\"What?\"saidAlmayer。
\"Sheiscrying,\"murmuredDain,softly。
\"Sheiscrying!Why?\"askedAlmayer,indifferently。
\"Icametoaskyou。MyRaneesmileswhenlookingatthemansheloves。Itisthewhitewomanthatiscryingnow。Youwouldknow。\"
Almayershruggedhisshouldersandturnedawayagaintowardsthesea。
\"Go,TuanPutih,\"urgedDain。\"Gotoher;hertearsaremoreterribletomethantheangerofgods。\"
\"Arethey?Youwillseethemmorethanonce。Shetoldmeshecouldnotlivewithoutyou,\"answeredAlmayer,speakingwithoutthefaintestsparkofexpressioninhisface,\"soitbehovesyoutogotoherquick,forfearyoumayfindherdead。\"
HeburstintoaloudandunpleasantlaughwhichmadeDainstareathimwithsomeapprehension,butgotoffthegunwaleoftheboatandmovedslowlytowardsNina,glancingupatthesunashewalked。
\"Andyougowhenthesunisoverhead?\"hesaid。
\"Yes,Tuan。Thenwego,\"answeredDain。
\"Ihavenotlongtowait,\"mutteredAlmayer。\"Itismostimportantformetoseeyougo。Bothofyou。Mostimportant,\"
herepeated,stoppingshortandlookingatDainfixedly。
HewentonagaintowardsNina,andDainremainedbehind。Almayerapproachedhisdaughterandstoodforatimelookingdownonher。
Shedidnotopenhereyes,buthearingfootstepsnearher,murmuredinalowsob,\"Dain。\"
Almayerhesitatedforaminuteandthensankonthesandbyherside。She,nothearingaresponsiveword,notfeelingatouch,openedhereyes——sawherfather,andsatupsuddenlywithamovementofterror。
\"Oh,father!\"shemurmuredfaintly,andinthatwordtherewasexpressedregretandfearanddawninghope。
\"Ishallneverforgiveyou,Nina,\"saidAlmayer,inadispassionatevoice。\"YouhavetornmyheartfrommewhileI
dreamtofyourhappiness。Youhavedeceivedme。Youreyesthatformewereliketruthitselfliedtomeineveryglance——forhowlong?Youknowthatbest。Whenyouwerecaressingmycheekyouwerecountingtheminutestothesunsetthatwasthesignalforyourmeetingwiththatman——there!\"
Heceased,andtheybothsatsilentsidebyside,notlookingateachother,butgazingatthevastexpanseofthesea。Almayer\'swordshaddriedNina\'stears,andherlookgrewhardasshestaredbeforeherintothelimitlesssheetofbluethatshonelimpid,unwaving,andsteadylikeheavenitself。Helookedatitalso,buthisfeatureshadlostallexpression,andlifeinhiseyesseemedtohavegoneout。Thefacewasablank,withoutasignofemotion,feeling,reason,orevenknowledgeofitself。
Allpassion,regret,grief,hope,oranger——allweregone,erasedbythehandoffate,asifafterthislaststrokeeverythingwasoverandtherewasnoneedforanyrecord。
ThosefewwhosawAlmayerduringtheshortperiodofhisremainingdayswerealwaysimpressedbythesightofthatfacethatseemedtoknownothingofwhatwentonwithin:liketheblankwallofaprisonenclosingsin,regrets,andpain,andwastedlife,inthecoldindifferenceofmortarandstones。
\"Whatistheretoforgive?\"askedNina,notaddressingAlmayerdirectly,butmoreasifarguingwithherself。\"CanInotlivemyownlifeasyouhavelivedyours?Thepathyouwouldhavewishedmetofollowhasbeenclosedtomebynofaultofmine。\"
\"Younevertoldme,\"mutteredAlmayer。
\"Youneveraskedme,\"sheanswered,\"andIthoughtyouwereliketheothersanddidnotcare。Iborethememoryofmyhumiliationalone,andwhyshouldItellyouthatitcametomebecauseIamyourdaughter?Iknewyoucouldnotavengeme。\"
\"AndyetIwasthinkingofthatonly,\"interruptedAlmayer,\"andIwantedtogiveyouyearsofhappinessfortheshortdayofyoursuffering。Ionlyknewofoneway。\"
\"Ah!butitwasnotmyway!\"shereplied。\"Couldyougivemehappinesswithoutlife?Life!\"sherepeatedwithsuddenenergythatsentthewordringingoverthesea。\"Lifethatmeanspowerandlove,\"sheaddedinalowvoice。
\"That!\"saidAlmayer,pointinghisfingeratDainstandingclosebyandlookingatthemincuriouswonder。
\"Yes,that!\"shereplied,lookingherfatherfullinthefaceandnoticingforthefirsttimewithaslightgaspoffeartheunnaturalrigidityofhisfeatures。
\"Iwouldhaveratherstrangledyouwithmyownhands,\"saidAlmayer,inanexpressionlessvoicewhichwassuchacontrasttothedesperatebitternessofhisfeelingsthatitsurprisedevenhimself。Heaskedhimselfwhospoke,and,afterlookingslowlyroundasifexpectingtoseesomebody,turnedagainhiseyestowardsthesea。
\"Yousaythatbecauseyoudonotunderstandthemeaningofmywords,\"shesaidsadly。\"Betweenyouandmymotherthereneverwasanylove。WhenIreturnedtoSambirIfoundtheplacewhichIthoughtwouldbeapeacefulrefugeformyheart,filledwithwearinessandhatred——andmutualcontempt。Ihavelistenedtoyourvoiceandtohervoice。ThenIsawthatyoucouldnotunderstandme;forwasInotpartofthatwoman?Ofherwhowastheregretandshameofyourlife?Ihadtochoose——Ihesitated。
Whywereyousoblind?Didyounotseemestrugglingbeforeyoureyes?But,whenhecame,alldoubtdisappeared,andIsawonlythelightoftheblueandcloudlessheaven——\"
\"Iwilltellyoutherest,\"interruptedAlmayer:\"whenthatmancameIalsosawtheblueandthesunshineofthesky。A
thunderbolthasfallenfromthatsky,andsuddenlyallisstillanddarkaroundmeforever。Iwillneverforgiveyou,Nina;andto-morrowIshallforgetyou!Ishallneverforgiveyou,\"herepeatedwithmechanicalobstinacywhileshesat,herheadboweddownasifafraidtolookatherfather。
Tohimitseemedoftheutmostimportancethatheshouldassureherofhisintentionofneverforgiving。Hewasconvincedthathisfaithinherhadbeenthefoundationofhishopes,themotiveofhiscourage,ofhisdeterminationtoliveandstruggle,andtobevictoriousforhersake。Andnowhisfaithwasgone,destroyedbyherownhands;destroyedcruelly,treacherously,inthedark;intheverymomentofsuccess。Intheutterwreckofhisaffectionsandofallhisfeelings,inthechaoticdisorderofhisthoughts,abovetheconfusedsensationofphysicalpainthatwrappedhimupinastingasofawhiplashcurlingroundhimfromhisshouldersdowntohisfeet,onlyoneidearemainedclearanddefinite——nottoforgiveher;onlyonevividdesire——toforgether。Andthismustbemadecleartoher——andtohimself——byfrequentrepetition。Thatwashisideaofhisdutytohimself——tohisrace——tohisrespectableconnections;tothewholeuniverseunsettledandshakenbythisfrightfulcatastropheofhislife。Hesawitclearlyandbelievedhewasastrongman。
Hehadalwayspridedhimselfuponhisunflinchingfirmness。Andyethewasafraid。Shehadbeenallinalltohim。Whatifheshouldletthememoryofhisloveforherweakenthesenseofhisdignity?Shewasaremarkablewoman;hecouldseethat;allthelatentgreatnessofhisnature——inwhichhehonestlybelieved——hadbeentransfusedintothatslight,girlishfigure。
Greatthingscouldbedone!Whatifheshouldsuddenlytakehertohisheart,forgethisshame,andpain,andanger,and——followher!Whatifhechangedhisheartifnothisskinandmadeherlifeeasierbetweenthetwolovesthatwouldguardherfromanymischance!Hisheartyearnedforher。Whatifheshouldsaythathisloveforherwasgreaterthan……
\"Iwillneverforgiveyou,Nina!\"heshouted,leapingupmadlyinthesuddenfearofhisdream。
Thiswasthelasttimeinhislifethathewasheardtoraisehisvoice。Henceforthhespokealwaysinamonotonouswhisperlikeaninstrumentofwhichallthestringsbutonearebrokeninalastringingclamourunderaheavyblow。
Sherosetoherfeetandlookedathim。Theveryviolenceofhiscrysoothedherinanintuitiveconvictionofhislove,andshehuggedtoherbreastthelamentableremnantsofthataffectionwiththeunscrupulousgreedinessofwomenwhoclingdesperatelytotheveryscrapsandragsoflove,anykindoflove,asathingthatofrightbelongstothemandistheverybreathoftheirlife。SheputbothherhandsonAlmayer\'sshoulders,andlookingathimhalftenderly,halfplayfully,shesaid——
\"Youspeaksobecauseyouloveme。\"
Almayershookhishead。
\"Yes,youdo,\"sheinsistedsoftly;thenafterashortpausesheadded,\"andyouwillneverforgetme。\"
Almayershiveredslightly。Shecouldnothavesaidamorecruelthing。
\"Hereistheboatcomingnow,\"saidDain,hisarmoutstretchedtowardsablackspeckonthewaterbetweenthecoastandtheislet。
Theyalllookedatitandremainedstandinginsilencetillthelittlecanoecamegentlyonthebeachandamanlandedandwalkedtowardsthem。Hestoppedsomedistanceoffandhesitated。
\"Whatnews?\"askedDain。
\"Wehavehadorderssecretlyandinthenighttotakeofffromthisisletamanandawoman。Iseethewoman。Whichofyouistheman?\"
\"Come,delightofmyeyes,\"saidDaintoNina。\"Nowwego,andyourvoiceshallbeformyearsonly。YouhavespokenyourlastwordstotheTuanPutih,yourfather。Come。\"
Shehesitatedforawhile,lookingatAlmayer,whokepthiseyessteadilyonthesea,thenshetouchedhisforeheadinalingeringkiss,andatear——oneofhertears——fellonhischeekandrandownhisimmovableface。
\"Goodbye,\"shewhispered,andremainedirresolutetillhepushedhersuddenlyintoDain\'sarms。
\"Ifyouhaveanypityforme,\"murmuredAlmayer,asifrepeatingsomesentencelearnedbyheart,\"takethatwomanaway。\"
Hestoodverystraight,hisshouldersthrownback,hisheadheldhigh,andlookedatthemastheywentdownthebeachtothecanoe,walkingenlacedineachother\'sarms。Helookedatthelineoftheirfootstepsmarkedinthesand。Hefollowedtheirfiguresmovinginthecrudeblazeoftheverticalsun,inthatlightviolentandvibrating,likeatriumphalflourishofbrazentrumpets。Helookedattheman\'sbrownshoulders,attheredsarongroundhiswaist;atthetall,slender,dazzlingwhitefigurehesupported。Helookedatthewhitedress,atthefallingmassesofthelongblackhair。Helookedatthemembarking,andatthecanoegrowingsmallerinthedistance,withrage,despair,andregretinhisheart,andonhisfaceapeaceasthatofacarvedimageofoblivion。Inwardlyhefelthimselftorntopieces,butAli——whonowaroused——stoodclosetohismaster,sawonhisfeaturestheblankexpressionofthosewholiveinthathopelesscalmwhichsightlesseyesonlycangive。
Thecanoedisappeared,andAlmayerstoodmotionlesswithhiseyesfixedonitswake。Alifromundertheshadeofhishandexaminedthecoastcuriously。Asthesundeclined,thesea-breezesprangupfromthenorthwardandshiveredwithitsbreaththeglassysurfaceofthewater。
\"Dapat!\"exclaimedAli,joyously。\"Gothim,master!Gotprau!
Notthere!LookmoreTanahMirrahside。Aha!Thatway!
Master,see?Nowplain。See?\"
AlmayerfollowedAli\'sforefingerwithhiseyesforalongtimeinvain。AtlasthesightedatriangularpatchofyellowlightontheredbackgroundofthecliffsofTanjongMirrah。Itwasthesailoftheprauthathadcaughtthesunlightandstoodout,distinctwithitsgaytint,onthedarkredofthecape。Theyellowtrianglecreptslowlyfromclifftocliff,tillitclearedthelastpointoflandandshonebrilliantlyforafleetingminuteontheblueoftheopensea。Thentheprauboreuptothesouthward:thelightwentoutofthesail,andallatoncethevesselitselfdisappeared,vanishingintheshadowofthesteepheadlandthatlookedon,patientandlonely,watchingovertheemptysea。
Almayernevermoved。Roundthelittleislettheairwasfullofthetalkoftheripplingwater。Thecrestedwaveletsranupthebeachaudaciously,joyously,withthelightnessofyounglife,anddiedquickly,unresistingly,andgraciously,inthewidecurvesoftransparentfoamontheyellowsand。Above,thewhitecloudssailedrapidlysouthwardsasifintentuponovertakingsomething。Aliseemedanxious。
\"Master,\"hesaidtimidly,\"timetogethousenow。Longwayofftopull。Allready,sir。\"
\"Wait,\"whisperedAlmayer。
Nowshewasgonehisbusinesswastoforget,andhehadastrangenotionthatitshouldbedonesystematicallyandinorder。ToAli\'sgreatdismayhefellonhishandsandknees,and,creepingalongthesand,erasedcarefullywithhishandalltracesofNina\'sfootsteps。Hepiledupsmallheapsofsand,leavingbehindhimalineofminiaturegravesrightdowntothewater。
AfterburyingthelastslightimprintofNina\'sslipperhestoodup,and,turninghisfacetowardstheheadlandwherehehadlastseentheprau,hemadeanefforttoshoutoutloudagainhisfirmresolvetoneverforgive。Aliwatchinghimuneasilysawonlyhislipsmove,butheardnosound。Hebroughthisfootdownwithastamp。Hewasafirmman——firmasarock。Lethergo。
Heneverhadadaughter。Hewouldforget。Hewasforgettingalready。
Aliapproachedhimagain,insistingonimmediatedeparture,andthistimeheconsented,andtheywenttogethertowardstheircanoe,Almayerleading。Forallhisfirmnesshelookedverydejectedandfeebleashedraggedhisfeetslowlythroughthesandonthebeach;andbyhisside——invisibletoAli——stalkedthatparticularfiendwhosemissionitistojogthememoriesofmen,lesttheyshouldforgetthemeaningoflife。HewhisperedintoAlmayer\'searachildishprattleofmanyyearsago。
Almayer,hisheadbentononeside,seemedtolistentohisinvisiblecompanion,buthisfacewaslikethefaceofamanthathasdiedstruckfrombehind——afacefromwhichallfeelingsandallexpressionaresuddenlywipedoffbythehandofunexpecteddeath。
Theysleptontheriverthatnight,mooringtheircanoeunderthebushesandlyingdowninthebottomsidebyside,intheabsoluteexhaustionthatkillshunger,thirst,allfeelingandallthoughtintheoverpoweringdesireforthatdeepsleepwhichislikethetemporaryannihilationofthetiredbody。Nextdaytheystartedagainandfoughtdoggedlywiththecurrentallthemorning,tillaboutmiddaytheyreachedthesettlementandmadefasttheirlittlecrafttothejettyofLingardandCo。Almayerwalkedstraighttothehouse,andAlifollowed,paddlesonshoulder,thinkingthathewouldliketoeatsomething。Astheycrossedthefrontcourtyardtheynoticedtheabandonedlookoftheplace。
Alilookedinatthedifferentservants\'houses:allwereempty。
Inthebackcourtyardtherewasthesameabsenceofsoundandlife。Inthecooking-shedthefirewasoutandtheblackemberswerecold。Atall,leanmancamestealthilyoutofthebananaplantation,andwentawayrapidlyacrosstheopenspacelookingatthemwithbig,frightenedeyesoverhisshoulder。Somevagabondwithoutamaster;thereweremanysuchinthesettlement,andtheylookeduponAlmayerastheirpatron。Theyprowledabouthispremisesandpickedtheirlivingthere,surethatnothingworsecouldbefallthemthanashowerofcurseswhentheygotinthewayofthewhiteman,whomtheytrustedandliked,andcalledafoolamongstthemselves。Inthehouse,whichAlmayerenteredthroughthebackverandah,theonlylivingthingthatmethiseyeswashissmallmonkeywhich,hungryandunnoticedforthelasttwodays,begantocryandcomplaininmonkeylanguageassoonasitcaughtsightofthefamiliarface。
AlmayersootheditwithafewwordsandorderedAlitobringinsomebananas,thenwhileAliwasgonetogetthemhestoodinthedoorwayofthefrontverandahlookingatthechaosofoverturnedfurniture。Finallyhepickedupthetableandsatonitwhilethemonkeyletitselfdownfromtheroof-stickbyitschainandperchedonhisshoulder。Whenthebananascametheyhadtheirbreakfasttogether;bothhungry,botheatinggreedilyandshoweringtheskinsroundthemrecklessly,inthetrustingsilenceofperfectfriendship。Aliwentaway,grumbling,tocooksomericehimself,forallthewomenaboutthehousehaddisappeared;hedidnotknowwhere。Almayerdidnotseemtocare,and,afterhefinishedeating,hesatonthetableswinginghislegsandstaringattheriverasiflostinthought。
Aftersometimehegotupandwenttothedoorofaroomontherightoftheverandah。Thatwastheoffice。TheofficeofLingardandCo。Heveryseldomwentinthere。Therewasnobusinessnow,andhedidnotwantanoffice。Thedoorwaslocked,andhestoodbitinghislowerlip,tryingtothinkoftheplacewherethekeycouldbe。Suddenlyheremembered:inthewomen\'sroomhunguponanail。Hewentovertothedoorwaywheretheredcurtainhungdowninmotionlessfolds,andhesitatedforamomentbeforepushingitasidewithhisshoulderasifbreakingdownsomesolidobstacle。Agreatsquareofsunshineenteringthroughthewindowlayonthefloor。OnthelefthesawMrs。
Almayer\'sbigwoodenchest,thelidthrownback,empty;nearitthebrassnailsofNina\'sEuropeantrunkshoneinthelargeinitialsN。A。onthecover。AfewofNina\'sdresseshungonwoodenpegs,stiffenedinalookofoffendeddignityattheirabandonment。Herememberedmakingthepegshimselfandnoticedthattheywereverygoodpegs。Wherewasthekey?Helookedroundandsawitnearthedoorwherehestood。Itwasredwithrust。Hefeltverymuchannoyedatthat,anddirectlyafterwardswonderedathisownfeeling。Whatdiditmatter?Theresoonwouldbenokey——nodoor——nothing!Hepaused,keyinhand,andaskedhimselfwhetherheknewwellwhathewasabout。Hewentoutagainontheverandahandstoodbythetablethinking。Themonkeyjumpeddown,and,snatchingabananaskin,absorbeditselfinpickingittoshredsindustriously。
\"Forget!\"mutteredAlmayer,andthatwordstartedbeforehimasequenceofevents,adetailedprogrammeofthingstodo。Heknewperfectlywellwhatwastobedonenow。Firstthis,thenthat,andthenforgetfulnesswouldcomeeasy。Veryeasy。
Hehadafixedideathatifheshouldnotforgetbeforehediedhewouldhavetoremembertoalleternity。Certainthingshadtobetakenoutofhislife,stampedoutofsight,destroyed,forgotten。Foralongtimehestoodindeepthought,lostinthealarmingpossibilitiesofunconquerablememory,withthefearofdeathandeternitybeforehim。\"Eternity!\"hesaidaloud,andthesoundofthatwordrecalledhimoutofhisreverie。Themonkeystarted,droppedtheskin,andgrinnedupathimamicably。
Hewenttowardstheofficedoorandwithsomedifficultymanagedtoopenit。Heenteredinacloudofdustthatroseunderhisfeet。
Booksopenwithtornpagesbestrewedthefloor;otherbookslayaboutgrimyandblack,lookingasiftheyhadneverbeenopened。
Accountbooks。Inthosebookshehadintendedtokeepdaybydayarecordofhisrisingfortunes。Longtimeago。Averylongtime。Formanyyearstherehasbeennorecordtokeepontheblueandredruledpages!Inthemiddleoftheroomthebigofficedesk,withoneofitslegsbroken,careenedoverlikethehullofastrandedship;mostofthedrawershadfallenout,disclosingheapsofpaperyellowwithageanddirt。Therevolvingofficechairstoodinitsplace,buthefoundthepivotsetfastwhenhetriedtoturnit。Nomatter。Hedesisted,andhiseyeswanderedslowlyfromobjecttoobject。Allthosethingshadcostalotofmoneyatthetime。Thedesk,thepaper,thetornbooks,andthebrokenshelves,allunderathickcoatofdust。Theverydustandbonesofadeadandgonebusiness。
Helookedatallthesethings,allthatwasleftaftersomanyyearsofwork,ofstrife,ofweariness,ofdiscouragement,conqueredsomanytimes。Andallforwhat?Hestoodthinkingmournfullyofhispastlifetillhehearddistinctlytheclearvoiceofachildspeakingamongstallthiswreck,ruin,andwaste。Hestartedwithagreatfearinhisheart,andfeverishlybegantorakeinthepapersscatteredonthefloor,brokethechairintobits,splinteredthedrawersbybangingthemagainstthedesk,andmadeabigheapofallthatrubbishinonecorneroftheroom。
Hecameoutquickly,slammedthedoorafterhim,turnedthekey,and,takingitout,rantothefrontrailoftheverandah,and,withagreatswingofhisarm,sentthekeywhizzingintotheriver。Thisdonehewentbackslowlytothetable,calledthemonkeydown,unhookeditschain,andinducedittoremainquietinthebreastofhisjacket。Thenhesatagainonthetableandlookedfixedlyatthedooroftheroomhehadjustleft。Helistenedalsointently。Heheardadrysoundofrustling;sharpcracksasofdrywoodsnapping;awhirrlikeofabird\'swingswhenitrisessuddenly,andthenhesawathinstreamofsmokecomethroughthekeyhole。Themonkeystruggledunderhiscoat。
Aliappearedwithhiseyesstartingoutofhishead。
\"Master!Houseburn!\"heshouted。
Almayerstoodupholdingbythetable。Hecouldheartheyellsofalarmandsurpriseinthesettlement。Aliwrunghishands,lamentingaloud。
\"Stopthisnoise,fool!\"saidAlmayer,quietly。\"Pickupmyhammockandblanketsandtakethemtotheotherhouse。Quick,now!\"
Thesmokeburstthroughthecrevicesofthedoor,andAli,withthehammockinhisarms,clearedinoneboundthestepsoftheverandah。
\"Ithascaughtwell,\"mutteredAlmayertohimself。\"Bequiet,Jack,\"headded,asthemonkeymadeafranticefforttoescapefromitsconfinement。
Thedoorsplitfromtoptobottom,andarushofflameandsmokedroveAlmayerawayfromthetabletothefrontrailoftheverandah。Heheldontheretillagreatroaroverheadassuredhimthattheroofwasablaze。Thenherandownthestepsoftheverandah,coughing,halfchokedwiththesmokethatpursuedhiminbluishwreathscurlingabouthishead。
Ontheothersideoftheditch,separatingAlmayer\'scourtyardfromthesettlement,acrowdoftheinhabitantsofSambirlookedattheburninghouseofthewhiteman。Inthecalmairtheflamesrusheduponhigh,colouredpalebrick-red,withvioletgleamsinthestrongsunshine。Thethincolumnofsmokeascendedstraightandunwaveringtillitlostitselfintheclearblueofthesky,and,inthegreatemptyspacebetweenthetwohousestheinterestedspectatorscouldseethetallfigureoftheTuanPutih,withbowedheadanddraggingfeet,walkingslowlyawayfromthefiretowardstheshelterof\"Almayer\'sFolly。\"
InthatmannerdidAlmayermoveintohisnewhouse。Hetookpossessionofthenewruin,andintheundyingfollyofhisheartsethimselftowaitinanxietyandpainforthatforgetfulnesswhichwassoslowtocome。Hehaddoneallhecould。EveryvestigeofNina\'sexistencehadbeendestroyed;andnowwitheverysunriseheaskedhimselfwhetherthelonged-foroblivionwouldcomebeforesunset,whetheritwouldcomebeforehedied?
Hewantedtoliveonlylongenoughtobeabletoforget,andthetenacityofhismemoryfilledhimwithdreadandhorrorofdeath;
forshoulditcomebeforehecouldaccomplishthepurposeofhislifehewouldhavetorememberforever!Healsolongedforloneliness。Hewantedtobealone。Buthewasnot。
Inthedimlightoftheroomswiththeirclosedshutters,inthebrightsunshineoftheverandah,whereverhewent,whicheverwayheturned,hesawthesmallfigureofalittlemaidenwithprettyoliveface,withlongblackhair,herlittlepinkrobeslippingoffhershoulders,herbigeyeslookingupathiminthetendertrustfulnessofapettedchild。Alididnotseeanything,buthealsowasawareofthepresenceofachildinthehouse。InhislongtalksbytheeveningfiresofthesettlementheusedtotellhisintimatefriendsofAlmayer\'sstrangedoings。Hismasterhadturnedsorcererinhisoldage。AlisaidthatoftenwhenTuanPutihhadretiredforthenighthecouldhearhimtalkingtosomethinginhisroom。Alithoughtthatitwasaspiritintheshapeofachild。Heknewhismasterspoketoachildfromcertainexpressionsandwordshismasterused。HismasterspokeinMalayalittle,butmostlyinEnglish,whichhe,Ali,couldunderstand。Masterspoketothechildattimestenderly,thenhewouldweepoverit,laughatit,scoldit,begofittogoaway;
curseit。Itwasabadandstubbornspirit。Alithoughthismasterhadimprudentlycalleditup,andnowcouldnotgetridofit。Hismasterwasverybrave;hewasnotafraidtocursethisspiritintheveryPresence;andoncehefoughtwithit。Alihadheardagreatnoiseasofrunningaboutinsidetheroomandgroans。Hismastergroaned。Spiritsdonotgroan。
Hismasterwasbrave,butfoolish。Youcannothurtaspirit。Aliexpectedtofindhismasterdeadnextmorning,buthecameoutveryearly,lookingmucholderthanthedaybefore,andhadnofoodallday。
SofarAlitothesettlement。ToCaptainFordhewasmuchmorecommunicative,forthegoodreasonthatCaptainFordhadthepurseandgaveorders。OneachofFord\'smonthlyvisitstoSambirAlihadtogoonboardwithareportabouttheinhabitantof\"Almayer\'sFolly。\"OnhisfirstvisittoSambir,afterNina\'sdeparture,FordhadtakenchargeofAlmayer\'saffairs。Theywerenotcumbersome。Theshedforthestorageofgoodswasempty,theboatshaddisappeared,appropriated——generallyinnight-time——byvariouscitizensofSambirinneedofmeansoftransport。DuringagreatfloodthejettyofLingardandCo。leftthebankandfloateddowntheriver,probablyinsearchofmorecheerfulsurroundings;eventheflockofgeese——\"theonlygeeseontheeastcoast\"——departedsomewhere,preferringtheunknowndangersofthebushtothedesolationoftheiroldhome。Astimewentonthegrassgrewovertheblackpatchofgroundwheretheoldhouseusedtostand,andnothingremainedtomarktheplaceofthedwellingthathadshelteredAlmayer\'syounghopes,hisfoolishdreamofsplendidfuture,hisawakening,andhisdespair。
ForddidnotoftenvisitAlmayer,forvisitingAlmayerwasnotapleasanttask。Atfirstheusedtorespondlistlesslytotheoldseaman\'sboisterousinquiriesabouthishealth;heevenmadeeffortstotalk,askingfornewsinavoicethatmadeitperfectlyclearthatnonewsfromthisworldhadanyinterestforhim。Thengraduallyhebecamemoresilent——notsulkily——butasifhewasforgettinghowtospeak。Heusedalsotohideinthedarkestroomsofthehouse,whereFordhadtoseekhimoutguidedbythepatterofthemonkeygallopingbeforehim。ThemonkeywasalwaystheretoreceiveandintroduceFord。Thelittleanimalseemedtohavetakencompletechargeofitsmaster,andwheneveritwishedforhispresenceontheverandahitwouldtugperseveringlyathisjacket,tillAlmayerobedientlycameoutintothesunshine,whichheseemedtodislikesomuch。
OnemorningFordfoundhimsittingontheflooroftheverandah,hisbackagainstthewall,hislegsstretchedstifflyout,hisarmshangingbyhisside。Hisexpressionlessface,hiseyesopenwidewithimmobilepupils,andtherigidityofhispose,madehimlooklikeanimmenseman-dollbrokenandflungthereoutoftheway。AsFordcameupthestepsheturnedhisheadslowly。
\"Ford,\"hemurmuredfromthefloor,\"Icannotforget。\"
\"Can\'tyou?\"saidFord,innocently,withanattemptatjoviality:
\"IwishIwaslikeyou。Iamlosingmymemory——age,Isuppose;
onlytheotherdaymymate——\"
Hestopped,forAlmayerhadgotup,stumbled,andsteadiedhimselfonhisfriend\'sarm。
\"Hallo!Youarebetterto-day。Soonbeallright,\"saidFord,cheerfully,butfeelingratherscared。
Almayerletgohisarmandstoodverystraightwithhisheadupandshouldersthrownback,lookingstonilyatthemultitudeofsunsshininginripplesoftheriver。Hisjacketandhisloosetrousersflappedinthebreezeonhisthinlimbs。
\"Lethergo!\"hewhisperedinagratingvoice。\"Lethergo。
To-
morrowIshallforget。Iamafirmman,……firmasa……
rock,……firm……\"
Fordlookedathisface——andfled。Theskipperwasatolerablyfirmmanhimself——asthosewhohadsailedwithhimcouldtestify——
butAlmayer\'sfirmnesswasaltogethertoomuchforhisfortitude。
NexttimethesteamercalledinSambirAlicameonboardearlywithagrievance。HecomplainedtoFordthatJim-EngtheChinamanhadinvadedAlmayer\'shouse,andactuallyhadlivedthereforthelastmonth。
\"Andtheybothsmoke,\"addedAli。
\"Phew!Opium,youmean?\"
Alinodded,andFordremainedthoughtful;thenhemutteredtohimself,\"Poordevil!Thesoonerthebetternow。\"Intheafternoonhewalkeduptothehouse。
\"Whatareyoudoinghere?\"heaskedofJim-Eng,whomhefoundstrollingaboutontheverandah。
Jim-EngexplainedinbadMalay,andspeakinginthatmonotonous,uninterestedvoiceofanopiumsmokerprettyfargone,thathishousewasold,theroofleaked,andthefloorwasrotten。So,beinganoldfriendformany,manyyears,hetookhismoney,hisopium,andtwopipes,andcametoliveinthisbighouse。
\"Thereisplentyofroom。Hesmokes,andIlivehere。Hewillnotsmokelong,\"heconcluded。
\"Whereishenow?\"askedFord。
\"Inside。Hesleeps,\"answeredJim-Eng,wearily。Fordglancedinthroughthedoorway。InthedimlightoftheroomhecouldseeAlmayerlyingonhisbackonthefloor,hisheadonawoodenpillow,thelongwhitebeardscatteredoverhisbreast,theyellowskinoftheface,thehalf-closedeyelidsshowingthewhitesoftheeyeonly……
Heshudderedandturnedaway。Ashewasleavinghenoticedalongstripoffadedredsilk,withsomeChineselettersonit,whichJim-Enghadjustfastenedtooneofthepillars。
\"What\'sthat?\"heasked。
\"That,\"saidJim-Eng,inhiscolourlessvoice,\"thatisthenameofthehouse。Allthesamelikemyhouse。Verygoodname。\"
Fordlookedathimforawhileandwentaway。Hedidnotknowwhatthecrazy-lookingmazeoftheChineseinscriptionontheredsilkmeant。HadheaskedJim-Eng,thatpatientChinamanwouldhaveinformedhimwithproperpridethatitsmeaningwas:\"Houseofheavenlydelight。\"
IntheeveningofthesamedayBabalatchicalledonCaptainFord。
Thecaptain\'scabinopenedondeck,andBabalatchisatastrideonthehighstep,whileFordsmokedhispipeonthesetteeinside。
Thesteamerwasleavingnextmorning,andtheoldstatesmancameasusualforalastchat。
\"WehadnewsfromBalilastmoon,\"remarkedBabalatchi。\"A
grandsonisborntotheoldRajah,andthereisgreatrejoicing。\"
Fordsatupinterested。
\"Yes,\"wentonBabalatchi,inanswertoFord\'slook。\"Itoldhim。Thatwasbeforehebegantosmoke。\"
\"Well,andwhat?\"askedFord。
\"Iescapedwithmylife,\"saidBabalatchi,withperfectgravity,\"becausethewhitemanisveryweakandfellasherusheduponme。\"Then,afterapause,headded,\"Sheismadwithjoy。\"
\"Mrs。Almayer,youmean?\"
\"Yes,shelivesinourRajah\'shouse。Shewillnotdiesoon。
Suchwomenlivealongtime,\"saidBabalatchi,withaslighttingeofregretinhisvoice。\"Shehasdollars,andshehasburiedthem,butweknowwhere。Wehadmuchtroublewiththosepeople。Wehadtopayafineandlistentothreatsfromthewhitemen,andnowwehavetobecareful。\"Hesighedandremainedsilentforalongwhile。Thenwithenergy:
\"Therewillbefighting。Thereisabreathofwarontheislands。ShallIlivelongenoughtosee?……Ah,Tuan!\"hewenton,morequietly,\"theoldtimeswerebest。EvenIhavesailedwithLanunmen,andboardedinthenightsilentshipswithwhitesails。ThatwasbeforeanEnglishRajahruledinKuching。
Thenwefoughtamongstourselvesandwerehappy。Nowwhenwefightwithyouwecanonlydie!\"
Herosetogo。\"Tuan,\"hesaid,\"yourememberthegirlthatmanBulangihad?Herthatcausedallthetrouble?\"
\"Yes,\"saidFord。\"Whatofher?\"
\"Shegrewthinandcouldnotwork。ThenBulangi,whoisathiefandapig-eater,gavehertomeforfiftydollars。Isentheramongstmywomentogrowfat。Iwantedtohearthesoundofherlaughter,butshemusthavebeenbewitched,and……shediedtwodaysago。Nay,Tuan。Whydoyouspeakbadwords?
Iamold——thatistrue——butwhyshouldInotlikethesightofayoungfaceandthesoundofayoungvoiceinmyhouse?\"Hepaused,andthenaddedwithalittlemournfullaugh,\"Iamlikeawhitemantalkingtoomuchofwhatisnotmen\'stalkwhentheyspeaktooneanother。\"
Andhewentofflookingverysad。
Thecrowdmassedinasemicirclebeforethestepsof\"Almayer\'sFolly,\"swayedsilentlybackwardsandforwards,andopenedoutbeforethegroupofwhite-robedandturbanedmenadvancingthroughthegrasstowardsthehouse。Abdullawalkedfirst,supportedbyReshidandfollowedbyalltheArabsinSambir。Astheyenteredthelanemadebytherespectfulthrongtherewasasubduedmurmurofvoices,wheretheword\"Mati\"wastheonlyonedistinctlyaudible。Abdullastoppedandlookedroundslowly。
\"Ishedead?\"heasked。
\"Mayyoulive!\"answeredthecrowdinoneshout,andthentheresucceededabreathlesssilence。
Abdullamadeafewpacesforwardandfoundhimselfforthelasttimefacetofacewithhisoldenemy。Whateverhemighthavebeenoncehewasnotdangerousnow,lyingstiffandlifelessinthetenderlightoftheearlyday。Theonlywhitemanontheeastcoastwasdead,andhissoul,deliveredfromthetrammelsofhisearthlyfolly,stoodnowinthepresenceofInfiniteWisdom。
Ontheupturnedfacetherewasthatserenelookwhichfollowsthesuddenrelieffromanguishandpain,andittestifiedsilentlybeforethecloudlessheaventhatthemanlyingthereunderthegazeofindifferenteyeshadbeenpermittedtoforgetbeforehedied。
AbdullalookeddownsadlyatthisInfidelhehadfoughtsolongandhadbestedsomanytimes。SuchwastherewardoftheFaithful!
YetintheArab\'soldhearttherewasafeelingofregretforthatthinggoneoutofhislife。Hewasleavingfastbehindhimfriendships,andenmities,successes,anddisappointments——allthatmakesupalife;andbeforehimwasonlytheend。PrayerwouldfilluptheremainderofthedaysallottedtotheTrueBeliever!Hetookinhishandthebeadsthathungathiswaist。
\"Ifoundhimhere,likethis,inthemorning,\"saidAli,inalowandawedvoice。
Abdullaglancedcoldlyoncemoreatthesereneface。
\"Letusgo,\"hesaid,addressingReshid。
Andastheypassedthroughthecrowdthatfellbackbeforethem,thebeadsinAbdulla\'shandclicked,whileinasolemnwhisperhebreathedoutpiouslythenameofAllah!TheMerciful!TheCompassionate!