Thecaptaingaveaslightstart，andthecharacterofhisstarechangedtoasortofsinistersurprise。Franklingrewveryuncomfortable，butthecaptainaskednegligently:”Whatmakesyouthinkthatthere’ssomethingwrong？””Ican’tsayexactly。Youdon’tlookquiteyourself，sir，”Franklinownedup。”Youseemtohaveaconfoundedlypiercingeye，”saidthecaptaininsuchanaggressivetonethatFranklinwasmovedtodefendhimself。”Wehavebeentogethernowoversixyears，sir，soIsupposeIknowyouabitbythistime。Icouldseetherewassomethingwrongdirectlyyoucameonboard。””Mr。Franklin，”saidthecaptain，”wehavebeenmorethansixyearstogether，itistrue，butIdidn’tknowyouforareaderoffaces。
Youarenotacorrectreaderthough。It’sveryfarfrombeingwrong。Youunderstand？Asfarfrombeingwrongasitcanverywellbe。Itoughttoteachyounottomakerashsurmises。Youshouldleavethattotheshorepeople。Theyaregreathandsatspyingoutsomethingwrong。Idaresaytheyknowwhattheyhavemadeoftheworld。Adam’poorjobofitandthat’splain。It’saconfoundedlyuglyplace，Mr。Franklin。Youdon’tknowanythingofit？Well——no，wesailorsdon’t。Onlynowandthenoneofusrunsagainstsomethingcruelorunderhand，enoughtomakeyourhairstandonend。
Andwhenyoudoseeapieceoftheirwickednessyoufindthattosetitrightisnotsoeasyasitlooks……Oh！Icalledyoubacktotellyouthattherewillbealotofworkmen，joinersandallthatsentdownonboardfirstthingto-morrowmorningtostartmakingalterationsinthecabin。Youwillseetoitthattheydon’tloaf。
Thereisn’tmuchtime。”
Franklinwasimpressedbythisunexpectedlectureuponthewickednessofthesolidworldsurroundedbythesalt，uncorruptiblewatersonwhichheandhiscaptainhaddweltalltheirlivesinhappyinnocence。Whathecouldnotunderstandwaswhyitshouldhavebeendelivered，andwhatconnectionitcouldhavewithsuchamatterasthealterationstobecarriedoutinthecabin。Theworkdidnotseemtohimtobecalledforinsuchahurry。Whatwastheuseofalteringanything？Itwasaverygoodaccommodation，spacious，well-distributed，onaratherold-fashionedplan，andwithitsdecorationssomewhattarnished。Butadabofvarnish，atouchofgildinghereandthere，wasallthatwasnecessary。Astocomfort，itcouldnotbeimprovedbyanyalterations。Heresentedthenotionofchange；buthesaiddutifullythathewouldkeephiseyeontheworkmenifthecaptainwouldonlylethimknowwhatwasthenatureoftheworkhehadorderedtobedone。”You’llfindanoteofitonthistable。I’llleaveitforyouasI
goashore，”saidCaptainAnthonyhastily。Franklinthoughttherewasnomoretohear，andmadeamovementtoleavethesaloon。Butthecaptaincontinuedafteraslightpause，”Youwillbesurprised，nodoubt，whenyoulookatit。There’llbeagoodmanyalterations。
It’sonaccountofaladycomingwithus。Iamgoingtogetmarried，Mr。Franklin！”
CHAPTERTWO——YOUNGPOWELLSEESANDHEARS”Youremember，”wentonMarlow，”howIfearedthatMr。Powell’swantofexperiencewouldstandinhiswayofappreciatingtheunusual。
TheunusualIhadinmymindwassomethingofaverysubtlesort:
theunusualinmaritalrelations。Imaywellhavedoubtedthecapacityofayoungmantoomuchconcernedwiththecreditableperformanceofhisprofessionaldutiestoobservewhatinthenatureofthingsisnoteasilyobservableinitself，andstilllesssounderthespecialcircumstances。Inthemajorityofshipsasecondofficerhasnotmanypointsofcontactwiththecaptain’swife。Hesitsatthesametablewithheratmeals，generallyspeaking；hemaynowandthenbeaddressedmoreorlesskindlyoninsignificantmatters，andhavetheopportunitytoshowhersomesmallattentionsondeck。Andthatisall。Undersuchconditions，signscanbeseenonlybyasharpandpractisedeye。Iamalludingnowtotroubleswhicharesubtleoftentotheextentofnotbeingunderstoodbytheveryheartstheydevastateoruplift。
Yes，Mr。Powell，whomthechanceofhisnamehadthrownuponthefloatingstageofthattragicomedywouldhavebeenperfectlyuselessformypurposeiftheunusualofanobviouskindhadnotarousedhisattentionfromthefirst。
Weknowhowhejoinedthatshipsosuddenlyofferedtohisanxiousdesiretomakearealstartinhisprofession。Hehadcomeonboardbreathlesswiththehurriedwindingupofhisshoreaffairs，accompaniedbytwohorriblenight-birds，escortedbyadockpolicemanonthemake，receivedbyanasthmaticshadowofaship-
keeper，warnednottomakeanoiseinthedarknessofthepassagebecausethecaptainandhiswifewerealreadyonboard。Thatinitselfwasalreadysomewhatunusual。Captainsandtheirwivesdonot，asarule，joinamomentsoonerthanisnecessary。Theyprefertospendthelastmomentswiththeirfriendsandrelations。AshipinoneofLondon’solderdockswiththeirrestrictionsastolightsandsoonisnottheplaceforahappyevening。Still，asthetideservedatsixinthemorning，onecouldunderstandthemcomingonboardtheeveningbefore。
JustthenyoungPowellfeltasifanybodyoughttobegladenoughtobequitoftheshore。Weknowhewasanorphanfromaveryearlyage，withoutbrothersorsisters——nonearrelationsofanykind，I
believe，exceptthatauntwhohadquarrelledwithhisfather。Noaffectionstoodinthewayofthequietsatisfactionwithwhichhethoughtthatnowalltheworrieswereover，thattherewasnothingbeforehimbutduties，thatheknewwhathewouldhavetodoassoonasthedawnbrokeandforalongsuccessionofdays。Amostsoothingcertitude。Heenjoyeditinthedark，stretchedoutinhisbunkwithhisnewblanketspulledoverhim。Someclockashorebeyondthedock-gatesstrucktwo。Andthenheheardnothingmore，becausehewentoffintoalightsleepfromwhichhewokeupwithastart。Hehadnottakenhisclothesoff，itwashardlyworthwhile。
Hejumpedupandwentondeck。
Themorningwasclear，colourless，greyoverhead；thedocklikeasheetofdarklingglasscrowdedwithupside-downreflectionsofwarehouses，ofhullsandmastsofsilentships。Rarefiguresmovedhereandthereonthedistantquays。Aknotofmenstoodalongsidewithclothes-bagsandwoodenchestsattheirfeet。Otherswerecomingdownthelanebetweentall，blindwalls，surroundingahand-
cartloadedwithmorebagsandboxes。ItwasthecrewoftheFerndale。Theybegantocomeonboard。Hescannedtheirfacesastheypassedforwardfillingtheroomydeckwiththeshuffleoftheirfootstepsandthemurmurofvoices，liketheawakeningtolifeofaworldabouttobelaunchedintospace。
FarawaydowntheclearglassystretchinthemiddleofthelongdockMr。Powellwatchedthetugscominginquietlythroughtheopengates。Asubduedfirmvoicebehindhiminterruptedthiscontemplation。ItwasFranklin，thethickchiefmate，whowasaddressinghimwithawatchfulappraisingstareofhisprominentblackeyes:”You’dbettertakeacoupleofthesechapswithyouandlookoutforheraft。Wearegoingtocastoff。””Yes，sir，”Powellsaidwithproperalacrity；butforamomenttheyremainedlookingateachotherfixedly。Somethinglikeafaintsmilealteredthesetofthechiefmate’slipsjustbeforehemovedoffforwardwithhisbriskstep。
Mr。Powell，gettinguponthepoop，touchedhiscaptoCaptainAnthony，whowastherealone。Hetellsmethatitwasonlythenthathesawhiscaptainforthefirsttime。Thedaybefore，intheshippingoffice，whatwiththebadlightandhisexcitementatthisberthobtainedasifbyabrusqueandunscrupulousmiracle，didnotcount。Hehadthenseemedtohimmucholderandheavier。Hewassurprisedatthelithefigure，broadofshoulder，narrowatthehips，thefireofthedeep-seteyes，thespringinessofthewalk。
Thecaptaingavehimasteadystare，noddedslightly，andwentonpacingthepoopwithanairofnotbeingawareofwhatwasgoingon，hisheadrigid，hismovementsrapid。
Powellstoleseveralglancesathimwithacuriosityverynaturalunderthecircumstances。Heworeashortgreyjacketandagreycap。Inthelightofthedawn，growingmorelimpidratherthanbrighter，Powellnoticedtheslightlysunkencheeksunderthetrimmedbeard，theperpendicularfoldontheforehead，somethinghardandsetaboutthemouth。
Itwastooearlyyetfortheworktohavebeguninthedock。Thewatergleamedplacidly，nomovementanywhereonthelongstraightlinesofthequays，nooneabouttobeseenexceptthefewdockhandsbusyalongsidetheFerndale，knowingtheirwork，mostlysilentorexchangingafewwordsinlowtonesasifthey，too，hadbeenawareofthatlady’whomustn’tbedisturbed。’TheFerndalewastheonlyshiptoleavethattide。Theothersseemedstillasleep，withoutasound，andonlyhereandthereafigure，comingupontheforecastle，leanedontherailtowatchtheproceedingsidly。
WithouttroubleandfussandalmostwithoutasoundwastheFerndaleleavingtheland，asifstealingaway。Eventhetugs，nowwiththeirenginesstopped，wereapproachingherwithoutaripple，theburly-lookingpaddle-boatsheeringforward，whiletheother，ascrew，smallerandofslendershape，madeforherquartersogentlythatshedidnotdividethesmoothwater，butseemedtoglideonitssurfaceasifonasheetofplate-glass，amaninherbow，themasteratthewheelvisibleonlyfromthewaistupwardsabovethewhitescreenofthebridge，bothofthemsostill-eyedastofascinateyoungPowellintocuriousself-forgetfulnessandimmobility。Hewassteeped，sunkinthegeneralquietness，rememberingthestatement’she’saladythatmustn’tbedisturbed，’
andrepeatingtohimselfidly:’No。Shewon’tbedisturbed。Shewon’tbedisturbed。’Thenthefirstloudwordsofthatmorningbreakingthatstrangehushofdeparturewithasharphail:’Lookoutforthatlinethere，’madehimstart。Thelinewhizzedpasthishead，oneofthesailorsaftcaughtit，andtherewasanendtothefascination，tothequietnessofspiritwhichhadstolenonhimattheverymomentofdeparture。Fromthatmomenttilltwohoursafterwards，whentheshipwasbroughtupinoneofthelowerreachesoftheThamesoffanapparentlyuninhabitedshore，nearsomesortofinletwherenothingbuttwoanchoredbargesflyingaredflagcouldbeseen，Powellwastoobusytothinkofthelady’thatmustn’tbedisturbed，’orofhiscaptain——orofanythingelseunconnectedwithhisimmediateduties。Infact，hehadnooccasiontogoonthepoop，orevenlookthatwaymuch；butwhiletheshipwasabouttoanchor，castinghiseyesinthatdirection，hereceivedanabsurdimpressionthathiscaptain(hewasupthere，ofcourse)wassittingonbothsidesoftheaftermostskylightatonce。Hewastoooccupiedtoreflectonthiscuriousdelusion，thisphenomenonofseeingdoubleasthoughhehadhadadroptoomuch。Heonlysmiledathimself。
Asoftenhappensafteragreydaybreakthesunhadriseninawarmandglorioussplendourabovethesmoothimmensegleamoftheenlargedestuary。Wispsofmistfloatedliketrailsofluminousdust，andinthedazzlingreflectionsofwaterandvapour，theshoreshadthemurkysemi-transparentdarknessofshadowscastmysteriouslyfrombelow。Powell，whohadsailedoutofLondonallhisyoungsea-man’slife，toldmethatitwasthen，inamomentofentrancedvisionanhourorsoaftersunrise，thattheriverwasrevealedtohimforalltime，likeafairfaceoftenseenbefore，whichissuddenlyperceivedtobetheexpressionofaninnerandunsuspectedbeauty，ofthatsomethinguniqueandonlyitsownwhichrousesapassionofwonderandfidelityandanunappeasablememoryofitscharm。ThehulloftheFerndale，swungheadtotheeastward，caughtthelight，hertallsparsandriggingsteepedinabathofred-gold，fromthewater-linefullofglittertothetrucksslightandgleamingagainstthedelicateexpanseoftheblue。”Timewehadamouthfultoeat，”saidavoiceathisside。ItwasMr。Franklin，thechiefmate，withhisheadsunkbetweenhisshoulders，andmelancholyeyes。”Letthemenhavetheirbreakfast，bo’sun，”hewenton，”andhavethefireoutinthegalleyinhalfanhouratthelatest，sothatwecancallthesebargesofexplosivesalongside。Comealong，youngman。Idon’tknowyourname。Haven’tseenthecaptain，tospeakto，sinceyesterdayafternoonwhenherushedofftopickupasecondmatesomewhere。Howdidhegetyou？”
YoungPowell，alittleshynotwithstandingthefriendlydispositionoftheother，answeredhimsmilingly，awaresomehowthattherewassomethingmarkedinthisinquisitiveness，natural，afterall——
somethinganxious。HisnamewasPowell，andhewasputinthewayofthisberthbyMr。Powell，theshippingmaster。Heblushed。”Ah，Isee。Well，youhavebeensmartingettingready。Theship-
keeper，beforehewentaway，toldmeyoujoinedatoneo’clock。I
didn’tsleeponboardlastnight。NotI。TherewasatimewhenI
nevercaredtoleavethisshipformorethanacoupleofhoursintheevening，evenwhileinLondon，butnow，since——”
Hecheckedhimselfwitharollofhisprominenteyestowardsthatyoungster，thatstranger。Meantime，hewasleadingthewayacrossthequarter-deckunderthepoopintothelongpassagewiththedoorofthesaloonatthefarend。Itwasshut。ButMr。Franklindidnotgosofar。Afterpassingthepantryheopenedsuddenlyadoorontheleftofthepassage，toPowell’sgreatsurprise。”Ourmess-room，”hesaid，enteringasmallcabinpaintedwhite，bare，lightedfrompartoftheforemostskylight，andfurnishedonlywithatableandtwosetteeswithmovablebacks。”Thatsurprisesyou？Well，itisn’tusual。Anditwasn’tsointhisshipeither，before。It’sonlysince——”
Hecheckedhimselfagain。”Yes。Hereweshallfeed，youandI，facingeachotherforthenexttwelvemonthsormore——Godknowshowmuchmore！Thebo’sunkeepsthedeckatmeal-timesinfineweather。”
Hetalkednotexactlywheezing，butlikeamanwhosebreathissomewhatshort，andthespirit(youngPowellcouldnothelpthinking)embitteredbysomemysteriousgrievance。
TherewasenoughoftheunusualtheretoberecognizedevenbyPowell’sinexperience。Theofficerskeptoutofthecabinagainstthecustomoftheservice，andthenthissortofaccentinthemate’stalk。Franklindidnotseemtoexpectconversationaleasefromthenewsecondmate。Hemadeseveralremarksabouttheold，deploringtheaccident。Awkward。Veryawkwardthisthingtohappenontheveryeveofsailing。”Collar-boneandarmbroken，”hesighed。”Sad，verysad。Didyounoticeifthecaptainwasatallaffected？Eh？Musthavebeen。”
Beforethiscongestedface，theseglobulareyesturnedyearninglyuponhim，youngPowell(onemustkeepinmindhewasbutayoungsterthen)whocouldnotrememberanysignsofvisiblegrief，confessedwithanembarrassedlaughthat，owingtothesuddennessofthisluckychancecomingtohim，hewasnotinaconditiontonoticethestateofotherpeople。”Iwassopleasedtogetashipatlast，”hemurmured，furtherdisconcertedbythesortofpent-upgravityinMr。Franklin’saspect。”Oneman’sfoodanotherman’spoison，”themateremarked。”Thatholdstruebeyondmerevictuals。Isupposeitdidn’toccurtoyouthatitwasadam’poorwayforagoodmantobeknockedout。”
Mr。Powelladmittedopenlythathehadnotthoughtofthat。Hewasreadytoadmitthatitwasveryreprehensibleofhim。ButFranklinhadnointentionapparentlytomoralize。Hedidnotfallsilenteither。HisfurtherremarksweretotheeffectthattherehadbeenatimewhenCaptainAnthonywouldhaveshowedmorethanenoughconcernfortheleastthinghappeningtooneofhisofficers。Yes，therehadbeenatime！”Andmind，”hewenton，layingdownsuddenlyahalf-consumedpieceofbreadandbutterandraisinghisvoice，”poorMathewswasthesecondmanthelongestonboard。Iwasthefirst。Hejoinedamonthlater——aboutthesametimeasthestewardbyafewdays。Thebo’sunandthecarpentercamethevoyageafter。Steadymen。Stillhere。NogoodmanneedeverhavethoughtofleavingtheFerndaleunlesshewereafool。Somegoodmenarefools。Don’tknowwhentheyarewelloff。Imeanthebestofgoodmen；menthatyouwoulddoanythingfor。Theygoonforyears，thenallofasudden——”
Ouryoungfriendlistenedtothematewithaqueersenseofdiscomfortgrowingonhim。ForitwasasthoughMr。Franklinwerethinkingaloud，andputtinghimintothedelicatepositionofanunwillingeavesdropper。Buttherewasinthemess-roomanotherlistener。Itwasthesteward，whohadcomeincarryingatincoffee-potwithalonghandle，andstoodquietlyby:amanwithamiddle-aged，sallowface，longfeatures，heavyeyelids，asoldierlygreymoustache。Hisbodyencasedinashortblackjacketwithnarrowsleeves，hislonglegsinverytighttrousers，madeupanagile，youthful，slenderfigure。Hemovedforwardsuddenly，andinterruptedthemate’smonologue。”Morecoffee，Mr。Franklin？Nicefreshlot。Pipinghot。Iamgoingtogivebreakfasttothesaloondirectly，andthecookisrakinghisfireout。Now’syourchance。”
Thematewho，onaccountofhispeculiarbuild，couldnotturnhisheadfreely，twistedhisthicktrunkslightly，andranhisblackeyesinthecornerstowardsthesteward。”Andisthepreciouspairofthemout？”hegrowled。
Thesteward，pouringoutthecoffeeintothemate’scup，mutteredmoodilybutdistinctly:”Theladywasn’twhenIwaslayingthetable。”
Powell’searswerefineenoughtodetectsomethinghostileinthisreferencetothecaptain’swife。Forofwhatotherpersoncouldtheybespeaking？Thestewardaddedwithagloomysortoffairness:”ButshewillbebeforeIbringthedishesin。Shenevergivesthatsortoftrouble。Thatshedoesn’t。””No。Notinthatway，”Mr。Franklinagreed，andthenbothheandthesteward，afterglancingatPowell——thestrangertotheship——
saidnothingmore。
Butthishadbeenenoughtorousehiscuriosity。Curiosityisnaturaltoman。Ofcourseitwasnotamalevolentcuriositywhich，ifnotexactlynatural，istobemetfairlyfrequentlyinmenandperhapsmorefrequentlyinwomen——especiallyifawomanbeinquestion；andthatwomanunderacloud，inamannerofspeaking。
ForunderacloudFloradeBarralwasfatedtobeevenatsea。Yes。
Eventhatsortofdarknesswhichattendsawomanforwhomthereisnoclearplaceintheworldhungoverher。Yes。Evenatsea！
Andthisisthepathosofbeingawoman。Amancanstruggletogetaplaceforhimselforperish。Butawoman’spartispassive，saywhatyoulike，andshufflethefactsoftheworldasyoumay，hintingatlackofenergy，ofwisdom，ofcourage。Asamatteroffact，almostallwomenhaveallthat——oftheirownkind。Buttheyarenotmadeforattack。Waittheymust。Iamspeakinghereofwomenwhoarereallywomen。Andit’snousetalkingofopportunities，either。Iknowthatsomeofthemdotalkofit。Butnotthegenuinewomen。Thoseknowbetter。Nothingcanbeatatruewomanforaclearvisionofreality；IwouldsayacynicalvisionifIwerenotafraidofwoundingyourchivalrousfeelings——forwhich，bytheby，womenarenotsogratefulasyoumaythink，tofellowsofyourkind……”Uponmyword，Marlow，”Icried，”whatareyouflyingoutatmeforlikethis？Iwouldn’tuseanill-soundingwordaboutwomen，butwhatrighthaveyoutoimaginethatIamlookingforgratitude？”
Marlowraisedasoothinghand。”There！There！Itakebacktheill-soundingword，withtheremark，though，thatcynicismseemstomeawordinventedbyhypocrites。
Butletthatpass。Astowomen，theyknowthattheclamourforopportunitiesforthemtobecomesomethingwhichtheycannotbeisasreasonableasifmankindatlargestartedaskingforopportunitiesofwinningimmortalityinthisworld，inwhichdeathistheveryconditionoflife。YoumustunderstandthatIamnottalkinghereofmaterialexistence。Thatnaturallyisimplied；butyouwon’tmaintainthatawomanwho，say，enlisted，forinstance(therehavebeencases)hasconqueredherplaceintheworld。Shehasonlygotherlivinginit——whichisquitemeritorious，butnotquitethesamething。
AllthesereflectionswhicharisefrommypickingupthethreadofFloradeBarral’sexistencedidnot，Iamcertain，presentthemselvestoMr。Powell——nottheMr。Powellweknowtakingsolitaryweek-endcruisesintheestuaryoftheThames(withmysteriousdashesintolonelycreeks)buttotheyoungMr。Powell，thechancesecondofficeroftheshipFerndale，commanded(andforthemostpartowned)byRoderickAnthony，thesonofthepoet——youknow。A
Mr。Powell，muchslendererthanourrobustfriendisnow，withthebloomofinnocencenotquiterubbedoffhissmoothcheeks，andaptnotonlytobeinterestedbutalsotobesurprisedbytheexperiencelifewasholdinginstoreforhim。Thiswouldaccountforhisrememberingsomuchofitwithconsiderablevividness。Forinstance，theimpressionsattendinghisfirstbreakfastonboardtheFerndale，bothvisualandmental，wereasfreshtohimasifreceivedyesterday。
Thesurprise，itiseasytounderstand，wouldarisefromtheinabilitytointerpretarightthesignswhichexperience(athingmysteriousinitself)makestoourunderstandingandemotions。Foritisnevermorethanthat。Ourexperiencenevergetsintoourbloodandbones。Italwaysremainsoutsideofus。That’swhywelookwithwonderatthepast。Andthispersistsevenwhenfrompracticeandthroughgrowingcallousnessoffibrewecometothepointwhennothingthatwemeetinthatrapidblinkingstumbleacrossaflickofsunshine——whichourlifeis——nothing，Isay，whichwerunagainstsurprisesusanymore。Notatthetime，Imean。If，lateron，werecoverthefacultywithsomesuchexclamation:’Well！
Well！I’llbehangedifIever，……’itisprobablybecausethisverythingthatthereshouldbeapasttolookbackupon，otherpeople’s，isveryastoundinginitselfwhenonehasthetime，afleetingandimmenseinstanttothinkofit……”
IwasonthepointofinterruptingMarlowwhenhestoppedofhimself，hiseyesfixedonvacancy，or——perhaps——(Iwouldn’tbetoohardonhim)onavision。Hehasthehabit，or，say，thefault，ofdefectivemantelpiececlocks，ofsuddenlystoppingintheveryfulnessofthetick。Ifyouhaveeverlivedwithaclockafflictedwiththatperversity，youknowhowvexingitis——suchastoppage。I
wasvexedwithMarlow。HewassmilingfaintlywhileIwaited。Heevenlaughedalittle。AndthenIsaidacidly:”AmItounderstandthatyouhaveferretedoutsomethingcomicinthehistoryofFloradeBarral？””Comic！”heexclaimed。”No！Whatmakesyousay？……Oh，I
laughed——didI？Butdon’tyouknowthatpeoplelaughatabsurditiesthatareveryfarfrombeingcomic？Didn’tyoureadthelatestbooksaboutlaughterwrittenbyphilosophers，psychologists？Thereisalotofthem……””Idaresaytherehasbeenalotofnonsensewrittenaboutlaughter——
andtears，too，forthatmatter，”Isaidimpatiently。”Theysay，”pursuedtheunabashedMarlow，”thatwelaughfromasenseofsuperiority。Therefore，observe，simplicity，honesty，warmthoffeeling，delicacyofheartandofconduct，self-
confidence，magnanimityarelaughedat，becausethepresenceofthesetraitsinaman’scharacteroftenputshimintodifficult，cruelorabsurdsituations，andmakesus，themajoritywhoarefairlyfreeasarulefromthesepeculiarities，feelpleasantlysuperior。””Speakforyourself，”Isaid。”Buthaveyoudiscoveredallthesefinethingsinthestory；orhasMr。Powelldiscoveredthemtoyouinhisartlesstalk？Haveyoutwobeenhavinggoodhealthylaughstogether？Come！Areyoursidesachingyet，Marlow？”
Marlowtooknooffenceatmybanter。Hewasquiteserious。”Ishouldnotliketosayoff-handhowmuchofthattherewas，”hepursuedwithamusingcaution。”Buttherewasasituation，tenseenoughforthesignsofittogivemanysurprisestoMr。Powell——
neitherofthemshockinginitself，butwithacumulativeeffectwhichmadethewholeunforgettableinthedetailofitsprogress。
Andthefirstsurprisecameverysoon，whentheexplosives(towhichheowedhissuddenchanceofengagement)——dynamiteincasesandblastingpowderinbarrels——takenonboard，mainhatchbattenedforsea，cookrestoredtohisfunctionsinthegalley，anchorfishedandthetugahead，roundingtheSouthForeland，andwiththesunsinkingclearandreddownthepurplevistaofthechannel，hewentonthepoop，onduty，itistrue，butwithtimetotakethefirstfreerbreathinthebusydayofdeparture。Thepilotwasstillonboard，whogavehimfirstasilentglance，andthenpassedaninsignificantremarkbeforeresuminghisloungingtoandfrobetweenthesteeringwheelandthebinnacle。Powelltookhisstationmodestlyatthebreakofthepoop。Hehadnoticedacrosstheskylightaheadinagreycap。Butwhen，afteratime，hecrossedovertotheothersideofthedeckhediscoveredthatitwasnotthecaptain’sheadatall。
Hebecameawareofgreyhairscurlingoverthenapeoftheneck。
Howcouldhehavemadethatmistake？Butonboardshipawayfromthelandonedoesnotexpecttocomeuponastranger。
Powellwalkedpasttheman。Athin，somewhatsunkenface，withatightlyclosedmouth，staredatthedistantFrenchcoast，vaguelikeasuggestionofsoliddarkness，lyingabeambeyondtheeveninglightreflectedfromthelevelwaters，themselvesgrowingmoresombrethanthesky；astare，acrosswhichPowellhadtopassanddidpasswithaquicksideglance，notingitsimmovablestillness。Hispassagedisturbedthoseeyesnomorethanifhehadbeenasimmaterialasaghost。Andthisfailureofhispersoninproducinganimpressionaffectedhimstrangely。Whocouldthatoldmanbe？
Hewassocuriousthatheevenventuredtoaskthepilotinalowvoice。Thepilotturnedouttobeagood-naturedspecimenofhiskind，condescending，sententious。Hehadbeendowntohismealsinthemaincabin，andhadsomethingtoimpart。”That？Queerfish——eh？Mrs。Anthony’sfather。I’vebeenintroducedtohiminthecabinatbreakfasttime。NameofSmith。
Wonderifhehasallhiswitsabouthim。Theytakehimaboutwiththem，itseems。Don’tlookveryhappy——eh？”
Then，changinghistoneabruptly，hedesiredPowelltogetallhandsondeckandmakesailontheship。”Ishallbeleavingyouinhalfanhour。You’llhaveplentyoftimetofindoutallabouttheoldgent，”headdedwithathicklaugh。
Inthesecretemotionofgivinghisfirstorderasafullyresponsibleofficer，youngPowellforgottheveryexistenceofthatoldmaninamoment。Thefollowingdays，intheinterestofgettingintouchwiththeship，withthemeninher，withhisduties，intheratheranxiousperiodofsettlingdown，hiscuriosityslumbered；forofcoursethepilot’sfewwordshadnotextinguishedit。
Thissettlingdownwasmadeeasyforhimbythefriendlycharacterofhisimmediatesuperior——thechief。Powellcouldnotdefendhimselffromsomesympathyforthatthick，baldman，comicallyshaped，withhiscrimsoncomplexionandsomethingpatheticintherollingofhisverymovableblackeyesinanapparentlyimmovablehead，whowassotactfullyreadytotakehiscompetencyforgranted。
Therecanbenothingmorereassuringtoayoungmantacklinghislife’sworkforthefirsttime。Mr。Powell，hismindateaseabouthimself，hadtimetoobservethepeoplearoundwithfriendlyinterest。Veryearlyinthebeginningofthepassage，hehaddiscoveredwithsomeamusementthatthemarriageofCaptainAnthonywasresentedbythosetowhomPowell(consciousofbeinglookeduponassomethingofanoutsider)referredinhismindas’theoldlot。’
Theyhadthefunny，regretfulglances，intonations，nodsofmenwhohadseenother，bettertimes。Whatdifferenceitcouldhavemadetothebo’sunandthecarpenterPowellcouldnotverywellunderstand。
Yetthesetwopulledlongfacesandevengavehostileglancestothepoop。Thecookandthestewardmighthavebeenmoredirectlyconcerned。Butthestewardusedtoremarkonoccasion，’Oh，shegivesnoextratrouble，’withscrupulousfairnessofthemostgloomykind。Hewasratherasilentmanwithagreatsenseofhispersonalworthwhichmadehisspeechesguarded。Thecook，aneatmanwithfairsidewhiskers，whohadbeenonlythreeyearsintheship，seemedtheleastconcerned。Hewasevenknowntohaveinquiredonceortwiceastothesuccessofsomeofhisdisheswiththecaptain’swife。Thiswasconsideredasortofdisloyalfallingawayfromtherulingfeeling。
Themate’sannoyancewasyettheeasiesttounderstand。AsheletitouttoPowellbeforethefirstweekofthepassagewasover:
’Youcan’texpectmetobepleasedatbeingchuckedoutofthesaloonasifIweren’tgoodenoughtositdowntomeatwiththatwoman。’Buthehastenedtoadd:’Don’tyouthinkI’mblamingthecaptain。Heisn’tamantobefoundfaultwith。You，Mr。Powell，aretooyoungyettounderstandsuchmatters。’
Someconsiderabletimeafterwards，attheendofaconversationofthataggrievedsort，heenlargedalittlemorebyrepeating:’Yes！
Youaretooyoungtounderstandthesethings。Idon’tsayyouhaven’tplentyofsense。Youaredoingverywellhere。JollysightbetterthanIexpected，thoughIlikedyourlooksfromthefirst。’
Itwasinthetrade-winds，atnight，underavelvety，bespangledsky；agreatmultitudeofstarswatchingtheshadowsoftheseagleamingmysteriouslyinthewakeoftheship；whiletheleisurelyswishingofthewatertoleewardwaslikeadrowsycommentonherprogress。Mr。Powellexpressedhissatisfactionbyahalf-bashfullaugh。Thematemusedon:’Andofcourseyouhaven’tknowntheshipassheusedtobe。Shewasmorethanahometoaman。Shewasnotlikeanyothership；andCaptainAnthonywasnotlikeanyothermastertosailwith。Neitherisshenow。Butbeforeoneneverhadacareintheworldastoher——andastohim，too。No，indeed，therewasneveranythingtoworryabout。’
YoungPowellcouldn’tseewhattherewastoworryabouteventhen。
Theserenityofthepeacefulnightseemedasvastasallspace，andasenduringaseternityitself。It’struetheseaisanuncertainelement，butnosailorremembersthisinthepresenceofitsbewitchingpoweranymorethanalovereverthinksoftheproverbialinconstancyofwomen。AndMr。Powell，beingyoung，thoughtnaivelythatthecaptainbeingmarried，therecouldbenooccasionforanxietyastohiscondition。Isupposethattohimlife，perhapsnotsomuchhisownasthatofothers，wassomethingstillinthenatureofafairy-talewitha’theylivedhappyeverafter’
termination。Wearethecreaturesofourlightliteraturemuchmorethanisgenerallysuspectedinaworldwhichpridesitselfonbeingscientificandpractical，andinpossessionofincontrovertibletheories。Powellfeltinthatwaythemorebecausethecaptainofashipatseaisaremote，inaccessiblecreature，somethinglikeaprinceofafairy-tale，aloneofhiskind，dependingonnobody，nottobecalledtoaccountexceptbypowerspracticallyinvisibleandsodistant，thattheymightwellbelookeduponassupernaturalforallthattherestofthecrewknowsofthem，asarule。
Sohedidnotunderstandtheaggrievedattitudeofthemate——orratherheunderstooditobscurelyasaresultofsimplecauseswhichdidnotseemtohimadequate。Hewouldhavedismissedallthisoutofhismindwithacontemptuous:’WhatthedevildoIcare？’ifthecaptain’swifeherselfhadnotbeensoyoung。Toseeherthefirsttimehadbeensomethingofashocktohim。Hehadsomepreconceivedideasastocaptain’swiveswhich，whilehedidnotbelievethetestimonyofhiseyes，madehimopenthemverywide。Hehadstaredtillthecaptain’swifenoticeditplainlyandturnedherfaceaway。
Captain’swife！Thatgirlcoveredwithrugsinalongchair。
Captain’s……！Hegaspedmentally。Ithadneveroccurredtohimthatacaptain’swifecouldbeanythingbutawomantobedescribedasstoutorthin，asjollyorcrabbed，butalwaysmature，andeven，incomparisonwithhisownyears，franklyold。Butthis！Itwasasortofmoralupsetasthoughhehaddiscoveredacaseofabductionorsomethingassurprisingasthat。Youunderstandthatnothingismoredisturbingthantheupsettingofapreconceivedidea。Eachofusarrangestheworldaccordingtohisownnotionofthefitnessofthings。Tobeholdagirlwhereyouraveragemediocreimaginationhadplacedacomparativelyoldwomanmayeasilybecomeoneofthestrongestshocks……”
Marlowpaused，smilingtohimself。”Powellremainedimpressedafteralltheseyearsbytheveryrecollection，”hecontinuedinavoice，amusedperhapsbutnotmocking。”Hesaidtomeonlytheotherdaywithsomethinglikethefirstaweofthatdiscoverylingeringinhistone——hesaidtome:”Why，sheseemedsoyoung，sogirlish，thatIlookedroundforsomewomanwhichwouldbethecaptain’swife，thoughofcourseIknewtherewasnootherwomanonboardthatvoyage。”Thevoyagebefore，itseems，therehadbeenthesteward’swifetoactasmaidtoMrs。
Anthony；butshewasnottakenthattimeforsomereasonhedidn’tknow。Mrs。Anthony……！Ifithadn’tbeenthecaptain’swifehewouldhavereferredtohermentallyasakid，hesaid。Isupposetheremustbeasortofdivinityhedginginacaptain’swife(howeverincredible)whichpreventedhimapplyingtoherthatcontemptuousdefinitioninthesecretofhisthoughts。
Iaskedhimwhenthishadhappened；andhetoldmethatitwasthreedaysafterpartingfromthetug，justoutsidethechannel——tobeprecise。Aheadwindhadsetinwithunpleasantdampweather。Hehadcomeuptoleewardofthepoop，stillfeelingverymuchofastranger，andanuntriedofficer，atsixintheeveningtotakehiswatch。Toseeherwasquiteasunexpectedasseeingavision。Whensheturnedawayherheadherecollectedhimselfanddroppedhiseyes。Whathecouldseethenwasonly，closetothelongchaironwhichshereclined，apairoflong，thinlegsendinginblackclothbootstuckedinclosetotheskylightseat。Whenceheconcludedthatthe’oldgentleman，’whoworeagreycaplikethecaptain’s，wassittingbyher——hisdaughter。Inhisfirstastonishmenthehadstoppeddeadshort，withtheconsequencethatnowhefeltverymuchabashedathavingbetrayedhissurprise。Buthecouldn’tverywellturntailandboltoffthepoop。Hehadcomethereonduty。So，stillwithdowncasteyes，hemadehiswaypastthem。Onlywhenhegotasfarasthewheel-gratingdidhelookup。Shewashiddenfromhimbythebackofherdeck-chair；buthehadtheviewoftheownerofthethin，agedlegsseatedontheskylight，hisclean-shavedcheek，histhincompressedmouthwithahollowineachcorner，thesparsegreylocksescapingfromunderthetweedcap，andcurlingslightlyonthecollarofthecoat。HeleanedforwardalittleoverMrs。Anthony，buttheywerenottalking。CaptainAnthony，walkingwithaspringyhurriedgaitontheothersideofthepoopfromendtoend，gazedstraightbeforehim。YoungPowellmighthavethoughtthathiscaptainwasnotawareofhispresenceeither。However，heknewbetter，andforthatreasonspentamostuncomfortablehourmotionlessbythecompassbeforehiscaptainstoppedinhisswiftpacingandwithanalmostvisibleeffortmadesomeremarktohimabouttheweatherinalowvoice。BeforePowell，whowasstartled，couldfindawordofanswer，thecaptainswungoffagainonhisendlesstrampwithafixedgaze。Andtillthesupperbellrangsilencedweltoverthatpooplikeanevilspell。Thecaptainwalkedupanddownlookingstraightbeforehim，thehelmsmansteered，lookingupwardsatthesails，theoldgentontheskylightlookeddownonhisdaughter——andMr。Powellconfessedtomethathedidn’tknowwheretolook，feelingasthoughhehadblunderedinwherehehadnobusiness——whichwasabsurd。Atlasthefastenedhiseyesonthecompasscard，tookrefuge，inspirit，insidethebinnacle。Hefeltchilledmorethanheshouldhavebeenbythechillyduskfallingonthemuddygreenseaofthesoundingsfromasmoothlycloudedsky。Afitfulwindsweptthecheerlesswaste，andtheship，hauledupsocloseastocheckherway，seemedtoprogressbylanguidfitsandstartsagainsttheshortseaswhichsweptalonghersideswithasnarlingsound。
YoungPowellthoughtthatthiswasthedreariesteveningaspectoftheseahehadeverseen。Hewasgladwhentheotheroccupantsofthepoopleftitatthesoundofthebell。Thecaptainfirst，withasuddenswerveinhiswalktowardsthecompanion，andnotevenlookingoncetowardshiswifeandhiswife’sfather。Thosetwogotupandmovedtowardsthecompanion，theoldgentveryerect，histhinlocksstirringgentlyaboutthenapeofhisneck，andcarryingtherugsoverhisarm。ThegirlwhowasMrs。Anthonywentdownfirst。Themurkytwilighthadsettledindeepshadowonherface。
ShelookedatMr。Powellinpassing。Hethoughtthatshewasverypale。Coldperhaps。Theoldgentstoppedamoment，thinandstiff，beforetheyoungman，andinavoicewhichwaslowbutdistinctenough，andwithoutanyparticularaccent——notevenofinquiry——hesaid:”Youarethenewsecondofficer，Ibelieve。”
Mr。Powellansweredintheaffirmative，wonderingifthiswereafriendlyoverture。HehadnoticedthatMr。Smith’seyeshadasortofinwardlookasthoughhehaddislikedordisdainedhissurroundings。Thecaptain’swifehaddisappearedthendownthecompanionstairs。Mr。Smithsaid’Ah！’andwaitedalittlelongertoputanotherquestioninhisincuriousvoice。”Anddidyouknowthemanwhowasherebeforeyou？””No，”saidyoungPowell，”Ididn’tknowanybodybelongingtothisshipbeforeIjoined。””Hewasmucholderthanyou。Twiceyourage。Perhapsmore。Hishairwasirongrey。Yes。Certainlymore。”
Thelow，repressedvoicepaused，buttheoldmandidnotmoveaway。
Headded:”Isn’titunusual？”
Mr。Powellwassurprisednotonlybybeingengagedinconversation，butalsobyitscharacter。Itmighthavebeenthesuggestionofthewordutteredbythisoldman，butitwasdistinctlyatthatmomentthathebecameawareofsomethingunusualnotonlyinthisencounterbutgenerallyaroundhim，abouteverybody，intheatmosphere。Theverysea，withshortflashesoffoamburstingouthereandthereinthegloomydistances，theunchangeable，safeseashelteringamanfromallpassions，exceptitsownanger，seemedqueertothequickglancehethrewtowindwardwherethealreadyeffacedhorizontracednoreassuringlimittotheeye。Intheexpiring，diffusedtwilight，andbeforethecloudednightdroppeditsmysteriousveil，itwastheimmensityofspacemadevisible——almostpalpable。YoungPowellfeltit。Hefeltitinthesuddensenseofhisisolation；thetrustworthy，powerfulshipofhisfirstacquaintancereducedtoaspeck，tosomethingalmostundistinguishable，themeresupportforthesolesofhistwofeetbeforethatunexpectedoldmanbecomingsosuddenlyarticulateinadarkeninguniverse。
Ittookhimamomentorsotoseizethedriftofthequestion。Herepeatedslowly:’Unusual……Oh，youmeanforanelderlymantobethesecondofaship。Idon’tknow。Thereareagoodmanyofuswhodon’tgeton。Hedidn’tgeton，Isuppose。’
Theother，hisheadbowedalittle，hadtheairoflisteningwithacuteattention。”Andnowhehasbeentakentothehospital，”hesaid。”Ibelieveso。Yes。IrememberCaptainAnthonysayingsointheshippingoffice。””Possiblyabouttodie，”wentontheoldman，inhiscarefuldeliberatetone。”Andperhapsgladenoughtodie。”
Mr。Powellwasyoungenoughtobestartledatthesuggestion，whichsoundedconfidentialandblood-curdlinginthedusk。Hesaidsharplythatitwasnotverylikely，asifdefendingtheabsentvictimoftheaccidentfromanunkindaspersion。Hefelt，infact，indignant。Theotheremittedashortstifledlaughofaconciliatorynature。Thesecondbellrangunderthepoop。Hemadeamovementatthesound，butlingered。”WhatIsaidwasnotmeantseriously，”hemurmured，withthatstrangeairoffearingtobeoverheard。”Notinthiscase。Iknowtheman。”
Theoccasion，orratherthewantofoccasion，forthisconversation，hadsharpenedtheperceptionsoftheunsophisticatedsecondofficeroftheFerndale。Hewasalivetotheslightestshadeoftone，andfeltasifthis”Iknowtheman”shouldhavebeenfollowedbya”hewasnofriendofmine。”Butaftertheshortestpossiblebreaktheoldgentlemancontinuedtomurmurdistinctlyandevenly:”Whereasyouhaveneverseenhim。Nevertheless，whenyouhavegonethroughasmanyyearsasIhave，youwillunderstandhowaneventputtinganendtoone’sexistencemaynotbealtogetherunwelcome。
Ofcoursetherearestupidaccidents。Andeventhenoneneedn’tbeveryangry。Whatisittobedeprivedoflife？It’ssoondone。
Butwhatwouldyouthinkofthefeelingsofamanwhoshouldhavehadhislifestolenfromhim？Cheatedoutofit，Isay！”
Heceasedabruptly，andremainedstilllongenoughfortheastonishedPowelltostammeroutanindistinct:”Whatdoyoumean？
Idon’tunderstand。”Then，withalow’Good-night’glidedafewsteps，andsankthroughtheshadowofthecompanionintothelamplightbelowwhichdidnotreachhigherthantheturnofthestaircase。
Thestrangewords，thecautioustone，thewholepersonleftastronguneasinessinthemindofMr。Powell。Hestartedwalkingthepoopingreatmentalconfusion。Hefeltalladrift。Thiswasfunnytalkandnomistake。Andthiscautiouslowtoneasthoughhewerewatchedbysomeonewasmorethanfunny。Theyoungsecondofficerhesitatedtobreaktheestablishedruleofeveryship’sdiscipline；
butatlastcouldnotresistthetemptationofgettingholdofsomeotherhumanbeing，andspoketothemanatthewheel。”Didyouhearwhatthisgentlemanwassayingtome？””No，sir，”answeredthesailorquietly。Then，encouragedbythisevidenceoflaxityinhisofficer，madeboldtoadd，”Aqueerfish，sir。”Thiswastentative，andMr。Powell，busywithhisownview，notsayinganything，heventuredfurther。”Theyaremorelikepassengers。Oneseessomequeerpassengers。””Whoarelikepassengers？”askedPowellgruffly。”Why，thesetwo，sir。”
CHAPTERTHREE——DEVOTEDSERVANTS——ANDTHELIGHTOFAFLARE
YoungPowellthoughttohimself:”Themen，too，arenoticingit。”
Indeed，thecaptain’sbehaviourtohiswifeandtohiswife’sfatherwasnoticeableenough。Itwasasiftheyhadbeenapairofnotverycongenialpassengers。Butperhapsitwasnotalwayslikethat。
Thecaptainmighthavebeenputoutbysomething。
WhentheaggrievedFranklincameondeckMr。Powellmadearemarktothateffect。Forhiscuriositywasaroused。
Themategrumbled”Seemstoyou？……Putout？……eh？”Hebuttonedhisthickjacketuptothethroat，andonlythenaddedagloomy”Aye，likelyenough，”whichdiscouragedfurtherconversation。
Butnoencouragementwouldhaveinducedthenewly-joinedsecondmatetoenterthewayofconfidences。Hiswasaninstinctiveprudence。
PowelldidnotknowwhyitwashehadresolvedtokeephisowncounselastohiscolloquywithMr。Smith。Buthiscuriositydidnotslumber。Sometimeafterwards，againatthereliefofwatches，inthecourseofalittletalk，hementionedMrs。Anthony’sfatherquitecasually，andtriedtofindoutfromthematewhohewas。”Itwouldtakeaclevermantofindthatout，asthingsareonboardnow，”Mr。Franklinsaid，unexpectedlycommunicative。”ThefirstI
sawofhimwaswhenshebroughthimalongsideinafour-wheeleronemorningabouthalf-pasteleven。Thecaptainhadcomeonboardearly，andwasdowninthecabinthathadbeenfittedoutforhim。
DidItellyouthatifyouwantthecaptainforanythingyoumuststampontheportsideofthedeck？That’sso。Thisshipisnotonlyunlikewhatsheusedtobe，butsheislikenoothership，anyhow。Didyoueverhearofthecaptain’sroombeingontheportside？Bothofthemsterncabinshavebeenfittedupafreshlikeablessedpalace。Agangofpeoplefromsometip-topWest-Endhousewerefussinghereonboardwithhangingsandfurnitureforafortnight，asiftheQueenwerecomingwithus。Ofcoursethestarboardcabinisthebedroomone，butthepoorcaptainhangsouttoportonacouch，sothatincasewewanthimondeckatnight，Mrs。Anthonyshouldnotbestartled。Nervous！Phoo！Awomanwhomarriesasailorandmakesuphermindtocometoseashouldhavenoblamedjumpinessabouther，Isay。Butnevermind。DirectlytheoldcabpointedroundthecornerofthewarehouseIcalledouttothecaptainthathisladywascomingaboard。Heansweredme，butasIdidn’tseehimcoming，Iwentdownthegangwaymyselftohelpheralight。Shejumpsoutexcitedlywithouttouchingmyarm，orasmuchassaying”thankyou”or”goodmorning”oranything，turnsbacktothecab，andthenthatoldjokercomesoutslowly。Ihadn’tnoticedhiminside。Ihadn’texpectedtoseeanybody。Itgavemeastart。
Shesays:”Myfather——Mr。Franklin。”Hewasstaringatmelikeanowl。”Howdoyoudo，sir？”saysI。Bothofthemlookedfunny。Itwasasifsomethinghadhappenedtothemontheway。Neitherofthemmoved，andIstoodbywaiting。Thecaptainshowedhimselfonthepoop；andIsawhimatthesidelookingover，andthenhedisappeared；onthewaytomeetthemonshore，Iexpected。Buthejustwentdownbelowagain。So，notseeinghim，Isaid:”Letmehelpyouonboard，sir。””Onboard！”saysheinasillyfashion。”Onboard！””It’snotaverygoodladder，butit’squitefirm，”
saysI，asheseemedtobeafraidofit。Andhedidn’tlookabroken-downoldman，either。Youcanseeyourselfwhatheis。
Straightasapoker，andlifeenoughinhimyet。Buthemadenomove，andIbegantofeelfoolish。Thenshecomesforward。”Oh！
Thankyou，Mr。Franklin。I’llhelpmyfatherup。”Flabbergastedme——tobechokedofflikethis。Pushedinbetweenhimandmewithoutasmuchasalookmyway。SoofcourseIdroppedit。Whatdoyouthink？Ifellback。Iwouldhavegoneuponboardatonceandleftthemonthequaytocomeuporstaytheretillnextweek，onlytheywereblockingtheway。Icouldn’tverywellshovethemononeside。Devilonlyknowswhatwasupbetweenthem。Thereshewas，paleasdeath，talkingtohimveryfast。Hegotasredasaturkey-cock——dashmeifhedidn’t。Abad-temperedoldbloke，Icantellyou。Andabadlot，too。Nevermind。Icouldn’thearwhatshewassayingtohim，butsheputforceenoughintoittoshakeher。Itseemed——itseemed，mind！——thathedidn’twanttogoonboard。Ofcourseitcouldn’thavebeenthat。Iknowbetter。Well，shetookhimbythearm，abovetheelbow，asiftoleadhim，orpushhimrather。Iwasstandingnotquitetenfeetoff。WhyshouldI
havegoneaway？Iwasanxioustogetbackonboardassoonastheywouldletme。Ididn’twanttooverhearherblamedwhisperingeither。ButIcouldn’tstaythereforever，soImadeamovetogetpastthemifIcould。Andthat’showIheardafewwords。Itwastheoldchap——somethingnastyaboutbeing”undertheheel”ofsomebodyorother。Thenhesays，”Idon’twantthissacrifice。”
WhatitmeantIcan’ttell。Itwasaquarrel——ofthatIamcertain。
Shelooksoverhershoulder，andseesmeprettyclosetothem。I
don’tknowwhatshefoundtosayintohisear，buthegavewaysuddenly。Helookedroundatmetoo，andtheywentuptogethersoquicklythenthatwhenIgotonthequarter-deckIwasonlyintimetoseetheinnerdoorofthepassagecloseafterthem。Queer——eh？
Butifitwereonlyqueernessonewouldn’tmind。Someluggageinnewtrunkscameonboardintheafternoon。Weundockedatmidnight。
AndmayIbehangedifIknowwhoorwhathewasoris。Ihaven’tbeenabletofindout。No，Idon’tknow。Hemayhavebeenanything。AllIknowisthatonce，yearsagowhenIwenttoseetheDerbywithafriend，Isawapea-and-thimblechapwholookedjustlikethatoldmysteryfatheroutofacab。”
Allthisthegoggle-eyedmatehadsaidinaresentfulandmelancholyvoice，withpauses，tothegentlemurmurofthesea。Itwasforhimabittersortofpleasuretohaveafreshpairofears，anewcomer，towhomhecouldrepeatallthesemattersofgriefandsuspiciontalkedoverendlesslybythebandofCaptainAnthony’sfaithfulsubordinates。Itwasevidentlysorefreshingtohisworriedspiritthatitmadehimforgettheadvisabilityofalittlecautionwithacompletestranger。ButreallywithMr。Powelltherewasnodanger。
Amused，atfirst，attheseplaints，heprovokedthemforfun。
Afterwards，turningthemoverinhismind，hebecameimpressed，andastheimpressiongrewstrongerwiththedayshisresolutiontokeepittohimselfgrewstrongertoo。
Whatmadeitalltheeasiertokeep——Imeantheresolution——wasthatPowell’ssentimentofamusedsurpriseatwhatstruckhimatfirstasmereabsurditywasnotunmingledwithindignation。Andhisyearsweretoofew，hispositiontoonovel，hisrelianceonhisownopinionnotyetfirmenoughtoallowhimtoexpressitwithanyeffect。Andthen——whatwouldhavebeentheuse，anyhow——andwherewasthenecessity？
Butthisthing，familiarandmysteriousatthesametime，occupiedhisimagination。Thesolitudeoftheseaintensifiesthethoughtsandthefactsofone’sexperiencewhichseemstolieattheverycentreoftheworld，astheshipwhichcarriesonealwaysremainsthecentrefigureoftheroundhorizon。Heviewedtheapoplectic，goggle-eyedmateandthesaturnine，heavy-eyedstewardasthevictimsofapeculiarandsecretformoflunacywhichpoisonedtheirlives。Buthedidnotgivethemhissympathyonthataccount。No。
Thatstrangeafflictionawakenedinhimasortofsuspiciouswonder。
Once——anditwasatnightagain；fortheofficersoftheFerndalekeepingwatchandwatchaswascustomaryinthosedays，hadbutfewoccasionsforintercourse——once，Isay，thethickMr。Franklin，aquaintlybulkyfigureunderthestars，theusualwitnessesofhisoutpourings，askedhimwithanabruptnesswhichwasnotcallous，butinhissimpleway:”Ibelieveyouhavenoparentsliving？”
Mr。Powellsaidthathehadlosthisfatherandmotherataveryearlyage。”Mymotherisstillalive，”declaredMr。Franklininatonewhichsuggestedthathewasgratifiedbythefact。”Theoldladyislastingwell。Ofcourseshe’sgottobemadecomfortable。Awomanmustbelookedafter，and，ifitcomestothat，Isay，givemeamother。IdaresayifshehadnotlasteditoutsowellImighthavegoneandgotmarried。Idon’tknow，though。Wesailorshaven’tgotmuchtimetolookaboutustoanypurpose。Anyhow，astheoldladywasthereIhaven’t，Imaysay，lookedatagirlinallmylife。NotthatIwasn’tpartialtofemalesocietyinmytime，”
headdedwithapatheticintonation，whilethewhitesofhisgoggleeyesgleamedamorouslyundertheclearnightsky。”Verypartial，I
maysay。”
Mr。Powellwasamused；andasthesecommunicationstookplaceonlywhenthematewasrelievedoffdutyhehadnoseriousobjectiontothem。Themate’spresencemadethefirsthalf-hourandsometimesevenmoreofhiswatchondeckpassaway。IfhisseniordidnotmindlosingsomeofhisrestitwasnotMr。Powell’saffair。
Franklinwasadecentfellow。Hisintentionwasnottoboastofhisfilialpiety。”OfcourseImeanrespectablefemalesociety，”heexplained。”Theothersortisneitherherenorthere。Iblamenoman’sconduct，butawell-brought-upyoungfellowlikeyouknowsthatthere’spreciouslittlefuntobegotoutofit。”Hefetchedadeepsigh。”IwishCaptainAnthony’smotherhadbeenalastingsortlikemyoldlady。
Hewouldhavehadtolookafterherandhewouldhavedoneitwell。
CaptainAnthonyisaproperman。Anditwouldhavesavedhimfromthemostfoolish——”
Hedidnotfinishthephrasewhichcertainlywasturningbitterinhismouth。Mr。Powellthoughttohimself:”Therehegoesagain。”
Helaughedalittle。”Idon’tunderstandwhyyouaresohardonthecaptain，Mr。
Franklin。Ithoughtyouwereagreatfriendofhis。”
Mr。Franklinexclaimedatthis。Hewasnothardonthecaptain。
Nothingwasfurtherfromhisthoughts。Friend！Ofcoursehewasagoodfriendandafaithfulservant。HebeggedPowelltounderstandthatifCaptainAnthonychosetostrikeabargainwithOldNickto-
morrow，andOldNickweregoodtothecaptain，he(Franklin)wouldfinditinhishearttoloveOldNickforthecaptain’ssake。Thatwasso。Ontheotherhand，ifasaint，anangelwithwhitewingscamealongand——”
Hebrokeoffshortagainasifhisownvehemencehadfrightenedhim。
Theninhisstrainedpatheticvoice(whichhehadneverraised)heobservedthatitwasnousetalking。Anybodycouldseethatthemanwaschanged。”Astothat，”saidyoungPowell，”itisimpossibleformetojudge。””GoodLord！”whisperedthemate。”Aneducated，cleveryoungfellowlikeyouwithapairofeyesonhimandsomesensetoo！Isthathowahappymanlooks？Eh？Youngyoumaybe，butyouaren’takid；andIdareyoutosay’Yes！’”
Mr。Powelldidnottakeupthechallenge。Hedidnotknowwhattothinkofthemate’sview。Still，itseemedasifithadopenedhisunderstandinginameasure。Heconcededthatthecaptaindidnotlookverywell。”Notverywell，”repeatedthematemournfully。”Doyouthinkamanwithafacelikethatcanhopetolivehislifeout？Youhaven’tknockedaboutlonginthisworldyet，butyouareasailor，youhavebeeninthreeorfourships，yousay。Well，haveyoueverseenashipmasterwalkinghisowndeckasifhedidnotknowwhathehadunderfoot？Haveyou？Dam’meifIdon’tthinkthatheforgetswhereheis。Ofcoursehecanbenootherthanaprimeseaman；butit’slucky，allthesame，hehasmeonboard。Iknowbythistimewhathewantsdonewithoutbeingtold。DoyouknowthatIhavehadnoordergivenmesinceweleftport？DoyouknowthathehasneveronceopenedhislipstomeunlessIspoketohimfirst？I？Hischiefofficer；hisshipmateforfullsixyears，withwhomhehadnocrossword——notonceinallthattime。Aye。Notacrosslookeven。
TruethatwhenIdomakehimspeaktome，thereishisdearoldself，thequickeye，thekindvoice。CouldhardlybeothertohisoldFranklin。Butwhat’sthegood？Eyes，voice，everything’smilesaway。AndforallthatItakegoodcarenevertoaddresshimwhenthepoopisn’tclear。Yes！Onlywetwoandnothingbuttheseawithus。Youthinkitwouldbeallright；theonlychiefmateheeverhad——Mr。FranklinhereandMr。Franklinthere——whenanythingwentwrongthefirstwordyouwouldhearaboutthedeckswas’Franklin！’——Iamthirteenyearsolderthanheis——youwouldthinkitwouldbeallright，wouldn’tyou？Onlywetwoonthispooponwhichwesaweachotherfirst——heayoungmaster——toldmethathethoughtIwouldsuithimverywell——wetwo，andthirty-onedaysoutatsea，andit’snogood！It’sliketalkingtoamanstandingonshore。Ican’tgethimback。Ican’tgetathim。IfeelsometimesasifImustshakehimbythearm:”Wakeup！Wakeup！Youarewanted，sir……！”
YoungPowellrecognizedtheexpressionofatruesentiment，athingsorareinthisworldwheretherearesomanymutesandsomanyexcellentreasonsevenatseaforanarticulatemannottogivehimselfaway，thathefeltsomethinglikerespectforthisoutburst。
Itwasnotloud。Thegrotesquesquatshape，withtheknoboftheheadasiframmeddownbetweenthesquareshouldersbyablowfromaclub，movedvaguelyinacircumscribedspacelimitedbythetwoharness-caskslashedtothefrontrailofthepoop，withoutgestures，handsinthepocketsofthejacket，elbowspressedcloselytoitsside；andthevoicewithoutresonance，passedfromangertodismayandbackagainwithoutasinglelouderwordinthehurrieddelivery，interruptedonlybyslightgaspsforairasifthespeakerwerebeingchokedbythesuppressedpassionofhisgrief。
Mr。Powell，thoughmovedtoacertainextent，wasbynomeanscarriedaway。Andjustashethoughtthatitwasallover，theother，fidgetinginthedarkness，washeardagainexplosive，bewilderedbutnotveryloudinthesilenceoftheshipandthegreatemptypeaceofthesea。”Theyhavedonesomethingtohim！Whatisit？Whatcanitbe？
Can’tyouguess？Don’tyouknow？””Goodheavens！”YoungPowellwasastoundedondiscoveringthatthiswasanappealaddressedtohim。”HowonearthcanIknow？””Youdotalktothatwhite-faced，black-eyed……I’veseenyoutalkingtohermorethanadozentimes。”
YoungPowell，hissympathysuddenlychilled，remarkedinadisdainfultonethatMrs。Anthony’seyeswerenotblack。”IwishtoGodshehadneversetthemonthecaptain，whatevercolourtheyare，”retortedFranklin。”Sheandthatoldchapwiththescrapedjawswhositsoverherandstaresdownatherdead-whitefacewithhisyelloweyes——confoundthem！Perhapsyouwilltellusthathiseyesarenotyellow？”
Powell，notinterestedinthecolourofMr。Smith’seyes，madeavaguegesture。Yellowornotyellow，itwasallonetohim。
Thematemurmuredtohimself。”No。Hecan’tknow。No！Nomorethanababy。Itwouldtakeanolderhead。””Idon’tevenunderstandwhatyoumean，”observedMr。Powellcoldly。”Andeventhebestheadwouldbepuzzledbysuchdevil-work，”thematecontinued，muttering。”Well，Ihaveheardtellofwomendoingforamaninonewayoranotherwhentheygothimfairlyashore。
Buttobringtheirdevilrytoseaandfastenonsuchaman！……
It’ssomethingIcan’tunderstand。ButIcanwatch。Letthemlookout——Isay！”
Hisshortfigure，unabletostoop，withoutflexibility，couldnotexpressdejection。Hewasverytiredsuddenly；hedraggedhisfeetgoingoffthepoop。Beforeheleftitwithnearlyanhourofhiswatchbelowsacrificed，headdressedhimselfoncemoretoouryoungmanwhostoodabreastofthemizzenrigginginanunreceptivemoodexpressedbysilenceandimmobility。Hedidnotregret，hesaid，havingspokenopenlyonthisveryseriousmatter。”Idon’tknowaboutitsseriousness，sir，”wasMr。Powell’sfrankanswer。”Butifyouthinkyouhavebeentellingmesomethingverynewyouaremistaken。Youcan’tkeepthatmatteroutofyourspeeches。It’sthesortofthingI’vebeenhearingmoreorlesseversinceIcameonboard。”
Mr。Powell，speakingtruthfully，didnotmeantospeakoffensively。
Hehadinstinctsofwisdom；hefeltthatthiswasaseriousaffair，forithadnothingtodowithreason。Hedidnotwanttoraiseanenemyforhimselfinthemate。AndMr。Franklindidnottakeoffence。ToMr。Powell’struthfulstatementheansweredwithequaltruthandsimplicitythatitwasverylikely，verylikely。Withathinglikethat(nextdoortowitchcraftalmost)weighingonhismind，thewonderwasthathecouldthinkofanythingelse。Thepoormanmusthavefoundintherestlessnessofhisthoughtstheillusionofbeingengagedinanactivecontestwithsomepowerofevil；forhislastwordsashewentlingeringlydownthepoopladderexpressedthequainthopethathewouldgethim，Powell，”onoursideyet。”
Mr。Powell——justimagineastraightforwardyoungsterassailedinthisfashiononthehighseas——answeredmerelybyanembarrassedanduneasylaughwhichreflectedexactlythestateofhisinnocentsoul。
Theapoplecticmate，alreadyhalf-waydown，wentupagainthreestepsofthepoopladder。Why，yes。Aproperyoungfellow，themateexpected，wouldn’tstandbyandseeaman，agoodsailorandhisownskipper，introublewithouttakinghispartagainstacoupleofshorepeoplewho——Mr。Powellinterruptedhimimpatiently，askingwhatwasthetrouble？”Whatisityouarehintingat？”hecriedwithaninexplicableirritation。”Idon’tliketothinkofhimallalonedowntherewiththesetwo，”
Franklinwhisperedimpressively。”UponmywordIdon’t。Godonlyknowswhatmaybegoingonthere……Don’tlaugh……ItwasbadenoughlastvoyagewhenMrs。Brownhadacabinaft；butnowit’sworse。Itfrightensme。Ican’tsleepsometimesforthinkingofhimallalonethere，shutofffromusall。”
Mrs。Brownwasthesteward’swife。YoumustunderstandthatshortlyafterhisvisittotheFynecottage(withallitsconsequences)，AnthonyhadgotanoffertogototheWesternIslands，andbringhomethecargoofsomeshipwhich，damagedinacollisionorastranding，tookrefugeinSt。Michael，andwascondemnedthere。
RoderickAnthonyhadconnectionswhichwouldputsuchpayingjobsinhisway。SoFloradeBarralhadbutafivemonths’voyage，amereexcursion，forherfirsttrialofsea-life。AndAnthony，dearlytryingtobemostattentive，hadinducedthisMrs。Brown，thewifeofhisfaithfulsteward，tocomealongasmaidtohisbride。Butforsomereasonorotherthisarrangementwasnotcontinued。Andthemate，tormentedbyindefinitealarmsandforebodings，regrettedit。HeregrettedthatJaneBrownwasnolongeronboard——asasortofrepresentativeofCaptainAnthony’sfaithfulservants，towatchquietlywhatwentoninthatpartoftheshipthisfatalmarriagehadclosedtotheirvigilance。Thathadbeenexcellent。Forshewasadependablewoman。
Powelldidnotdetectanyparticularexcellenceinwhatseemedaspyingemployment。ButinhissimplicityhesaidthatheshouldhavethoughtMrs。Anthonywouldhavebeengladanyhowtohaveanotherwomanonboard。Hewasthinkingofthewhite-facedgirlishpersonalitywhichitseemedtohimoughttohavebeencaredfor。
Theinnocentyoungmanalwayslookeduponthegirlasimmature；
somethingofachildyet。”She！glad！Whyitwasshewhohadherfiredout。Shedidn’twantanybodyaroundthecabin。Mrs。Browniscertainofit。Shetoldherhusbandso。Youaskthestewardandhearwhathehastosayaboutit。That’swhyIdon’tlikeit。Acapablewomanwhoknewherplace。Butno。Outshemustgo。Fornofault，mindyou。Thecaptainwasashamedtosendheraway。Butthatwifeofhis——ayethepreciouspairofthemhavegotholdofhim。Ican’tspeaktohimforaminuteonthepoopwithoutthatthimble-riggingcooncomingglidingup。I’lltellyouwhat。Ioverheardonce——GodknowsI
didn’ttryto——onlyheforgotIwasontheothersideoftheskylightwithmysextant——Ioverheardhim——youknowhowhesitshangingoverherchairandtalkingawaywithoutproperlyopeninghismouth——yesIcaughtthewordrightenough。Hewasalludingtothecaptainas”thejailer。”Thejail……！”
Franklinbrokeoffwithaprofaneexecration。Asilencereignedforalongtimeandtheslight，verygentlerollingoftheshipslippingbeforetheN。E。trade-windseemedtobeasoothingdeviceforlullingtosleepthesuspicionsofmenwhotrustthemselvestothesea。
Adeepsighwasheardfollowedbythemate’svoiceaskingdismallyifthatwasthewayonewouldspeakofamantowhomonewishedwell？Nobetterproofofsomethingwrongwasneeded。Thereforehehoped，ashevanishedatlast，thatMr。Powellwouldbeontheirside。AndthistimeMr。Powelldidnotanswerthishopewithanembarrassedlaugh。
Thatyoungofficerwasmoreandmoresurprisedatthenatureoftheincongruousrevelationscomingtohiminthesurroundingsandintheatmosphereoftheopensea。Itisdifficultforustounderstandtheextent，thecompleteness，thecomprehensivenessofhisinexperience，foruswhodidn’tgotoseaoutofasmallprivateschoolattheageoffourteenyearsandninemonths。Leaningonhiselbowinthemizzenriggingandsostillthatthehelmsmanoverthereattheotherendofthepoopmighthave(andheprobablydid)
suspecthimofbeingcriminallyasleeponduty，hetriedto”getholdofthatthing”bysomesidewhichwouldfitinwithhissimplenotionsofpsychology。”Whatthedeucearetheyworryingabout？”heaskedhimselfinadazedandcontemptuousimpatience。Butallthesame”jailer”wasafunnynametogiveaman；unkind，unfriendly，nasty。HewassorrythatMr。Smithwasguiltyinthatmatterbecause，thetruthmustbetold，hehadbeentoacertainextentsensibleofhavingbeennoticedinaquietmannerbythefatherofMrs。Anthony。Youthappreciatesthatsortofrecognitionwhichisthesubtlestformofflatteryagecanoffer。Mr。Smithseizedopportunitiestoapproachhimondeck。Hisremarksweresometimesweirdandenigmatical。
Hewasdoubtlessaneccentricoldgent。Butfromthattocallinghisson-in-law(whomheneverapproachedondeck)nastynamesbehindhisbackwasalongstep。
AndMr。Powellmarvelled……””Whilehewastellingmeallthis，”——Marlowchangedhistone——”I
marvelledevenmore。Itwasasifmisfortunemarkeditsvictimsontheforeheadforthedislikeofthecrowd。Iamnotthinkinghereofnumbers。Twomenmaybehavelikeacrowd，threecertainlywillwhentheiremotionsareengaged。ItwasasiftheforeheadofFloradeBarralweremarked。Wasthegirlborntobeavictim；tobealwaysdislikedandcrushedasifsheweretoofineforthisworld？
Ortooluckless——sincethatalsoisoftencountedassin。
Yes，ImarvelledmoresinceIknewmoreofthegirlthanMr。Powell——
ifonlyhertruename；andmoreofCaptainAnthony——ifonlythefactthathewasthesonofadelicateeroticpoetofamarkedlyrefinedandautocratictemperament。Yes，IknewtheirjointstorieswhichMr。Powelldidnotknow。Thechapterinithewasopeningtome，thesea-chapter，withsuchnewpersonagesasthesentimentalandapoplecticchief-mateandthemorosesteward，howeverastoundingtohiminitsdetachedconditionwasmuchmoresotomeasamemberofaseries，followingthechapteroutsidetheEasternHotelinwhich第一章
I
myselfhadplayedmypart。Inviewofherdeclarationsandmysageremarksitwasveryunexpected。Shehadmeantwell，andIhadcertainlymeantwelltoo。CaptainAnthony——asfarasIcouldgatherfromlittleFyne——hadmeantwell。Asfarassuchloftywordsmaybeappliedtotheobscurepersonagesofthisstorywewereallfilledwiththenoblestsentimentsandintentions。Theseawastheretogivethemtheshelterofitssolitudefreefromtheearth’spettysuggestions。Icouldwellmarvelinmyself，astowhathadhappened。
Ihopethatifhesawit，Mr。PowellforgavemethesmileofwhichI
wasguiltyatthatmoment。Thelightinthecabinofhislittlecutterwasdim。Andthesmilewasdimtoo。Dimandfleeting。Thegirl’slifehadpresenteditselftomeasatragi-comicaladventure，thesaddestthingonearth，slippingbetweenfranklaughterandunabashedtears。Yes，thesaddestfactsandthemostcommon，and，beingcommonperhapsthemostworthyofourunreservedpity。
Thepurelyhumanrealityiscapableoflyrismbutnotofabstraction。Nothingwillserveforitsunderstandingbuttheevidenceofrationallinkingupofcharactersandfacts。AndbeginningwithFloradeBarral，inthelightofmymemoriesIwascertainthatsheatleastmusthavebeenpassive；forthatisofnecessitythepartofwomen，thiswaitingonfatewhichsomeofthem，andnotthemostintelligent，coverupbythevainappearancesofagitation。FloradeBarralwasnotexceptionallyintelligentbutshewasthoroughlyfeminine。Shewouldbepassive(andthatdoesnotmeaninanimate)inthecircumstances，wherethemerefactofbeingawomanwasenoughtogiveheranoccultandsupremesignificance。Andshewouldbeenduringwhichistheessenceofwoman’svisible，tangiblepower。OfthatIwascertain。Hadshenotenduredalready？Yetitissotruethatthegermofdestructionliesinwaitforusmortals，evenattheverysourceofourstrength，thatonemaydieoftoomuchenduranceaswellasoftoolittleofit。
Suchwasmytrainofthought。AndIwasmindfulalsoofmyfirstviewofher——toyingorperhapscommuninginearnestwiththepossibilitiesofaprecipice。ButIdidnotaskMr。PowellanxiouslywhathadhappenedtoMrs。Anthonyintheend。Ilethimgooninhisownwayfeelingthatnomatterwhatstrangefactshewouldhavetodisclose，Iwascertaintoknowmuchmoreofthemthanheeverdidknoworcouldpossiblyguess……”
Marlowpausedforquitealongtime。Heseemeduncertainasthoughhehadadvancedsomethingbeyondmygrasp。PurposelyImadenosign。”Youunderstand？”heasked。”Perfectly，”Isaid。”Youaretheexpertinthepsychologicalwilderness。ThisislikeoneofthoseRed-skinstorieswherethenoblesavagescarryoffagirlandthehonestbackwoodsmanwithhisincomparableknowledgefollowsthetrackandreadsthesignsofherfateinafootprinthere，abrokentwigthere，atrinketdroppedbytheway。Ihavealwayslikedsuchstories。Goon。”
Marlowsmiledindulgentlyatmyjesting。”Itisnotexactlyastoryforboys，”hesaid。”Igoonthen。Thesign，asyoucallit，wasnotveryplentifulbutverymuchtothepurpose，andwhenMr。Powellheard(atacertainmomentIfeltboundtotellhim)whenheheardthatIhadknownMrs。Anthonybeforehermarriage，that，toacertainextent，Iwasherconfidant……Foryoucan’tdenythattoacertainextent……WellletussaythatIhadalookin……A
younggirl，youknow，issomethinglikeatemple。Youpassbyandwonderwhatmysteriousritesaregoingoninthere，whatprayers，whatvisions？Theprivilegedmen，thelover，thehusband，whoaregiventhekeyofthesanctuarydonotalwaysknowhowtouseit。
Formyself，withoutclaim，withoutmerit，simplybychanceIhadbeenallowedtolookthroughthehalf-openeddoorandIhadseenthesaddestpossibledesecration，thewitheredbrightnessofyouth，aspiritneithermadecringingnoryetdulledbutasifbewilderedinquiveringhopelessnessbygratuitouscruelty；self-confidencedestroyedand，instead，aresignedrecklessness，amournfulcallousness(andallthissimple，almostnaive)——beforethematerialandmoraldifficultiesofthesituation。Thepassiveanguishoftheluckless！
Iaskedmyself:wasn’tthatill-luckexhaustedyet？Ill-luckwhichislikethehateofinvisiblepowersinterpreted，madesensibleandinjuriousbytheactionsofmen？
Mr。Powellasyoumaywellimaginehadopenedhiseyesatmystatement。ButhewasfullofhisrecalledexperiencesonboardtheFerndale，andthestrangenessofbeingmixedupinwhatwentonaboard，simplybecausehisnamewasalsothenameofashipping-
master，kepthiminastateofwonderwhichmadeothercoincidences，howeverunlikely，notsoverysurprisingafterall。
Thisastonishingoccurrencewassopresenttohismindthathealwaysfeltasthoughhewerethereunderfalsepretences。Andthisfeelingwassouncomfortablethatitnervedhimtobreakthroughtheawe-inspiringaloofnessofhiscaptain。Hewantedtomakeacleanbreastofit。IimaginethathisyouthstoodingoodsteadtoMr。
Powell。Oh，yes。Youthisapower。EvenCaptainAnthonyhadtotakesomenoticeofit，asifitrefreshedhimtoseesomethinguntouched，unscarred，unhardenedbysuffering。Orperhapstheverynoveltyofthatface，onboardashipwherehehadseenthesamefacesforyears，attractedhisattention。
WhetheronedayhedroppedawordtohisnewsecondofficeroronlylookedathimIdon’tknow；butMr。Powellseizedtheopportunitywhateveritwas。Thecaptainwhohadstartedandstoppedinhiseverlastingrapidwalksmoothedhisbrowverysoon，heardhimtotheendandthenlaughedalittle。”Ah！That’sthestory。Andyoufeltyoumustputmerightastothis。””Yes，sir。””Itdoesn’tmatterhowyoucameonboard，”saidAnthony。AndthenshowingthatperhapshewasnotsoutterlyabsentfromhisshipasFranklinsupposed:”That’sallright。Youseemtobegettingonverywellwitheverybody，”hesaidinhiscurthurriedtone，asiftalkinghurthim，andhiseyesalreadystrayingovertheseaasusual。”Yes，sir。”
Powelltellsmethatlookingthenatthestrongfacetowhichthathaggardexpressionwasreturning，hehadtheimpulse，fromsomeconfusedfriendlyfeeling，toadd:”Iamveryhappyonboardhere，sir。”
Thequicklyreturningglance，itssteadiness，abashedMr。Powellandmadehimevenstepbackalittle。Thecaptainlookedasthoughhehadforgottenthemeaningoftheword。”You——what？Ohyes……You……ofcourse……Happy。Whynot？”
Thiswasmerelymuttered；andnextmomentAnthonywasoffonhisheadlongtramphiseyesturnedtotheseaawayfromhisship。
Asailorindeedlooksgenerallyintothegreatdistances，butinCaptainAnthony’scasetherewas——asPowellexpressedit——somethingparticular，somethingpurposefulliketheavoidanceofpainortemptation。Itwasverymarkedonceonehadbecomeawareofit。
Before，onefeltonlyapronouncedstrangeness。Notthatthecaptain——Powellwascarefultoexplain——didn’tseethingsasaship-
mastershould。Theproofofitwasthatonthatveryoccasionhedesiredhimsuddenlyafteraperiodofsilentpacing，tohaveallthestaysailssheetseasedoff，andhewasgoingonwithsomeotherremarksonthesubjectofthesestaysailswhenMrs。Anthonyfollowedbyherfatheremergedfromthecompanion。Sheestablishedherselfinherchairtoleewardoftheskylightasusual。Thereuponthecaptaincutshortwhateverhewasgoingtosay，andinalittlewhilewentdownbelow。
IaskedMr。Powellwhetherthecaptainandhiswifeneverconversedondeck。Hesaidno——oratanyratetheyneverexchangedmorethanacoupleofwords。Therewassomeconstraintbetweenthem。Forinstance，onthatveryoccasion，whenMrs。Anthonycameouttheydidlookateachother；thecaptain’seyesindeedfollowedhertillshesatdown；buthedidnotspeaktoher；hedidnotapproachher；andafterwardsleftthedeckwithoutturninghisheadherwayafterthisfirstsilentexchangeofglances。
IaskedMr。Powellwhatdidhedothen，thecaptainbeingoutoftheway。”IwentoverandtalkedtoMrs。Anthony。Iwasthinkingthatitmustbeverydullforher。Sheseemedtobesuchastrangertotheship。””Thefatherwasthereofcourse？””Always，”saidPowell。”Hewasalwaystheresittingontheskylight，asifhewerekeepingwatchoverher。AndIthink，”headded，”thathewasworryingher。Notthatsheshoweditinanyway。Mrs。Anthonywasalwaysveryquietandalwaysreadytolookonestraightintheface。””Youtalkedtogetheralot？”Ipursuedmyinquiries。”Shemostlyletmetalktoher，”confessedMr。Powell。”Idon’tknowthatshewasverymuchinterested——butstillsheletme。Shenevercutmeshort。”
AllthesympathiesofMr。PowellwereforFloraAnthonyneedeBarral。ShewastheonlyhumanbeingyoungerthanhimselfonboardthatshipsincetheFerndalecarriednoboysandwasmannedbyafullcrewofableseamen。Yes！theiryouthhadcreatedasortofbondbetweenthem。Mr。Powell’sopencountenancemusthaveappearedtoherdistinctlypleasingamongstthemature，rough，crabbedoreveninimicalfacesshesawaroundher。WiththewarmgenerosityofhisageyoungPowellwasonherside，asitwere，evenbeforeheknewthatthereweresidestobetakenonboardthatship，andwhatthistakingsideswasabout。Therewasagirl。Anicegirl。Heaskedhimselfnoquestions。FloradeBarralwasnotsomuchyoungerinyearsthanhimself；butforsomereason，perhapsbycontrastwiththeacceptedideaofacaptain’swife，hecouldnotregardherotherwisebutasanextremelyyouthfulcreature。Atthesametime，apartfromherexaltedposition，sheexercisedoverhimthesupremacyawoman’searliermaturitygivesheroverayoungmanofherownage。Asamatteroffactwecanseethat，withouteverhavingmorethanahalfanhour’sconsecutiveconversationtogether，andthedistancesdulypreserved，thesetwowerebecomingfriends——
undertheeyeoftheoldman，Isuppose。
Howhefirstgotintouchwithhiscaptain’swifePowellrelatesinthisway。Itwaslongbeforehismemorableconversationwiththemateandshortlyaftergettingclearofthechannel。Itwasgloomyweather；deadheadwind，blowingquitehalfagale；theFerndaleunderreducedsailwasstretchingclose-hauledacrossthetrackofthehomewardboundships，justmovingthroughthewaterandnomore，sincetherewasnoobjectinpressingherandtheweatherlookedthreatening。Aboutteno’clockatnighthewasaloneonthepoop，incharge，keepingwellaftbytheweatherrailandstaringtowindward，whenamongstthewhite，breakingseas，undertheblacksky，hemadeoutthelightsofaship。Hewatchedthemforsometime。Shewasrunningdeadbeforethewindofcourse。Shewillpassjollyclose——hesaidtohimself；andthensuddenlyhefeltagreatmistrustofthatapproachingship。She’sheadingstraightforus——hethought。Itwasnothisbusinesstogetoutoftheway。Onthecontrary。AndhisuneasinessgrewbytherecollectionofthefortytonsofdynamiteinthebodyoftheFerndale；notthesortofcargoonethinksofwithequanimityinconnectionwithathreatenedcollision。Hegazedatthetwosmalllightsinthedarkimmensityfilledwiththeangrynoiseoftheseas。Theyfascinatedhimtilltheirplainnesstohissightgavehimaconvictionthattherewasdangerthere。Heknewinhismindwhattodointheemergency，butveryproperlyhefeltthathemustcallthecaptainoutatonce。
Hecrossedthedeckinonebound。Bytheimmemorialcustomandusageoftheseathecaptain’sroomisonthestarboardside。Youwouldjustassoonexpectyourcaptaintohavehisnoseatthebackofhisheadastohavehisstateroomontheportsideoftheship。
Powellforgotallaboutthedirectiononthatpointgivenhimbythechief。HeflewoverasIsaid，stampedwithhisfootandthenputtinghisfacetothecowlofthebigventilatorshouteddownthere:”Pleasecomeondeck，sir，”inavoicewhichwasnottremblingorscaredbutwhichwemaycallfairlyexpressive。Therecouldnotbeamistakeastotheurgenceofthecall。Butinsteadoftheexpectedalert”Allright！”andthesoundofarushdownthere，heheardonlyafaintexclamation——thensilence。
Thinkofhisastonishment！Heremainedthere，hisearinthecowloftheventilator，hiseyesfastenedonthosemenacingsidelightsdancingonthegustsofwindwhichswepttheangrydarknessofthesea。Itwasasthoughhehadwaitedanhourbutitwassomethingmuchlessthanaminutebeforehefairlybellowedintothewidetube”CaptainAnthony！”Anagitated”Whatisit？”waswhathehearddownthereinMrs。Anthony’svoice，lightrapidfootsteps……Whydidn’tshetrytowakehimup！”Iwantthecaptain，”heshouted，thengaveitup，makingadashatthecompanionwhereabluelightwaskept，resolvedtoactforhimself。
Onthewayheglancedatthehelmsmanwhosefacelightedupbythebinnaclelampswascalm。Hesaidrapidlytohim:”Standbytospinthathelmupatthefirstword。”Theanswer”Aye，aye，sir，”wasdeliveredinasteadyvoice。ThenMr。Powellafterashoutforthewatchondeckto”layaft，”rantotheship’ssideandstruckthebluelightontherail。
Asortofnastylittlespittingofsparkswasallthatcame。Thelight(perhapsaffectedbydamp)hadfailedtoignite。Thetimeofallthesevariousactsmustbecountedinseconds。Powellconfessedtomethatatthisfailureheexperiencedaparalysisofthought，ofvoice，oflimbs。Theunexpectednessofthismisfirepositivelyovercamehisfaculties。Itwastheonlythingforwhichhisimaginationwasnotprepared。Itwasknockedcleanover。Whenitgotupitwaswiththesuggestionthathemustdosomethingatonceortherewouldbeabroadsidesmashaccompaniedbytheexplosionofdynamite，inwhichbothshipswouldbeblownupandeverysoulonboardofthemwouldvanishofftheearthinanenormousflameanduproar。
Hesawthecatastrophehappeningandatthesamemoment，beforehecouldopenhismouthorstiralimbtowardoffthevision，avoiceverynearhisear，themeasuredvoiceofCaptainAnthonysaid:”Wouldn’tlight——eh？Throwitdown！Jumpfortheflare-up。”
ThespringofactivityinMr。Powellwasreleasedwithgreatforce。
Hejumped。Theflare-upwaskeptinsidethecompanionwithaboxofmatchesreadytohand。Almostbeforeheknewhehadmovedhewasdivingunderthecompanionslide。Hegotholdofthecaninthedarkandtriedtostrikealight。Buthehadtopresstheflare-
holdertohisbreastwithonearm，hisfingersweredampandstiff，hishandstrembledalittle。Onematchbroke。Anotherwentout。
InitsflamehesawthecolourlessfaceofMrs。Anthonyalittlebelowhim，standingonthecabinstairs。Hereyeswhichwereveryclosetohis(hewasinacrouchingpostureonthetopstep)seemedtoburndarklyinthevanishinglight。Ondeckthecaptain’svoicewasheardsuddenandunexpectedlysardonic:”Youhadbetterlooksharp，ifyouwanttobeintime。””Letmehavethebox，”saidMrs。Anthonyinahurriedandfamiliarwhisperwhichsoundedamusedasiftheyhadbeenacoupleofchildrenuptosomelarkbehindawall。Hewasgladoftheofferwhichseemedtohimverynatural，andwithoutceremony-”Hereyouare。Catchhold。”
Theirhandstouchedinthedarkandshetooktheboxwhileheheldtheparaffinsoakedtorchinitsironholder。Hethoughtofwarningher:”Lookoutforyourself。”Butbeforehehadthetimetofinishthesentencetheflareblazedupviolentlybetweenthemandhesawherthrowherselfbackwithanarmacrossherface。”Hallo，”heexclaimed；onlyhecouldnotstopamomenttoaskifshewashurt。
Heboltedoutofthecompanionstraightintohiscaptainwhotooktheflarefromhimandheldithighabovehishead。
Thefierceflameflutteredlikeasilkflag，throwinganangryswayingglaremingledwithmovingshadowsoverthepoop，lightinguptheconcavesurfacesofthesails，gleamingonthewetpaintofthewhiterails。AndyoungPowellturnedhiseyestowindwardwithacatchinhisbreath。
Thestrangeship，adarkershapeinthenight，didnotseemtobemovingonwardsbutonlytogrowmoredistinctrightabeam，staringattheFerndalewithonegreenandoneredeyewhichswayedandtossedasiftheybelongedtotherestlessheadofsomeinvisiblemonsterambushedinthenightamongstthewaves。Amoment，longlikeeternity，elapsed，and，suddenly，themonsterwhichseemedtotaketoitselftheshapeofamountainshutitsgreeneyewithoutasmuchasapreparatorywink。
Mr。Powelldrewafreebreath。”Allrightnow，”saidCaptainAnthonyinaquietundertone。HegavetheblazingflaretoPowellandwalkedafttowatchthepassingofthatmenaceofdestructioncomingblindlywithitsparti-colouredstareoutofablindnightonthewingsofasweepingwind。Herveryformcouldbedistinguishednowblackandelongatedamongstthehissingpatchesoffoamburstingalongherpath。
Asisalwaysthecasewithashiprunningbeforewindandseashedidnotseemtoanonlookertomoveveryfast；buttobeprogressingindolentlyinlongleisurelyboundsandpausesinthemidstoftheovertakingwaves。ItwasonlywhenactuallypassingthesternwithineasyhailoftheFerndale，thatherheadlongspeedbecameapparenttotheeye。Withtheredlightshutoffandsoaringlikeanimmenseshadowonthecrestofawaveshewaslosttoviewinonegreat，forwardswing，meltingintothelightlessspace。”Closeshave，”saidCaptainAnthonyinanindifferentvoicejustraisedenoughtobeheardinthewind。”Ablindlotonboardthatship。Putouttheflarenow。”
SilentlyMr。Powellinvertedtheholder，smotheringtheflameinthecan，bringingaboutbythemereturnofhiswristthefallofdarknessuponthepoop。Andatthesametimevanishedoutofhismind’seyethevisionofanotherflameenormousandfierceshootingviolentlyfromawhitechurnedpatchofthesea，lightinguptheverycloudsandcarryingupwardsinitsvolcanicrushflyingspars，corpses，thefragmentsoftwodestroyedships。Itvanishedandtherewasanimmenserelief。Hetoldmehedidnotknowhowscaredhehadbeen，notgenerallybutofthatverythinghisimaginationhadconjured，tillitwasallover。Hemeasuredit(forfearisagreattension)bythefeelingofslackwearinesswhichcameoverhimallatonce。
HewalkedtothecompanionandstoopinglowtoputtheflareinitsusualplacesawinthedarknessthemotionlesspaleovalofMrs。
Anthony’sface。Shewhisperedquietly:”Isanythinggoingtohappen？Whatisit？””It’sallovernow，”hewhisperedback。
Heremainedbentlow，hisheadinsidethecoverstaringatthatwhiteghostlyoval。Hewonderedshehadnotrushedoutondeck。
Shehadremainedquietlythere。Thiswaspluck。Wonderfulself-
restraint。Anditwasnotstupidityonherpart。Sheknewtherewasimminentdangerandprobablyhadsomenotionofitsnature。”Youstayedherewaitingforwhatwouldcome，”hemurmuredadmiringly。”Wasn’tthatthebestthingtodo？”sheasked。
Hedidn’tknow。Perhaps。Heconfessedhecouldnothavedoneit。
Nothe。Hisfleshandbloodcouldnothavestoodit。Hewouldhavefelthemustseewhatwascoming。Thenherememberedthattheflaremighthavescorchedherface，andexpressedhisconcern。”Abit。Nothingtohurt。Smellthesingedhair？”
Therewasasortofgaietyinhertone。Shemighthavebeenfrightenedbutshecertainlywasnotovercomeandsufferedfromnoreaction。ThisconfirmedandaugmentedifpossibleMr。Powell’sgoodopinionofherasa”jollygirl，”thoughitseemedtohimpositivelymonstroustoreferinsuchtermstoone’scaptain’swife。”Butshedoesn’tlookit，”hethoughtinextenuationandwasgoingtosaysomethingmoretoheraboutthelightingofthatflarewhenanothervoicewasheardinthecompanion，sayingsomeindistinctwords。Itstonewascontemptuous；itcamefrombelow，fromthebottomofthestairs。Itwasavoiceinthecabin。AndtheonlyothervoicewhichcouldbeheardinthemaincabinatthistimeoftheeveningwasthevoiceofMrs。Anthony’sfather。TheindistinctwhiteovalsankfromMr。Powell’ssightsoswiftlyastotakehimbysurprise。Foramomenthehungattheopeningofthecompanionandnowthatherslightformwasnolongerobstructingthenarrowandwindingstaircasethevoicescameuplouderbutthewordswerestillindistinct。TheoldgentlemanwasexcitedaboutsomethingandMrs。
Anthonywas”managinghim”asPowellexpressedit。TheymovedawayfromthebottomofthestairsandPowellwentawayfromthecompanion。Yethefanciedhehadheardthewords”Losttome”
beforehewithdrewhishead。TheyhadbeenutteredbyMr。Smith。
CaptainAnthonyhadnotmovedawayfromthetaffrail。Heremainedintheverypositionhetookuptowatchtheothershipgobyrollingandswingingallshadowyintheuproarofthefollowingseas。Hestirrednot；andPowellkeepingnearbydidnotdarespeaktohim，soenigmaticalinitscontemplationofthenightdidhisfigureappeartohisyoungeyes:indistinct——andinitsimmobilitystaringintogloom，thepreyofsomeincomprehensiblegrief，longingorregret。
Whyisitthatthestillnessofahumanbeingisoftensoimpressive，sosuggestiveofevil——asifourproperfatewereaceaselessagitation？ThestillnessofCaptainAnthonybecamealmostintolerabletohissecondofficer。Mr。Powellloiteringabouttheskylightwantedhiscaptainoffthedecknow。”Whydoesn’thegobelow？”heaskedhimselfimpatiently。Heventuredacough。
WhethertheeffectofthecoughornotCaptainAnthonyspoke。Hedidnotmovetheleastbit。WithhisbackremainingturnedtothewholelengthoftheshipheaskedMr。Powellwithsomebrusquenessifthechiefmatehadneglectedtoinstructhimthatthecaptainwastobefoundontheportside。”Yes，sir，”saidMr。Powellapproachinghisback。”ThematetoldmetostampontheportsidewhenIwantedyou；butIdidn’trememberatthemoment。””Youshouldremember，”thecaptainutteredwithaneffort。Thenaddedmumbling”Idon’twantMrs。Anthonyfrightened。Don’tyousee？……””Shewasn’tthistime，”Powellsaidinnocently:”Shelightedtheflare-upforme，sir。””Thistime，”CaptainAnthonyexclaimedandturnedround。”Mrs。
Anthonylightedtheflare？Mrs。Anthony！……”Powellexplainedthatshewasinthecompanionallthetime。”Allthetime，”repeatedthecaptain。ItseemedqueertoPowellthatinsteadofgoinghimselftoseethecaptainshouldaskhim:”Isshetherenow？”
PowellsaidthatshehadgonebelowaftertheshiphadpassedclearoftheFerndale。CaptainAnthonymadeamovementtowardsthecompanionhimself，whenPowelladdedtheinformation。”Mr。SmithcalledtoMrs。Anthonyfromthesaloon，sir。Ibelievetheyaretalkingtherenow。”
Hewassurprisedtoseethecaptaingiveuptheideaofgoingbelowafterall。
Hebegantowalkthepoopinsteadregardlessofthecold，ofthedampwindandofthesprays。Andyethehadnothingonbuthissleepingsuitandslippers。Powellplacinghimselfonthebreakofthepoopkeptalook-out。Whenaftersometimeheturnedhisheadtostealaglanceathiseccentriccaptainhecouldnotseehisactiveandshadowyfigureswingingtoandfro。ThesecondmateoftheFerndalewalkedaftpeeringaboutandaddressedtheseamanwhosteered。”Captaingonebelow？””Yes，sir，”saidthefellowwhowithaquidoftobaccobulgingouthisleftcheekkepthiseyesonthecompasscard。”Thisminute。Helaughed。””Laughed，”repeatedPowellincredulously。”Doyoumeanthecaptaindid？Youmustbemistaken。Whatwouldhewanttolaughfor？””Don’tknow，sir。”
Theelderlysailordisplayedaprofoundindifferencetowardshumanemotions。However，afteralongishpauseheconcededafewwordsmoretothesecondofficer’sweakness。”Yes。Hewaswalkingthedeckasusualwhensuddenlyhelaughedalittleandmadeforthecompanion。Thoughtofsomethingfunnyallatonce。”
Somethingfunny！ThatMr。Powellcouldnotbelieve。Hedidnotaskhimselfwhy，atthetime。Funnythoughtscometomen，though，inallsortsofsituations；theycometoallsortsofmen。
NeverthelessMr。PowellwasshockedtolearnthatCaptainAnthonyhadlaughedwithoutvisiblecauseonacertainnight。Theimpressionforsomereasonwasdisagreeable。Anditwasthen，whilefinishinghiswatch，withthechillygustsofwindsweepingathimoutofthedarknesswheretheshortseaofthesoundingsgrowledspitefullyallroundtheship，thatitoccurredtohisunsophisticatedmindthatperhapsthingsarenotwhattheyareconfidentlyexpectedtobe；thatitwaspossiblethatCaptainAnthonywasnotahappyman……InsofaryouwillperceivehewastoacertainextentpreparedfortheapoplecticandsensitiveFranklin’slamentationsabouthiscaptain。Andthoughhetreatedthemwithacontemptwhichwasinagreatmeasuresincere，yetheadmittedtomethatdeepdownwithinhimaninexplicableanduneasysuspicionthatallwasnotwellinthatcabin，sounusuallycutofffromtherestoftheship，cameintobeingandgrewagainsthiswill。
CHAPTERFOUR——ANTHONYANDFLORA
Marlowemergedoutoftheshadowofthebook-casetogethimselfacigarfromaboxwhichstoodonalittletablebymyside。InthefulllightoftheroomIsawinhiseyesthatslightlymockingexpressionwithwhichhehabituallycoversuphissympatheticimpulsesofmirthandpitybeforetheunreasonablecomplicationstheidealismofmankindputsintothesimplebutpoignantproblemofconductonthisearth。
Heselectedandlitthecigarwithaffectedcare，thenturneduponme，Ihadbeenlookingathimsilently。”Isuppose，”hesaid，themockeryofhiseyesgivingapellucidqualitytohistone，”thatyouthinkit’shightimeItoldyousomethingdefinite。Imeansomethingaboutthatpsychologicalcabinmysteryofdiscomfort(forit’sobviousthatitmustbepsychological)whichaffectedsoprofoundlyMr。Franklinthechiefmate，andhadevendisturbedthesereneinnocenceofMr。Powell，thesecondoftheshipFerndale，commandedbyRoderickAnthony——thesonofthepoet，youknow。””Youaregoingtoconfessnowthatyouhavefailedtofinditout，”
Isaidinpretendedindignation。”ItwouldserveyourightifItoldyouthatIhave。ButIwon’t。
Ihaven’tfailed。Iownthoughthatforatime，Iwaspuzzled。
However，IhavenowseenourPowellmanytimesunderthemostfavourableconditions——andbesidesIcameuponamostunexpectedsourceofinformation……Butnevermindthat。Themeansdon’tconcernyouexceptinsofarastheybelongtothestory。I’lladmitthatforsometimetheold-maiden-lady-likeoccupationofputtingtwoandtwotogetherfailedtoprocureacoherenttheory。I
amspeakingnowasaninvestigator——amanofdeductions。WithwhatweknowofRoderickAnthonyandFloradeBarralIcouldnotdeductanordinarymaritalquarrelbeautifullymaturedinlessthanayear——
couldI？IfyouaskmewhatisanordinarymaritalquarrelIwilltellyou，thatitisadifferenceaboutnothing；Imean，thesenothingswhich，asMr。Powelltolduswhenwefirstmethim，shorepeoplearesopronetostartarowabout，andnurseintohatredfromanidlesenseofwrong，frompervertedambition，forspectacularreasonstoo。Thereareonearthnoactorstoohumbleandobscurenottohaveagallery；thatgallerywhichenvenomstheplaybystealthyjeers，counselsofanger，amusedcommentsorwordsofperfidiouscompassion。However，theAnthonyswerefreefromalldemoralizinginfluences。Atsea，youknow，thereisnogallery。
Youhearnotormentingechoesofyourownlittlenessthere，whereeitheragreatelementalvoiceroarsdefiantlyundertheskyorelseanelementalsilenceseemstobepartoftheinfinitestillnessoftheuniverse。
RememberingFloradeBarralinthedepthsofmoralmisery，andRoderickAnthonycarriedawaybyagustoftempestuoustenderness，I
askedmyself，Isitallforgottenalready？Whatcouldtheyhavefoundtoestrangethemfromeachotherwiththisrapidityandthisthoroughnesssofarfromalltemptations，inthepeaceoftheseaandinanisolationsocompletethatifithadnotbeenthejealousdevotionofthesentimentalFranklinstimulatingtheattentionofPowell，therewouldhavebeennorecord，noevidenceofitatall。
ImustconfessatoncethatitwasFloradeBarralwhomIsuspected。
Inthisworldasatpresentorganizedwomenarethesuspectedhalfofthepopulation。Therearegoodreasonsforthat。Thesereasonsaresodiscoverablewithalittlereflectionthatitisnotworthmywhiletosetthemoutforyou。Iwillonlymentionthis:thatthepartfallingtowomen’ssharebeingall”influence”hasanairofoccultandmysteriousaction，somethingnotaltogethertrustworthylikeallnaturalforceswhich，forus，workinthedarkbecauseofourimperfectcomprehension。
Ifwomenwerenotaforceofnature，blindinitsstrengthandcapriciousinitspower，theywouldnotbemistrusted。Asitisonecan’thelpit。YouwillsaythatthisforcehavingbeeninthepersonofFloradeBarralcapturedbyAnthony……Whyyes。Hehaddealtwithhermasterfully。Butmanhascapturedelectricitytoo。
Itlightshimonhisway，itwarmshishome，itwillevencookhisdinnerforhim——verymuchlikeawoman。Butwhatsortofconquestwouldyoucallit？Heknowsnothingofit。Hehasgottobemightycarefulwhatheisaboutwithhiscaptive。Andthegreaterthedemandhemakesonitintheexultationofhispridethemorelikelyitistoturnonhimandburnhimtoacinder……””Afar-fetchedenoughparallel，”IobservedcoldlytoMarlow。Hehadreturnedtothearm-chairintheshadowofthebookcase。”Butacceptingthemeaningyouhaveinyourminditreducesitselftotheknowledgeofhowtouseit。AndifyoumeanthatthisravenousAnthony——””Ravenousisgood，”interruptedMarlow。”Hewasa-hungeringanda-
thirstingforfemininitytoenterhislifeinawaynomerefeministcouldhavetheslightestconceptionof。IreckonthatthisaccountsformuchofFyne’sdisgustwithhim。GoodlittleFyne。Youhavenoideawhatinfernalmischiefhehadworkedduringhiscallatthehotel。ButthenwhocouldhavesuspectedAnthonyofbeingaheroiccreature。Thereareseveralkindsofheroismandoneofthematleastisidiotic。Itistheonewhichwearstheaspectofsublimedelicacy。Itisapparentlytheoneofwhichthesonofthedelicatepoetwascapable。
Hecertainlyresembledhisfather，who，bytheway，woreouttwowomenwithoutanysatisfactiontohimself，becausetheydidnotcomeuptohissupra-refinedstandardofthedelicacywhichissoperceptibleinhisverses。That’syourpoet。Hedemandstoomuchfromothers。Theinarticulatesonhadsetupastandardforhimselfwiththatneedforembodyinginhisconductthedreams，thepassion，theimpulsesthepoetputsintoarrangementsofverses，whicharedearertohimthanhisownself——andmaymakehisownselfappearsublimeintheeyesofotherpeople，andeveninhisowneyes。
DidAnthonywishtoappearsublimeinhisowneyes？Ishouldnotliketomakethatcharge；thoughindeedthereareother，lessnoble，ambitionsatwhichtheworlddoesnotdaretosmile。ButIdon’tthinkso；Idonoteventhinkthattherewasinwhathedidaconsciousandloftyconfidenceinhimself，aparticularlypronouncedsenseofpowerwhichleadsmensooftenintoimpossibleorequivocalsituations。Lookedatabstractedly(thewayinwhichtruthisoftenseeninitsrealshape)hislifehadbeenalifeofsolitudeandsilence——anddesire。
Chancehadthrownthatgirlinhisway；andifwemaysmileathisviolentconquestofFloradeBarralwemustadmitalsothatthiseagerappropriationwastrulytheactofamanofsolitudeanddesire；amanalso，who，unlessacompleteimbecile，musthavebeenamanoflongandardentreverieswhereinthefacultyofsincerepassionmaturesslowlyintheunexploredrecessesoftheheart。AndIknowalsothatapassion，dominatingortyrannical，invadingthewholemanandsubjugatingallhisfacultiestoitsownuniqueend，mayconducthimwhomitspursanddrives，intoallsortsofadventures，tothebrinkofunfathomabledangers，tothelimitsoffolly，andmadness，anddeath。
Tothemanthenofasilencemadeonlymoreimpressivebytheinarticulatethundersandmuttersofthegreatseas，anutterstrangertotheclatteroftongues，therecomesthemuscularlittleFyne，themostmarkedrepresentativeofthatmankindwhosevoiceissostrangetohim，thehusbandofhissister，apersonalitystandingoutfromthemistyandremotemultitude。Hecomesandthrowsathimmoretalkthanhehadeverheardboomedoutinanhour，andcertainlytouchingthedeepestthingsAnthonyhadeverdiscoveredinhimself，andflingswordslike”unfair”whoseverysoundisabhorrenttohim。Unfair！Undueadvantage！He！Unfairtothatgirl？Crueltoher！
Noscorncouldstandagainsttheimpressionofsuchchargesadvancedwithheatandconviction。Theyshookhim。Theywereyetvibratingintheairofthatstuffyhotel-room，terrific，disturbing，impossibletogetridof，whenthedooropenedandFloradeBarralentered。
Hedidnotevennoticethatshewaslate。Hewassittingonasofaplungedingloom。Wasittrue？Havinghimselfalwayssaidexactlywhathemeantheimaginedthatpeople(unlesstheywereliars，whichofcoursehisbrother-in-lawcouldnotbe)neversaidmorethantheymeant。ThedeepchestvoiceoflittleFynewasstillinhisear。”Heknows，”Anthonysaidtohimself。Hethoughthehadbettergoawayandneverseeheragain。Butshestoodtherebeforehimaccusingandappealing。Howcouldheabandonher？Thatwasoutofthequestion。Shehadnoone。Orrathershehadsomeone。Thatfather。Anthonywaswillingtotakehimathervaluation。Thisfathermayhavebeenthevictimofthemostatrociousinjustice。
Butwhatcouldamancomingoutofjaildo？Anoldmantoo。Andthen——whatsortofman？Whatwouldbecomeofthemboth？AnthonyshudderedslightlyandthefaintsmilewithwhichFlorahadenteredtheroomfadedonherlips。Shewasusedtohisimpetuoustenderness。Shewasnolongerafraidofit。Butshehadneverseenhimlooklikethisbefore，andshesuspectedatoncesomenewcrueltyoflife。Hegotupwithhisusualardourbutasifsoberedbyamomentousresolveandsaid:”No。Ican’tletyououtofmysight。Ihaveseenyou。Youhavetoldmeyourstory。Youarehonest。Youhavenevertoldmeyoulovedme。”
Shewaited，sayingtoherselfthathehadnevergivenhertime，thathehadneveraskedher！Andthat，intruth，shedidnotknow！
Iaminclinedtobelievethatshedidnot。Asabundanceofexperienceisnotpreciselyherlotinlife，awomanisseldomanexpertinmattersofsentiment。Itisthemanwhocanandgenerallydoes”seehimself”prettywellinsideandout。Women’sself-
possessionisanoutwardthing；inwardlytheyflutter，perhapsbecausetheyare，ortheyfeelthemselvestobe，engaged。Allthisspeakinggenerally。InFloradeBarral’sparticularcaseeversinceAnthonyhadsuddenlybrokenhiswayintoherhopelessandcruelexistenceshelivedlikeapersonliberatedfromacondemnedcellbyanaturalcataclysm，atempest，anearthquake；notabsolutelyterrified，becausenothingcanbeworsethantheeveofexecution，butstunned，bewildered——abandoningherselfpassively。Shedidnotwanttomakeasound，tomovealimb。Shehadn’tthestrength。
Whatwasthegood？Anddeepdown，almostunconsciouslyshewasseducedbythefeelingofbeingsupportedbythisviolence。A
sensationshehadneverexperiencedbeforeinherlife。
Shefeltasifthiswhirlwindwerecalmingdownsomehow！Asifthisfeelingofsupport，whichwastemptinghertoclosehereyesdeliciouslyandletherselfbecarriedonandonintotheunknownundefiledbyvileexperiences，werelesscertain，hadwaveredthreateningly。Shetriedtoreadsomethinginhisface，inthatenergetickindlyfacetowhichshehadbecomeaccustomedsosoon。
Butshewasnotyetcapableofunderstandingitsexpression。
Scared，discouragedonthethresholdofadolescence，plungedinmoralmiseryofthebitterestkind，shehadnotlearnedtoread——notthatsortoflanguage。
IfAnthony’slovehadbeenasegoisticaslovegenerallyis，itwouldhavebeengreaterthantheegoismofhisvanity——orofhisgenerosity，ifyoulike——andallthiscouldnothavehappened。Hewouldnothavehituponthatrenunciationatwhichonedoesnotknowwhethertogrinorshudder。ItistruetoothatthenhislovewouldnothavefasteneditselfupontheunhappydaughterofdeBarral。
Butitwasalovebornofthatrarepitywhichisnotakintocontemptbecauserootedinanoverwhelminglystrongcapacityfortenderness——thetendernessofthefierykind——thetendernessofsilentsolitarymen，thevoluntary，passionateoutcastsoftheirkind。AtthetimeIamforcedtothinkthathisvanitymusthavebeenenormous。”Whatbigeyesshehas，”hesaidtohimselfamazed。Nowonder。Shewasstaringathimwithallthemightofhersoulawakeningslowlyfromapoisonedsleep，inwhichitcouldonlyquiverwithpainbutcouldneitherexpandnormove。Heplungedintothembreathlessandtense，deep，deep，likeamadsailortakingadesperatedivefromthemastheadintotheblueunfathomableseasomanymenhaveexecratedandlovedatthesametime。Andhisvanitywasimmense。
Ithadbeentouchedtothequickbythatmuscularlittlefeminist，Fyne。”I！I！Takeadvantageofherhelplessness。I！Unfairtothatcreature——thatwispofmist，thatwhiteshadowhomelessinanuglydirtyworld。Icouldblowherawaywithabreath，”hewassayingtohimselfwithhorror。”Never！”Allthesupremelyrefineddelicacyoftenderness，expressedinsomanyfinelinesofversebyCarleonAnthony，grewtothesizeofapassionfillingwithinwardsobsthebigframeofthemanwhohadneverinhislifereadasingleoneofthosefamoussonnetssingingofthemosthighlycivilized，chivalrouslove，ofthosesonnetswhich……Youknowthere’savolumeofthem。Myeditionhastheportraitoftheauthoratthirty，andwhenIshowedittoMr。Powelltheotherdayheexclaimed:”Wonderful！OnewouldthinkthistheportraitofCaptainAnthonyhimselfif……”Iwantedtoknowwhatthatifwas。ButPowellcouldnotsay。Therewassomething——adifference。
Nodoubttherewas——infinenessperhaps。Thefather，fastidious，cerebral，morbidlyshrinkingfromallcontacts，couldonlysinginharmoniousnumbersofwhatthesonfeltwithadumbandrecklesssincerity。
Possessedbymoststrongmen’stouchingillusionastothefrailnessofwomenandtheirspiritualfragility，itseemedtoAnthonythathewouldbedestroying，breakingsomethingverypreciousinsidethatbeing。Infactnothinglessthanpartlymurderingher。ThisseemsaveryextremeeffecttoflowfromFyne’swords。ButAnthony，unaccustomedtothechatterofthefirmearth，neverstayedtoaskhimselfwhatvaluethesewordscouldhaveinFyne’smouth。Andindeedthemeredarksoundofthemwasutterlyabhorrenttohisnativerectitude，sea-salted，hardenedinthewindsofwidehorizons，openastheday。
Hewishedtoblurtouthisindignationbutsheregardedhimwithanexpectantairwhichcheckedhim。Hisvisiblediscomfortmadeheruneasy。Hecouldonlyrepeat”Ohyes。Youareperfectlyhonest。
Youmighthave，butIdaresayyouareright。Atanyrateyouhaveneversaidanythingtomewhichyoudidn’tmean。””Never，”shewhisperedafterapause。
Heseemeddistracted，chokingwithanemotionshecouldnotunderstandbecauseitresembledembarrassment，astateofmindinconceivableinthatman。
Shewonderedwhatitwasshehadsaid；rememberingthatinverytruthshehadhardlyspokentohimexceptwhengivinghimthebareoutlineofherstorywhichheseemedtohavehardlyhadthepatiencetohear，wavingitperpetuallyasidewithexclamationsofhorrorandanger，withfiercelysombremutters”Enough！Enough！”andwithalarmingstartsfromaforcedstillness，asthoughhemeanttorushoutatonceandtakevengeanceonsomebody。Shewassayingtoherselfthathecaughtherwordsintheair，neverlettingherfinishherthought。Honest。Honest。Yescertainlyshehadbeenthat。HerlettertoMrs。Fynehadbeenpromptedbyhonesty。Butshereflectedsadlythatshehadneverknownwhattosaytohim。
Thatperhapsshehadnothingtosay。”Butyou’llfindoutthatIcanbehonesttoo，”heburstoutinamenacingtone，shehadlearnedtoappreciatewithanamusedthrill。
Shewaitedforwhatwascoming。Buthehunginthewind。Helookedroundtheroomwithdisgustasifhecouldseetracesonthewallsofallthecasualtenantsthathadeverpassedthroughit。Peoplehadquarrelledinthatroom；theyhadbeenillinit，therehadbeenmiseryinthatroom，wickedness，crimeperhaps——deathmostlikely。
Thiswasnotafitplace。Hesnatcheduphishat。Hehadmadeuphismind。Theship——theshiphehadknowneversinceshecameoffthestocks，hishome——hershelter——theuncontaminated，honestship，wastheplace。”Letusgoonboard。We’lltalkthere，”hesaid。”Andyouwillhavetolistentome。Forwhateverhappens，nomatterwhattheysay，Icannotletyougo。”
Youcan’tsaythat(misgivingsornomisgivings)shecouldhavedoneanythingelsebutgoonboard。Itwastheappointedbusinessofthatmorning。Duringthedrivehewassilent。Anthonywasthelastmantocondemnconventionallyanyhumanbeing，toscornanddespiseevendeservedmisfortune。HewasreadytotakeolddeBarral——theconvict——onhisdaughter’svaluationwithouttheslightestreserve。
Butlovelikehis，thoughitmaydriveoneintoriskyfollybytheproudconsciousnessofitsownstrength，hasasagacityofitsown。
Andnow，asifliftedupintoahigherandsereneregionbyitspurposeofrenunciation，itgavehimleisuretoreflectforthefirsttimeintheselastfewdays。Hesaidtohimself:”Idon’tknowthatman。Shedoesnotknowhimeither。Shewasbarelysixteenwhentheylockedhimup。Shewasachild。Whatwillhesay？Whatwillhedo？No，heconcluded，Icannotleaveherbehindwiththatmanwhowouldcomeintotheworldasifoutofagrave。
Theywentonboardinsilence，anditwasaftershowingherroundandwhentheyhadreturnedtothesaloonthatheassailedherinhisfiery，masterfulfashion。Atfirstshedidnotunderstand。Thenwhensheunderstoodthathewasgivingherherlibertyshewentstiffallover，herhandrestingontheedgeofthetable，herfacesetlikeacarvingofwhitemarble。Itwasallover。Itwasasthatabominablegovernesshadsaid。Shewasinsignificant，contemptible。Nobodycouldloveher。Humiliationclungtoherlikeacoldshroud——nevertobeshakenoff，unwarmedbythismadnessofgenerosity。”Yes。Here。Yourhome。Ican’tgiveittoyouandgoaway，butitisbigenoughforustwo。Youneednotbeafraid。IfyousaysoI
shallnotevenlookatyou。Rememberthatgreyheadofwhichyouhavebeenthinkingnightandday。Whereisitgoingtorest？Whereelseifnothere，wherenothingevilcantouchit。Don’tyouunderstandthatIwon’tletyoubuyshelterfrommeatthecostofyourverysoul。Iwon’t。Youaretoomuchpartofme。IhavefoundmyselfsinceIcameuponyouandIwouldrathersellmyownsoultothedevilthanletyougooutofmykeeping。ButImusthavetheright。”
Hewentawaybrusquelytoshutthedoorleadingondeckandcamebackthewholelengthofthecabinrepeating:”Imusthavethelegalright。Areyouashamedoflettingpeoplethinkyouaremywife？”
Heopenedhisarmsasiftoclasphertohisbreastbutmasteredtheimpulseandshookhisclenchedhandsather，repeating:”Imusthavetherightifonlyforyourfather’ssake。Imusthavetheright。Wherewouldyoutakehim？Tothatinfernalcardboardbox-
maker。Idon’tknowwhatkeepsmefromhuntinghimupinhisvirtuoushomeandbashinghisheadin。Ican’tbearthethought。
Listentome，Flora！DoyouhearwhatIamsayingtoyou？Youarenotsoproudthatyoucan’tunderstandthatIasamanhavemypridetoo？”
Hesawatearglidedownherwhitecheekfromundereachloweredeyelid。Then，abruptly，shewalkedoutofthecabin。Hestoodforamoment，concentrated，reckoninghisownstrength，interrogatinghisheart，beforehefollowedherhastily。Alreadyshehadreachedthewharf。
Atthesoundofhispursuingfootstepsherstrengthfailedher。
Wherecouldsheescapefromthis？Fromthisnewperfidyoflifetakinguponitselftheformofmagnanimity。Hisveryvoicewaschanged。Thesustainingwhirlwindhadletherdown，tostumbleonagain，weakenedbythefreshstab，bereftofmoralsupportwhichiswantedinlifemorethanallthecharitiesofmaterialhelp。Shehadneverhadit。Never。NotfromtheFynes。Butwheretogo？Ohyes，thisdock——aplacidsheetofwatercloseathand。Buttherewasthatoldmanwithwhomshehadwalkedhandinhandontheparadebythesea。Sheseemedtoseehimcomingtomeether，pitiful，alittlegreyer，withanappealinglookandanextended，tremulousarm。Itwasforhernowtotakethehandofthatwrongedmanmorehelplessthanachild。Butwherecouldsheleadhim？Where？Andwhatwasshetosaytohim？Whatwordsofcheer，ofcourageandofhope？Therewerenone。Heavenandearthweremute，unconcernedattheirmeeting。Butthisothermanwascomingupbehindher。Hewasveryclosenow。Hisfierypersonseemedtoradiateheat，atinglingvibrationintotheatmosphere。Shewasexhausted，careless，afraidtostumble，readytofall。Shefanciedshecouldhearhisbreathing。Awaveoflanguidwarmthovertookher，sheseemedtolosetouchwiththegroundunderherfeet；andwhenshefelthimsliphishandunderherarmshemadenoattempttodisengageherselffromthatgraspwhichcloseduponherlimb，insinuatingandfirm。
Heconductedherthroughthedangersofthequayside。Hersightwasdim。Amovingtruckwaslikeamountainglidingby。Menpassedbyasifinamist；andthebuildings，thesheds，theunexpectedopenspaces，theships，hadstrange，distorted，dangerousshapes。Shesaidtoherselfthatitwasgoodnottobebotheredwithwhatallthesethingsmeantintheschemeofcreation(ifindeedanythinghadameaning)，orwerejustpiled-upmatterwithoutanysense。Shefelthowshehadalwaysbeenunrelatedtothisworld。Shewashangingontoitmerelybythatonearmgraspedfirmlyjustabovetheelbow。Itwasacaptivity。Sobeit。TilltheygotoutintothestreetandsawthehansomwaitingoutsidethegatesAnthonyspokeonlyonce，beginningbrusquelybutinamuchgentlertonethanshehadeverheardfromhislips。”OfcourseIoughttohaveknownthatyoucouldnotcareforamanlikeme，astranger。Silencegivesconsent。Yes？Eh？Idon’twantanyofthatsortofconsent。Andunlesssomedayyoufindyoucanspeak……No！No！Ishallneveraskyou。ForallthesignI
willgiveyouyoumaygotoyourgravewithsealedlips。ButwhatI
havesaidyoumustdo！”
Hebenthisheadoverherwithtendercare。Atthesametimeshefeltherarmpressedandshakeninconspicuously，butinanundeniablemanner。”Youmustdoit。”Alittleshakethatnopasser-bycouldnotice；andthiswasgoingoninadesertedpartofthedock。”Itmustbedone。Youarelisteningtome——eh？orwouldyougoagaintomysister？”
Hisironictone，perhapsfromwantofuse，hadanawfulgratingferocity。”Wouldyougotoher？”hepursuedinthesamestrangevoice。”Yourbestfriend！Andsaynicely——Iamsorry。Wouldyou？No！Youcouldn’t。Therearethingsthatevenyou，poordearlostgirl，couldn’tstand。Eh？Dierather。That’sit。Ofcourse。Orcanyoubethinkingoftakingyourfathertothatinfernalcousin’shouse。No！Don’tspeak。Ican’tbeartothinkofit。Iwouldfollowyouthereandsmashthedoor！”
Thecatchinhisvoiceastonishedherbyitsresemblancetoasob。
Itfrightenedhertoo。Thethoughtthatcametoherheadwas:”Hemustn’t。”Hewasputtingherintothehansom。”Oh！Hemustn’t，hemustn’t。”Shewasstillmorefrightenedbythediscoverythathewasshakingallover。Bewildered，shrinkingintothefaroffcorner，avoidinghiseyes，sheyetsawthequiveringofhismouthandmadeawildattemptatasmile，whichbroketherigidityofherlipsandsetherteethchatteringsuddenly。”Iamnotcomingwithyou，”hewassaying。”I’lltelltheman……
Ican’t。Betternot。Whatisit？Areyoucold？Come！Whatisit？Onlytogotoaconfoundedstuffyroom，aholeofanoffice。
Notaquarterofanhour。I’llcomeforyou——intendays。Don’tthinkofittoomuch。Thinkofnoman，womanorchildofallthatsillycrowdcumberingtheground。Don’tthinkofmeeither。Thinkofyourself。Ha！Nothingwillbeabletotouchyouthen——atlast。
Saynothing。Don’tmove。I’llhaveeverythingarranged；andaslongasyoudon’thatethesightofme——andyoudon’t——there’snothingtobefrightenedabout。Oneoftheirsillyofficeswithacoupleofink-slingersofnoconsequence；poor，scribblingdevils。”
ThehansomdroveawaywithFloradeBarralinside，withoutmovement，withoutthought，onlytoogladtorest，tobealoneandstillmovingawaywithouteffort，insolitudeandsilence。
Anthonyroamedthestreetsforhourswithoutbeingabletorememberintheeveningwherehehadbeen——inthemannerofahappyandexultinglover。Butnobodycouldhavethoughtsofromhisface，whichborenosignsofblissfulanticipation。Exultingindeedhewasbutitwasaspecialsortofexultationwhichseemedtotakehimbythethroatlikeanenemy。
Anthony’slastwordstoFlorareferredtotheregistryofficewheretheyweremarriedtendayslater。DuringthattimeAnthonysawnooneoranything，thoughhewentaboutrestlessly，hereandthere，amongstmenandthings。Thisspecialstateispeculiartocommonlovers，whoareknowntohavenoeyesforanythingexceptforthecontemplation，actualorinward，ofonehumanformwhichforthemcontainsthesoulofthewholeworldinallitsbeauty，perfection，varietyandinfinity。Itmustbeextremelypleasant。ButfelicitywasdeniedtoRoderickAnthony’scontemplation。Hewasnotacommonsortoflover；andhewaspunishedforitasifNature(whichitissaidabhorsavacuum)weresoveryconventionalastoabhoreverysortofexceptionalconduct。RoderickAnthonyhadbegunalreadytosuffer。Thatiswhyperhapshewassoindustriousingoingaboutamongsthisfellowmenwhowouldhavebeensurprisedandhumiliated，hadtheyknownhowlittlesolidityandevenexistencetheyhadinhiseyes。Buttheycouldnotsuspectanythingsoqueer。Theysawnothingextraordinaryinhimduringthatfortnight。Theproofofthisisthattheywerewillingtotransactbusinesswithhim。
Obviouslytheywere；sinceitisthenthattheofferofcharteringhisshipforthespecialpurposeofproceedingtotheWesternIslandswasputinhiswaybyafirmofshipbrokerswhohadnodoubtofhissanity。
Heprobablylookedsaneenoughforallthepracticalpurposesofcommerciallife。ButIamnotsocertainthathereallywasquitesaneatthattime。
However，hejumpedattheoffer。Providenceitselfwasofferinghimthisopportunitytoaccustomthegirltosea-lifebyacomparativelyshorttrip。Thiswasthetimewheneverythingthathappened，everythingheheard，casualwords，unrelatedphrases，seemedaprovocationoranencouragement，confirmedhiminhisresolution。
Andindeedtobebusywithmaterialaffairsisthebestpreservativeagainstreflection，fears，doubts——allthesethingswhichstandinthewayofachievement。Isupposeafellowproposingtocuthisthroatwouldexperienceasortofreliefwhileoccupiedinstroppinghisrazorcarefully。
AndAnthonywasextremelycarefulinpreparingforhimselfandforthelucklessFlora，animpossibleexistence。Hewentaboutitwithnomoretremorsthanifhehadbeenstuffedwithragsormadeofironinsteadoffleshandblood。Anexistence，mindyou，which，onshore，inthethickofmankind，ofvariedinterests，ofdistractions，ofinfiniteopportunitiestopreserveyourdistancefromeachother，ishardlyconceivable；butonboardship，atsea，entete-e-tetefordaysandweeksandmonthstogether，couldmeannothingbutmentaltorture，anexquisiteabsurdityoftorment。Hewasasimplesoul。HishopelesslymasculineingenuousnessisdisplayedinatouchingwaybyhiscaretoprocuresomewomantoattendonFlora。Theconditionofguaranteedperfectrespectabilitygavehimmomentsofanxiousthought。Whenherememberedsuddenlyhissteward’swifehemusthaveexclaimedeurekawithparticularexultation。OnedoesnotliketocallAnthonyanass。Butreallytoputanywomanwithinscentingdistanceofsuchasecretandsupposethatshewouldnottrackitout！
Nowoman，howeversimple，couldbeasingenuousasthat。Idon’tknowhowFloradeBarralqualifiedhiminherthoughtswhenhetoldherofhavingdonethisamongstotherthingsintendedtomakehercomfortable。Ishouldthinkthat，forallHERsimplicity，shemusthavebeenappalled。Hestoodbeforeherontheappointeddayoutwardlycalmerthanshehadeverseenhimbefore。Andthisverycalmness，thatscrupulousattitudewhichhefeltboundinhonourtoassumethenandforever，unlessshewouldcondescendtomakeasignatsomefuturetime，addedtotheheavinessofherheartinnocentofthemostpardonableguile。
Thenightbeforeshehadsleptbetterthanshehaddoneforthepasttennights。Bothyouthandwearinesswillassertthemselvesintheendagainstthetyrannyofnerve-rackingstress。Shehadsleptbutshewokeupwithhereyesfulloftears。Therewerenotracesofthemwhenshemethimintheshabbylittleparlourdownstairs。Shehadswallowedthemup。Shewasnotgoingtolethimsee。Shefeltboundinhonourtoacceptthesituationforeverandeverunless……Ah，unless……Shedissembledallhersentimentsbutitwasnotduplicityonherpart。Allshewantedwastogetatthetruth；toseewhatwouldcomeofit。
ShebeathimathisownhonourablegameandthethoroughnessofherserenitydisconcertedAnthonyabit。Itwashewhostammeredwhenitcametotalking。Thesuppressedfiercenessofhischaractercarriedhimonafterthefirstwordortwomasterfullyenough。Butitwasasiftheybothhadtakenabiteofthesamebitterfruit。
Hewasthinkingwithmournfulregretnotunmixedwithsurprise:”ThatfellowFynehasbeentellingmethetruth。Shedoesnotcareformeabit。”Ithumiliatedhimandalsoincreasedhiscompassionforthegirlwhointhisdarknessoflife，buffetedanddespairing，hadfallenintothegripofhisstrongerwill，abandoningherselftohisarmsasonanightofshipwreck。Floraonhersidewithpartialinsight(forwomenareneverblindwiththecompletemasculineblindness)lookedonhimwithsomepity；andshefeltpityforherselftoo。Itwasarejection，acastingout；nothingnewtoher。
Butshewhosupposedallhersensibilitydeadbythistime，discoveredinherselfaresentmentofthisultimatebetrayal。Shehadnoresignationforthisone。Withasortofmentalsullennessshesaidtoherself:”Well，Iamhere。Iamherewithoutanynonsense。ItisnotmyfaultthatIamamereworthlessobjectofpity。”
AndthesethingswhichshecouldtellherselfwithaclearconscienceservedherbetterthanthepassionateobstinacyofpurposecouldserveRoderickAnthony。Shewasmuchmoresureofherselfthanhewas。Sucharetheadvantagesofmererectitudeoverthemostexaltedgenerosity。
Andsotheywentouttogetmarried，thepeopleofthehousewhereshelodgedhavingnosuspicionofanythingofthesort。Theywereonlyexcitedata”gentlemanfriend”(averyfinemantoo)callingonMissSmithforthefirsttimesinceshehadcometoliveinthehouse。Whenshereturned，forshedidcomebackalone，therewereallusionsmadetothatouting。Shehadtotakehermealswiththeserathervulgarpeople。Thewomanofthehouse，ascraggy，genteelperson，triedeventoprovokeconfidences。Flora’swhitefacewiththedeepblueeyesdidnotstriketheirheartsasitdidtheheartofCaptainAnthony，astheveryfaceofthesufferingworld。Herpainedreservehadnopowertoawethemintodecency。
Well，shereturnedalone——asinfactmighthavebeenexpected。
AfterleavingtheRegistryOfficeFloradeBarralandRoderickAnthonyhadgoneforawalkinapark。ItmusthavebeenanEast-
EndparkbutIamnotsure。Anywaythat’swhattheydid。Itwasasunnyday。Hesaidtoher:”EverythingIhaveintheworldbelongstoyou。Ihaveseentothatwithouttroublingmybrother-in-law。
Theyhavenocalltointerfere。”
Shewalkedwithherhandrestinglightlyonhisarm。HehadofferedittoheroncomingoutoftheRegistryOffice，andshehadaccepteditsilently。Herheaddrooped，sheseemedtobeturningmattersoverinhermind。Shesaid，alludingtotheFynes:”Theyhavebeenverygoodtome。”Atthatheexclaimed:”Theyhaveneverunderstoodyou。Well，notproperly。Mysisterisnotabadwoman，but……”
Floradidn’tprotest；askingherselfwhetherheimaginedthathehimselfunderstoodhersomuchbetter。Anthonydismissinghisfamilyoutofhisthoughtswenton:”Yes。Everythingisyours。I
havekeptnothingback。Astothepieceofpaperwehavejustgotfromthatmiserablequill-driverifitwasn’tforthelaw，I
wouldn’tmindifyoutoreituphere，now，onthisspot。Butdon’tyoudoit。Unlessyoushouldsomedayfeelthat——”
Hechoked，unexpectedly。She，reflective，hesitatedamomentthenmakinguphermindbravely。”NeitheramIkeepinganythingbackfromyou。”
Shehadsaidit！Butheinhisblindgenerosityassumedthatshewasalludingtoherdeplorablehistoryandhastenedtomutter:”Ofcourse！Ofcourse！Saynomore。Ihavebeenlyingawakethinkingofitallnoendoftimes。”
Hemadeamovementwithhisotherarmasifrestraininghimselffromshakinganindignantfistattheuniverse；andsheneverevenattemptedtolookathim。Hisvoicesoundedstrangely，incrediblylifelessincomparisonwiththesetempestuousaccentsthatinthebroadfields，inthedarkgardenhadseemedtoshaketheveryearthunderherwearyandhopelessfeet。
Sheregrettedthem。HearingthesighwhichescapedherAnthonyinsteadofshakinghisfistattheuniversebegantopatherhandrestingonhisarmandthendesisted，suddenly，asthoughhehadburnthimself。Thenafterasilence:”Youwillhavetogobyyourselfto-morrow。I……No，IthinkI
mustn’tcome。Betternot。Whatyoutwowillhavetosaytoeachother——”
Sheinterruptedhimquickly:”Fatherisaninnocentman。Hewascruellywronged。””Yes。That’swhy，”Anthonyinsistedearnestly。”Andyouaretheonlyhumanbeingthatcanmakeituptohim。Youalonemustreconcilehimwiththeworldifanythingcan。Butofcourseyoushall。You’llhavetofindwords。Ohyou’llknow。Andthenthesightofyou，alone，wouldsoothe——””He’sthegentlestofmen，”sheinterruptedagain。
Anthonyshookhishead。”Itwouldtakenoendofgenerosity，noendofgentlenesstoforgivesuchadeadset。FormypartIwouldhavelikedbettertohavebeenkilledanddonewithatonce。Itcouldnothavebeenworseforyou——andIsupposeitwasofyouthathewasthinkingmostwhilethoseinfernallawyerswerebadgeringhimincourt。Ofyou。AndnowIthinkofitperhapsthesightofyoumaybringitallbacktohim。Alltheseyears，alltheseyears——andyouhischildleftaloneintheworld。Iwouldhavegonecrazy。Forevenifhehaddonewrong——””Buthehasn’t，”insistedFloradeBarralwithaquiteunexpectedfierceness。”Youmustn’tevensupposeit。Haven’tyoureadtheaccountsofthetrial？””Iamnotsupposinganything，”Anthonydefendedhimself。Hejustrememberedhearingofthetrial。HeassuredherthathewasawayfromEngland，thesecondvoyageoftheFerndale。HewascrossingthePacificfromAustraliaatthetimeanddidn’tseeanypapersforweeksandweeks。Heinterruptedhimselftosuggest:”Youhadbettertellhimatoncethatyouarehappy。”
Hehadstammeredalittle，andFloradeBarralutteredadeliberateandconcise”Yes。”
Ashortsilenceensued。Shewithdrewherhandfromhisarm。Theystopped。Anthonylookedasifatotallyunexpectedcatastrophehadhappened。”Ah，”hesaid。”Youmind……””No！IthinkIhadbetter，”shemurmured。”Idaresay。Idaresay。Bringhimalongstraightonboardto-
morrow。Stopnowhere。”
Shehadamovementofvaguegratitude，amomentaryfeelingofpeacewhichshereferredtothemanbeforeher。ShelookedupatAnthony。
Hisfacewassombre。Hewasmilesawayandmutteredasiftohimself:”Wherecouldhewanttostopthough？””There’snotasinglebeingonearththatIwouldwanttolookathisdearfacenow，towhomIwouldwillinglytakehim，”shesaidextendingherhandfranklyandwithaslightbreakinhervoice，”butyou——Roderick。”
Hetookthathand，feltitverysmallanddelicateinhisbroadpalm。”That’sright。That’sright，”hesaidwithaconsciousandhastyheartinessand，asifsuddenlyashamedofthesoundofhisvoice，turnedhalfroundandabsolutelywalkedawayfromthemotionlessgirl。Heevenresistedthetemptationtolookbacktillitwastoolate。Thegravelpathlayemptytotheverygateofthepark。Shewasgone——vanished。Hehadanimpressionthathehadmissedsomesortofchance。Hefeltsad。Thatexcitedsenseofhisownconductwhichhadkepthimupforthelasttendaysbuoyedhimnomore。Hehadsucceeded！
Hestrolledonaimlesslyapreytogentlemelancholy。Hewalkedandwalked。Therewerebutfewpeopleaboutinthisbreathingspaceofapoorneighbourhood。Undercertainconditionsoflifethereispreciouslittletimeleftformerebreathing。Butstillafewhereandtherewereindulginginthatluxury；yetfewastheywereCaptainAnthony，thoughtheleastexclusiveofmen，resentedtheirpresence。Solitudehadbeenhisbestfriend。Hewantedsomeplacewherehecouldsitdownandbealone。Andinhisneedhisthoughtsturnedtotheseawhichhadgivenhimsomuchofthatcongenialsolitude。There，ifalwayswithhisship(butthatwasanintegralpartofhim)hecouldalwaysbeassolitaryashechose。Yes。Getouttosea！
Thenightofthetownwithitsstringsoflights，rigid，andcrossedlikeanetofflames，thrownoverthesombreimmensityofwalls，closedroundhim，withitsartificialbrillianceoverhungbyanemphaticblackness，itsunnaturalanimationofarestless，overdrivenhumanity。Histhoughtswhichsomehowwereinclinedtopityeverypassingfigure，everysinglepersonglimpsedunderastreetlamp，fixedthemselvesatlastuponafigurewhichcertainlycouldnothavebeenseenunderthelampsonthatparticularnight。
Afigureunknowntohim。Afigureshutupwithinhighunscaleablewallsofstoneorbrickstillnextmorning……ThefigureofFloradeBarral’sfather。DeBarralthefinancier——theconvict。
Thereissomethinginthatwordwithitssuggestionsofguiltandretributionwhicharreststhethought。Wefeelourselvesinthepresenceofthepoweroforganizedsociety——athingmysteriousinitselfandstillmoremysteriousinitseffect。Whetherguiltyorinnocent，itwasasifolddeBarralhadbeendowntotheNetherRegions。Impossibletoimaginewhathewouldbringoutfromtheretothelightofthisworldofuncondemnedmen。Whatwouldhethink？
Whatwouldhehavetosay？Andwhatwasonetosaytohim？
Anthony，alittleawed，asoneisbyarangeoffeelingsstretchingbeyondone’sgrasp，comfortedhimselfbythethoughtthatprobablytheoldfellowwouldhavelittletosay。Hewouldn’twanttotalkaboutit。Nomanwould。Itmusthavebeenarealhelltohim。
AndthenAnthony，attheendofthedayinwhichhehadgonethroughamarriageceremonywithFloradeBarral，ceasedtothinkofFlora’sfatherexcept，asinsomesort，thecaptiveofhistriumph。Heturnedtothementalcontemplationofthewhite，delicateandappealingfacewithgreatblueeyeswhichhehadseenweepandwonderandlookprofoundlyathim，sometimeswithincredulity，sometimeswithdoubtandpain，butalwaysirresistibleinthepowertofindtheirwayrightintohisbreast，tostirthereadeepresponsewhichwassomethingmorethanlove——hesaidtohimself，——asmenunderstandit。More？Orwasitonlysomethingother？Yes。Itwassomethingother。Moreorless。Somethingasincredibleasthefulfilmentofanamazingandstartlingdreaminwhichhecouldtaketheworldinhisarms——allthesufferingworld——nottopossessitspatheticfairnessbuttoconsoleandcherishitssorrow。
Anthonywalkedslowlytotheshipandthatnightsleptwithoutdreams。
CHAPTERFIVE——THEGREATDEBARRAL
