，andyouwouldn’tunderstand；butit’sgotatbyslewingroundtheheadatrifle，andatiny，tinyforeshorteningofonesideofthefacefromtheangleofthechintothetopoftheleftearThat，anddeepeningtheshadowunderthelobeoftheearItwasflagranttrick-work；but，havingthenotionfixed，Ifeltentitledtoplaywithit，——Oh，youbeauty！’
’Amen！SheisabeautyIcanfeelit。’
’Sowilleverymanwhohasanysorrowofhisown，’saidDick，slappinghisthigh’Heshallseehistroublethere，and，bytheLordHarry，justwhenhe’sfeelingproperlysorryforhimselfheshallthrowbackhisheadandlaugh，——assheislaughingI’veputthelifeofmyheartandthelightofmyeyesintoher，andIdon’tcarewhatcomesI’mtired，——awfullytiredIthinkI’llgettosleepTakeawaythewhiskey，ithasserveditsturn，andgiveBessiethirty-sixquid，andthreeoverforluckCoverthepicture。’
Hedroppedasleepinthelongchair，hidfacewhiteandhaggard，almostbeforehehadfinishedthesentenceBessietriedtotakeTorpenhow’shand’Aren’tyounevergoingtospeaktomeanymore？’shesaid；
butTorpenhowwaslookingatDick。
’Whatastockofvanitythemanhas！I’lltakehiminhandto-morrowandmakemuchofhimHedeservesit——Eh！whatwasthat，Bess？’
’NothingI’llputthingstidyherealittle，andthenI’llgoYoucouldn’tgivethethatthreemonths’paynow，couldyou？Hesaidyouwereto。’
TorpenhowgaveheracheckandwenttohisownroomsBessiefaithfullytidiedupthestudio，setthedoorajarforflight，emptiedhalfabottleofturpentineonaduster，andbegantoscrubthefaceoftheMelancoliaviciouslyThepaintdidnotsmudgequicklyenoughShetookapalette-knifeandscraped，followingeachstrokewiththewetdusterInfiveminutesthepicturewasaformless，scarredmuddleofcolours。
Shethrewthepaint-staineddusterintothestudiostove，stuckouthertongueatthesleeper，andwhispered，’Bilked！’assheturnedtorundownthestaircaseShewouldneverseeTorpenhowanymore，butshehadatleastdoneharmtothemanwhohadcomebetweenherandherdesireandwhousedtomakefunofherCashingthecheckwastheverycreamofthejesttoBessieThenthelittleprivateersailedacrosstheThames，tobeswallowedupinthegraywildernessofSouth-the-Water。
Dickslepttilllateintheevening，whenTorpenhowdraggedhimofftobedHiseyeswereasbrightashisvoicewashoarse’Let’shaveanotherlookatthepicture，’hesaid，insistentlyasachild。
’You——go——to——bed，’saidTorpenhow’Youaren’tatallwell，thoughyoumayn’tknowitYou’reasjumpyasacat。’
’Ireformto-morrowGood-night。’
Asherepassedthroughthestudio，Torpenhowliftedtheclothabovethepicture，andalmostbetrayedhimselfbyoutcries：’Wipedout！——scrapedoutandturpedout！He’sonthevergeofjumpsasitisThat’sBess，——thelittlefiend！Onlyawomancouldhavedonethat！-withtheinknotdryonthecheck，too！Dickwillberavingmadto-morrowItwasallmyfaultfortryingtohelpgutter-devilsOh，mypoorDick，theLordishittingyouveryhard！’
Dickcouldnotsleepthatnight，partlyforpurejoy，andpartlybecausethewell-knownCatherine-wheelsinsidehiseyeshadgivenplacetocracklingvolcanoesofmany-colouredfire’Spoutaway，’hesaidaloud。
’I’vedonemywork，andnowyoucandowhatyouplease。’Helaystill，staringattheceiling，thelong-pent-updeliriumofdrinkinhisveins，hisbrainonfirewithracingthoughtsthatwouldnotstaytobeconsidered，andhishandscrispedanddryHehadjustdiscoveredthathewaspaintingthefaceoftheMelancoliaonarevolvingdomeribbedwithmillionsoflights，andthatallhiswondrousthoughtsstoodembodiedhundredsoffeetbelowhistinyswingingplank，shoutingtogetherinhishonour，whensomethingcrackedinsidehistempleslikeanoverstrainedbowstring，theglitteringdomebrokeinward，andhewasaloneinthethicknight。
’I’llgotosleepTheroom’sverydarkLet’slightalampandseehowtheMelancolialooksThereoughttohavebeenamoon。’
ItwasthenthatTorpenhowheardhisnamecalledbyavoicethathedidnotknow，——intherattlingaccentsofdeadlyfear。
’He’slookedatthepicture，’washisfirstthought，ashehurriedintothebedroomandfoundDicksittingupandbeatingtheairwithhishands。
’Torp！Torp！whereareyou？Forpity’ssake，cometome！’
’What’sthematter？’
Dickclutchedathisshoulder’Matter！I’vebeenlyinghereforhoursinthedark，andyouneverheardmeTorp，oldman，don’tgoaway。
I’mallinthedarkInthedark，Itellyou！’
TorpenhowheldthecandlewithinafootofDick’seyes，buttherewasnolightinthoseeyesHelitthegas，andDickheardtheflamecatch。
ThegripofhisfingersonTorpenhow’sshouldermadeTorpenhowwince。
’Don’tleavemeYouwouldn’tleavemealonenow，wouldyou？I
can’tseeD’youunderstand？It’sblack，——quiteblack，——andIfeelasifI
wasfallingthroughitall。’
’Steadydoesit。’TorpenhowputhisarmroundDickandbegantorockhimgentlytoandfro。
’That’sgoodNowdon’ttalkIfIkeepveryquietforawhile，thisdarknesswillliftItseemsjustonthepointofbreakingH’sh！’
DickknithisbrowsandstareddesperatelyinfrontofhimThenightairwaschillingTorpenhow’stoes。
’Canyoustaylikethataminute？’hesaid’I’llgetmydressing-gownandsomeslippers。’
Dickclutchedthebed-headwithbothhandsandwaitedforthedarknesstoclearaway’Whatatimeyou’vebeen！’hecried，whenTorpenhowreturned’It’sasblackaseverWhatareyoubangingaboutinthedoor-way？’
’Longchair，——horse-blanket，——pillowGoingtosleepbyyouLiedownnow；you’llbebetterinthemorning。’
’Ishan’t！’Thevoicerosetoawail’MyGod！I’mblind！I’mblind，andthedarknesswillnevergoaway。’Hemadeasiftoleapfromthebed，butTorpenhow’sarmswereroundhim，andTorpenhow’schinwasonhisshoulder，andhisbreathwassqueezedoutofhimHecouldonlygasp，’Blind！’andwrigglefeebly。
’Steady，Dickie，steady！’saidthedeepvoiceinhisear，andthegriptightened’Biteonthebullet，oldman，anddon’tletthemthinkyou’reafraid，’ThegripcoulddrawnocloserBothmenwerebreathingheavily。
Dickthrewhisheadfromsidetosideandgroaned。
’Letmego，’hepanted’You’recrackingmyribsWe-wemustn’tletthemthinkwe’reafraid，mustwe，——allthepowersofdarknessandthatlot？’
’LiedownIt’sallovernow。’
’Yes，’saidDick，obediently’Butwouldyoumindlettingmeholdyourhand？IfeelasifIwantedsomethingtoholdontoOnedropsthroughthedarkso。’
Torpenhowthrustoutalargeandhairypawfromthelongchair。
Dickclutchedittightly，andinhalfanhourhadfallenasleep。
Torpenhowwithdrewhishand，and，stoopingoverDick，kissedhimlightlyontheforehead，asmendosometimeskissawoundedcomradeinthehourofdeath，toeasehisdeparture。
InthegraydawnTorpenhowheardDicktalkingtohimselfHewasadriftontheshorelesstidesofdelirium，speakingveryquickly——
’It’sapity，——agreatpity；butit’shelped，anditmustbeeaten，MasterGeorgeSufficientuntothedayistheblindnessthereof，and，further，puttingasideallMelancoliasandfalsehumours，itisofobviousnotoriety——suchasminewas——thatthequeencandonowrongTorpdoesn’tknowthatI’lltellhimwhenwe’realittlefartherintothedesert。
Whatabunglethoseboatmenaremakingofthesteamer-ropes！
They’llhavethatfour-inchhawserchafedthroughinaminuteItoldyouso——thereshegoes！Whitefoamongreenwater，andthesteamerslewingroundHowgoodthatlooks！I’llsketchitNo，Ican’tI’mafflictedwithophthalmiaThatwasoneofthetenplaguesofEgypt，anditextendsuptheNileintheshapeofcataractHa！that’sajoke，TorpLaugh，yougravenimage，andstandclearofthehawserIt’llknockyouintothewaterandmakeyourdressalldirty，Maisiedear。’
’Oh！’saidTorpenhow’ThishappenedbeforeThatnightontheriver。’
’She’llbesuretosayit’smyfaultifyougetmuddy，andyou’requitenearenoughtothebreakwaterMaisie，that’snotfairAh！Iknewyou’dmiss。
Lowandtotheleft，dearButyou’venoconvictionDon’tbeangry，darlingI’dcutmyhandoffifitwouldgiveyouanythingmorethanobstinacyMyrighthand，ifitwouldserve。’
’Nowwemustn’tlistenHere’sanislandshoutingacrossseasofmisunderstandingwithavengeanceButit’sshoutingtruth，I
fancy，’saidTorpenhow。
ThebabblecontinuedItallboreuponMaisieSometimesDicklecturedatlengthonhiscraft，thenhecursedhimselfforhisfollyinbeingenslavedHepleadedtoMaisieforakiss——onlyonekiss——beforeshewentaway，andcalledtohertocomebackfromVitry-sur-Marne，ifshewould；butthroughallhisravingshebadeheavenandearthwitnessthatthequeencoulddonowrong。
Torpenhowlistenedattentively，andlearnedeverydetailofDick’slifethathadbeenhiddenfromhimForthreedaysDickravedthroughthepast，andthenanaturalsleep’Whatastrainhehasbeenrunningunder，poorchap！’saidTorpenhow’Dick，ofallmen，handinghimselfoverlikeadog！AndIwaslecturinghimonarrogance！IoughttohaveknownthatitwasnousetojudgeamanButIdiditWhatademonthatgirlmustbe！Dick’sgivenherhislife，——confoundhim！——andshe’sgivenhimonekissapparently。’
’Torp，’saidDick，fromthebed，’gooutforawalkYou’vebeenheretoolongI’llgetupHi！ThisisannoyingIcan’tdressmyselfOh，it’stooabsurd！’
TorpenhowhelpedhimintohisclothesandledhimtothebigchairinthestudioHesatquietlywaitingunderstrainednervesforthedarknesstoliftItdidnotliftthatday，northenextDickadventuredonavoyageroundthewallsHehithisshinsagainstthestove，andthissuggestedtohimthatitwouldbebettertocrawlonallfours，onehandinfrontofhimTorpenhowfoundhimonthefloor。