CHAPTERVIII
Atlast，onemorning，inaclearspotofaglassyhorizonchargedwithheraldicmassesofblackvapours，theislandgrewoutfromthesea，showinghereandthereitsnakedmembersofbasalticrockthroughtherentsofheavyfoliage。Later，inthegreatspillingofalltherichesofsunset，Malatastoodoutgreenandrosybeforeturningintoavioletshadowintheautumnallightoftheexpiringday。Thencamethenight。Inthefaintairstheschoonercreptonpastasturdysquatheadland，anditwaspitchdarkwhenherheadsailsrandown，sheturnedshortonherheel，andheranchorbitintothesandybottomontheedgeoftheouterreef；foritwastoodangerousthentoattemptenteringthelittlebayfullofshoals。AfterthelastsolemnflutterofthemainsailthemurmuringvoicesoftheMoorsompartylingered，veryfrail，intheblackstillness。
Theyweresittingaft，onchairs，andnobodymadeamove。Earlyintheday，whenithadbecomeevidentthatthewindwasfailing，Renouard，basinghisadviceontheshortcomingsofhisbachelorestablishment，hadurgedontheladiestheadvisabilityofnotgoingashoreinthemiddleofthenight。Nowheapproachedtheminaconstrainedmanner(itwasastonishingtheconstraintthathadreignedbetweenhimandhisguestsallthroughthepassage)andrenewedhisarguments。Nooneashorewoulddreamofhisbringinganyvisitorswithhim。Nobodywouldeventhinkofcomingoff。
Therewasonlyoneoldcanoeontheplantation。Andlandingintheschooner\'sboatswouldbeawkwardinthedark。Therewastheriskofgettingagroundonsomeshallowpatches。Itwouldbebesttospendtherestofthenightonboard。
Therewasreallynoopposition。Theprofessorsmokingapipe，andverycomfortableinanulsterbuttonedoverhistropicalclothes，wasthefirsttospeakfromhislongchair。
\"Mostexcellentadvice。\"
NexttohimMissMoorsomassentedbyalongsilence。Theninavoiceasofonecomingoutofadream-
\"AndsothisisMalata，\"shesaid。\"Ihaveoftenwondered……\"
AshiverpassedthroughRenouard。Shehadwondered!Whatabout？
Malatawashimself。HeandMalatawereone。Andshehadwondered!
Shehad……
Theprofessor\'ssisterleanedovertowardsRenouard。Throughallthesedaysatseatheman\'s-thefoundman\'s-existencehadnotbeenalludedtoonboardtheschooner。Thatreticencewaspartofthegeneralconstraintlyinguponthemall。She，herself，certainlyhadnotbeenexactlyelatedbythisfinding-poorArthur，withoutmoney，withoutprospects。Butshefeltmovedbythesentimentandromanceofthesituation。
\"Isn\'titwonderful，\"shewhisperedoutofherwhitewrap，\"tothinkofpoorArthursleepingthere，soneartoourdearlovelyFelicia，andnotknowingtheimmensejoyinstoreforhimto-
morrow。\"
Therewassuchartificialityinthewax-flowerladythatnothinginthisspeechtouchedRenouard。Itwasbutthesimpleanxietyofhisheartthathewasvoicingwhenhemutteredgloomily-
\"Nooneintheworldknowswhatto-morrowmayholdinstore。\"
Thematureladyhadarecoilasthoughhehadsaidsomethingimpolite。Whataharshthingtosay-insteadoffindingsomethingniceandappropriate。Onboard，wheresheneversawhimineveningclothes，Renouard\'sresemblancetoaduke\'ssonwasnotsoapparenttoher。Nothingbuthis-ah-bohemianismremained。Sherosewithasortofostentation。
\"It\'slate-andsincewearegoingtosleeponboardto-night……\"shesaid。\"Butitdoesseemsocruel。\"
Theprofessorstartedupeagerly，knockingtheashesoutofhispipe。\"Infinitelymoresensible，mydearEmma。\"
RenouardwaitedbehindMissMoorsom\'schair。
Shegotupslowly，movedonestepforward，andpausedlookingattheshore。Theblacknessoftheislandblottedoutthestarswithitsvaguemasslikealowthundercloudbroodingoverthewatersandreadytoburstintoflameandcrashes。
\"Andso-thisisMalata，\"sherepeateddreamily，movingtowardsthecabindoor。Theclearcloakhangingfromhershoulders，theivoryface-forthenighthadputoutnothingofherbutthegleamsofherhair-madeherresembleashiningdream-womanutteringwordsofwistfulinquiry。Shedisappearedwithoutasign，leavingRenouardpenetratedtotheverymarrowbythesoundsthatcamefromherbodylikeamysteriousresonanceofanexquisiteinstrument。
Hestoodstockstill。Whatwasthisaccidentaltouchwhichhadevokedthestrangeaccentofhervoice？Hedarednotanswerthatquestion。Buthehadtoanswerthequestionofwhatwastobedonenow。Hadthemomentofconfessioncome？Thethoughtwasenoughtomakeone\'sbloodruncold。
Itwasasifthosepeoplehadapremonitionofsomething。Inthetaciturndaysofthepassagehehadnoticedtheirreserveevenamongstthemselves。Theprofessorsmokedhispipemoodilyinretiredspots。RenouardhadcaughtMissMoorsom\'seyesrestingonhimselfmorethanonce，withapeculiarandgraveexpression。Hefanciedthatsheavoidedallopportunitiesofconversation。Themaidenladyseemedtonurseagrievance。Andnowwhathadhetodo？
Thelightsonthedeckhadgoneoutoneaftertheother。Theschoonerslept。
AboutanhourafterMissMoorsomhadgonebelowwithoutasignorawordforhim，Renouardgotoutofhishammockslunginthewaistunderthemidshipawning-forhehadgivenupalltheaccommodationbelowtohisguests。Hegotoutwithasuddenswiftmovement，flungoffhissleepingjacket，rolledhispyjamasuphisthighs，andstoleforward，unseenbytheoneKanakaoftheanchor-
watch。Hiswhitetorso，nakedlikeastrippedathlete\'s，glimmered，ghostly，inthedeepshadowsofthedeck。Unnoticedhegotoutoftheshipovertheknight-heads，ranalongthebackrope，andseizingthedolphin-strikerfirmlywithbothhands，loweredhimselfintotheseawithoutasplash。
Heswamaway，noiselesslikeafish，andthenstruckboldlyfortheland，sustained，embraced，bythetepidwater。Thegentle，voluptuousheaveofitsbreastswunghimupanddownslightly；
sometimesawaveletmurmuredinhisears；fromtimetotime，loweringhisfeet，hefeltforthebottomonashallowpatchtorestandcorrecthisdirection。Helandedatthelowerendofthebungalowgarden，intothedeadstillnessoftheisland。Therewerenolights。Theplantationseemedtosleep，asprofoundlyastheschooner。Onthepathasmallshellcrackedunderhisnakedheel。
Thefaithfulhalf-casteforemangoinghisroundscockedhisearsatthesharpsound。Hegaveoneenormousstartoffearatthesightoftheswiftwhitefigureflyingathimoutofthenight。Hecrouchedinterror，andthensprangupandclickedhistongueinamazedrecognition。
\"Tse!Tse!Themaster!\"
\"Bequiet，Luiz，andlistentowhatIsay。\"
Yes，itwasthemaster，thestrongmasterwhowasneverknowntoraisehisvoice，themanblindlyobeyedandneverquestioned。Hetalkedlowandrapidlyinthequietnight，asifeveryminutewereprecious。OnlearningthatthreeguestswerecomingtostayLuizclickedhistonguerapidly。Theseclicksweretheuniform，stenographicsymbolsofhisemotions，andhecouldgivethemaninfinitevarietyofmeaning。Helistenedtotherestinadeepsilencehardlyaffectedbythelow，\"Yes，master，\"wheneverRenouardpaused。
\"Youunderstand？\"thelatterinsisted。\"Nopreparationsaretobemadetillwelandinthemorning。AndyouaretosaythatMr。
Walterhasgoneoffinatradingschooneronaroundoftheislands。\"
\"Yes，master。\"
\"Nomistakes-mind!\"
\"No，master。\"
Renouardwalkedbacktowardsthesea。Luiz，followinghim，proposedtocallouthalfadozenboysandmanthecanoe。
\"Imbecile!\"
\"Tse!Tse!Tse!\"
\"Don\'tyouunderstandthatyouhaven\'tseenme？\"
\"Yes，master。Butwhatalongswim。Supposeyoudrown。\"
\"ThenyoucansayofmeandofMr。Walterwhatyoulike。Thedeaddon\'tmind。\"
Renouardenteredtheseaandheardafaint\"Tse!Tse!Tse!\"ofconcernfromthehalf-caste，whohadalreadylostsightofthemaster\'sdarkheadontheovershadowedwater。
Renouardsethisdirectionbyabigstarthat，dippingonthehorizon，seemedtolookcuriouslyintohisface。Onthisswimbackhefeltthemournfulfatigueofallthatlengthofthetraversedroad，whichbroughthimnonearertohisdesire。Itwasasifhislovehadsappedtheinvisiblesupportsofhisstrength。Therecameamomentwhenitseemedtohimthathemusthaveswumbeyondtheconfinesoflife。Hehadasensationofeternitycloseathand，demandingnoeffort-offeringitspeace。Itwaseasytoswimlikethisbeyondtheconfinesoflifelookingatastar。Butthethought:\"TheywillthinkIdarednotfacethemandcommittedsuicide，\"causedarevoltofhismindwhichcarriedhimon。Hereturnedonboard，ashehadleft，unheardandunseen。Helayinhishammockutterlyexhaustedandwithaconfusedfeelingthathehadbeenbeyondtheconfinesoflife，somewherenearastar，andthatitwasveryquietthere。
CHAPTERIX
Shelteredbythesquatheadlandfromthefirstmorningsparkleoftheseathelittlebaybreathedadeliciousfreshness。Thepartyfromtheschoonerlandedatthebottomofthegarden。Theyexchangedinsignificantwordsinstudiouslycasualtones。Theprofessor\'ssisterputupalong-handledeye-glassasiftoscanthenovelsurroundings，butinrealitysearchingforpoorArthuranxiously。Havingneverseenhimotherwisethaninhistownclothesshehadnoideawhathewouldlooklike。IthadbeenlefttotheprofessortohelphisladiesoutoftheboatbecauseRenouard，asifintentongivingdirections，hadsteppedforwardatoncetomeetthehalf-casteLuizhurryingdownthepath。Inthedistance，infrontofthedazzlinglysunlitbungalow，arowofdark-facedhouse-boysunequalinstatureandvariedincomplexionpreservedtheimmobilityofaguardofhonour。
Luizhadtakenoffhissoftfelthatbeforecomingwithinearshot。
Renouardbenthisheadtohisrapidtalkofdomesticarrangementshemeanttomakeforthevisitors；anotherbedinthemaster\'sroomfortheladiesandacotforthegentlemantobehungintheroomoppositewhere-whereMr。Walter-herehegaveascaredlookallround-Mr。Walter-haddied。
\"Verygood，\"assentedRenouardinanevenundertone。\"Andrememberwhatyouhavetosayofhim。\"
\"Yes，master。Only\"-hewriggledslightlyandputonebarefootontheotherforamomentinapologeticembarrassment-\"onlyI-I-
don\'tliketosayit。\"
Renouardlookedathimwithoutanger，withoutanysortofexpression。\"Frightenedofthedead？Eh？Well-allright。I
willsayitmyself-Isupposeonceforall……Immediatelyheraisedhisvoiceverymuch。
\"Sendtheboysdowntobringuptheluggage。\"
\"Yes，master。\"
Renouardturnedtohisdistinguishedguestswho，likeapersonallyconductedpartyoftourists，hadstoppedandwerelookingaboutthem。
\"Iamsorry，\"hebeganwithanimpassiveface。\"MymanhasjusttoldmethatMr。Walter……\"hemanagedtosmile，butdidn\'tcorrecthimself……\"hasgoneinatradingschooneronashorttouroftheislands，tothewestward。\"
Thiscommunicationwasreceivedinprofoundsilence。
Renouardforgothimselfinthethought:\"It\'sdone!\"Butthesightofthestringofboysmarchinguptothehousewithsuit-
casesanddressing-bagsrescuedhimfromthatappallingabstraction。
\"AllIcandoistobegyoutomakeyourselvesathome……withwhatpatienceyoumay。\"
Thiswassoobviouslytheonlythingtodothateverybodymovedonatonce。TheprofessorwalkedalongsideRenouard，behindthetwoladies。
\"Ratherunexpected-thisabsence。\"
\"Notexactly，\"mutteredRenouard。\"Atriphastobemadeeveryyeartoengagelabour。\"
\"Isee……Andhe……Howvexinglyelusivethepoorfellowhasbecome!I\'llbegintothinkthatsomewickedfairyisfavouringthislovetalewithunpleasantattentions。\"
Renouardnoticedthatthepartydidnotseemweigheddownbythisnewdisappointment。Onthecontrarytheymovedwithafreerstep。
Theprofessor\'ssisterdroppedhereye-glasstotheendofitschain。MissMoorsomtookthelead。Theprofessor，hislipsunsealed，lingeredintheopen:butRenouarddidnotlistentothatman\'stalk。Helookedafterthatman\'sdaughter-ifindeedthatcreatureofirresistibleseductionswereadaughterofmortals。Theveryintensityofhisdesire，asifhissoulwerestreamingafterherthroughhiseyes，defeatedhisobjectofkeepingholdofheraslongaspossiblewith，atleast，oneofhissenses。Hermovingoutlinesdissolvedintoamistycolouredshimmerofawomanmadeofflameandshadows，crossingthethresholdofhishouse。
ThedayswhichfollowedwerenotexactlysuchasRenouardhadfeared-yettheywerenotbetterthanhisfears。Theywereaccursedinallthemoodstheybroughthim。Butthegeneralaspectofthingswasquiet。Theprofessorsmokedinnumerablepipeswiththeairofaworkeronhisholiday，alwaysinmovementandlookingatthingswiththatmysteriouslysagaciousaspectofmenwhoareadmittedlywiserthantherestoftheworld。Hiswhiteheadofhair-whiterthananythingwithinthehorizonexceptthebrokenwateronthereefs-wasglimpsedineverypartoftheplantationalwaysonthemoveunderthewhiteparasol。Andonceheclimbedtheheadlandandappearedsuddenlytothosebelow，awhitespeckelevatedintheblue，withadiminutivebutstatuesqueeffect。
FeliciaMoorsomremainednearthehouse。Sometimesshecouldbeseenwithadespairingexpressionscribblingrapidlyinherlock-updairy。Butonlyforamoment。AtthesoundofRenouard\'sfootstepsshewouldturntowardshimherbeautifulface，adorableinthatcalmwhichwaslikeawilful，likeacruelignoringofhertremendouspower。Whenevershesatontheverandah，onachairmorespeciallyreservedforheruse，Renouardwouldstrollupandsitonthestepsnearher，mostlysilent，andoftennottrustinghimselftoturnhisglanceonher。She，verystillwithhereyeshalf-closed，lookeddownonhishead-sothattoabeholder(suchasProfessorMoorsom，forinstance)shewouldappeartobeturningoverinhermindprofoundthoughtsaboutthatmansittingatherfeet，hisshouldersbowedalittle，hishandslistless-asifvanquished。And，indeed，themoralpoisonoffalsehoodhassuchadecomposingpowerthatRenouardfelthisoldpersonalityturntodeaddust。Often，intheevening，whentheysatoutsideconversinglanguidlyinthedark，hefeltthathemustresthisforeheadonherfeetandburstintotears。
Theprofessor\'ssistersufferedfromsomelittlestraincausedbytheunstabilityofherownfeelingstowardRenouard。Shecouldnottellwhethershereallydiddislikehimornot。Attimesheappearedtohermostfascinating；and，thoughhegenerallyendedbysayingsomethingshockinglycrude，shecouldnotresistherinclinationtotalkwithhim-atleastnotalways。Onedaywhenherniecehadleftthemaloneontheverandahsheleanedforwardinherchair-speckless，resplendent，and，inherway，almostasstrikingapersonalityasherniece，whodidnotresembleherintheleast。\"DearFeliciahasinheritedherhairandthegreatestpartofherappearancefromhermother，\"themaidenladyusedtotellpeople。
Sheleanedforwardthen，confidentially。
\"Oh!Mr。Renouard!Haven\'tyousomethingcomfortingtosay？\"
Helookedup，assurprisedasifavoicefromheavenhadspokenwiththisperfectsocietyintonation，andbythepuzzledprofundityofhisblueeyesflutteredthewax-flowerofrefinedwomanhood。
Shecontinued。\"For-Icanspeaktoyouopenlyonthistiresomesubject-onlythinkwhataterriblestrainthishopedeferredmustbeforFelicia\'sheart-forhernerves。\"
\"Whyspeaktomeaboutit，\"hemutteredfeelinghalfchokedsuddenly。
\"Why!Asafriend-awell-wisher-thekindestofhosts。Iamafraidwearereallyeatingyououtofhouseandhome。\"Shelaughedalittle。\"Ah!When，whenwillthissuspenseberelieved!
ThatpoorlostArthur!IconfessthatIamalmostafraidofthegreatmoment。Itwillbelikeseeingaghost。\"
\"Haveyoueverseenaghost？\"askedRenouard，inadullvoice。
Sheshiftedherhandsalittle。Herposewasperfectinitseaseandmiddle-agedgrace。
\"Notactually。Onlyinaphotograph。Butwehavemanyfriendswhohadtheexperienceofapparitions。\"
\"Ah!TheyseeghostsinLondon，\"mumbledRenouard，notlookingather。
\"Frequently-inacertainveryinterestingset。Butallsortsofpeopledo。Wehaveafriend，averyfamousauthor-hisghostisagirl。Oneofmybrother\'sintimatesisaverygreatmanofscience。Heisfriendlywithaghost……Ofagirltoo，\"sheaddedinavoiceasifstruckforthefirsttimebythecoincidence。\"ItisthephotographofthatapparitionwhichIhaveseen。Verysweet。Mostinteresting。Alittlecloudynaturally……Mr。Renouard!Ihopeyouarenotasceptic。It\'ssoconsolingtothink……\"
\"Thoseplantationboysofmineseeghoststoo，\"saidRenouardgrimly。
Thesisterofthephilosophersatupstiffly。Whatcrudeness!Itwasalwayssowiththisstrangeyoungman。
\"Mr。Renouard!Howcanyoucomparethesuperstitiousfanciesofyourhorriblesavageswiththemanifestations……\"
Wordsfailedher。Shebrokeoffwithaveryfaintprimlyangrysmile。Shewasperhapsthemoreoffendedwithhimbecauseofthatflutteratthebeginningoftheconversation。Andinamomentwithperfecttactanddignityshegotupfromherchairandlefthimalone。
Renouarddidn\'tevenlookup。Itwasnotthedispleasureoftheladywhichdeprivedhimofhissleepthatnight。Hewasbeginningtoforgetwhatsimple，honestsleepwaslike。Hishammockfromtheshiphadbeenhungforhimonasideverandah，andhespenthisnightsinitonhisback，hishandsfoldedonhischest，inasortofhalfconscious，oppressedstupor。Inthemorninghewatchedwithunseeingeyestheheadlandcomeoutashapelessinkblotagainstthethinlightofthefalsedawn，passthroughallthestagesofdaybreaktothedeeppurpleofitsoutlinedmassnimbedgloriouslywiththegoldoftherisingsun。Helistenedtothevaguesoundsofwakingwithinthehouse:andsuddenlyhebecameawareofLuizstandingbythehammock-obviouslytroubled。
\"What\'sthematter？\"
\"Tse!Tse!Tse!\"
\"Well，whatnow？Troublewiththeboys？\"
\"No，master。ThegentlemanwhenItakehimhisbathwaterhespeaktome。Heaskme-heask-when，when，IthinkMr。Walter，hecomeback。\"
Thehalf-caste\'steethchatteredslightly。Renouardgotoutofthehammock。
\"Andheishereallthetime-eh？\"
Luiznoddedascaredaffirmative，butatonceprotested，\"Inoseehim。Inever。NotI!Theignorantwildboyssaytheysee……
Something!Ough!\"
Heclappedhisteethonanothershortrattle，andstoodthere，shrunk，blighted，likeamaninafreezingblast。
\"Andwhatdidyousaytothegentleman？\"
\"IsayIdon\'tknow-andIclearout。I-Idon\'tliketospeakofhim。\"
\"Allright。Weshalltrytolaythatpoorghost，\"saidRenouardgloomily，goingofftoasmallhutnearbytodress。Hewassayingtohimself:\"Thisfellowwillendbygivingmeaway。ThelastthingthatI……No!Thatmustn\'tbe。\"Andfeelinghishandbeingforcedhediscoveredthewholeextentofhiscowardice。
CHAPTERX
Thatmorningwanderingabouthisplantation，morelikeafrightenedsoulthanitscreatorandmaster，hedodgedthewhiteparasolbobbinguphereandtherelikeabuoyadriftonaseaofdark-greenplants。Thecroppromisedtobemagnificent，andthefashionablephilosopheroftheagetookotherthanamerelyscientificinterestintheexperiment。Hisinvestmentswerejudicious，buthehadalwayssomelittlemoneylyingby，forexperiments。
Afterlunch，beingleftalonewithRenouard，hetalkedalittleofcultivationandsuchmatters。Thensuddenly:
\"Bytheway，isittruewhatmysistertellsme，thatyourplantationboyshavebeendisturbedbyaghost？\"
Renouard，whosincetheladieshadleftthetablewasnotkeepingsuchastrictwatchonhimself，cameoutofhisabstractionwithastartandastiffsmile。
\"Myforemanhadsometroublewiththemduringmyabsence。Theyfunkworkinginacertainfieldontheslopeofthehill。\"
\"Aghosthere!\"exclaimedtheamusedprofessor。\"Thenourwholeconceptionofthepsychologyofghostsmustberevised。Thisislandhasbeenuninhabitedprobablysincethedawnofages。Howdidaghostcomehere。Byairorwater？Andwhydiditleaveitsnativehaunts。Wasitfrommisanthropy？Washeexpelledfromsomecommunityofspirits？\"
Renouardessayedtorespondinthesametone。Thewordsdiedonhislips。Wasitamanorawomanghost，theprofessorinquired。
\"Idon\'tknow。\"Renouardmadeanefforttoappearatease。Hehad，hesaid，acoupleofTahitianamongsthisboys-aghost-
riddenrace。Theyhadstartedthescare。Theyhadprobablybroughttheirghostwiththem。
\"Letusinvestigatethematter，Renouard，\"proposedtheprofessorhalfinearnest。\"Wemaymakesomeinterestingdiscoveriesastothestateofprimitiveminds，atanyrate。\"
Thiswastoomuch。Renouardjumpedupandleavingtheroomwentoutandwalkedaboutinfrontofthehouse。Hewouldallownoonetoforcehishand。Presentlytheprofessorjoinedhimoutside。Hecarriedhisparasol，buthadneitherhisbooknorhispipewithhim。Amiablyserioushelaidhishandonhis\"dearyoungfriend\'s\"
arm。
\"Weareallofusalittlestrungup，\"hesaid。\"FormypartI
havebeenlikesisterAnneinthestory。ButIcannotseeanythingcoming。Anythingthatwouldbetheleastgoodforanybody-I
mean。\"
Renouardhadrecoveredsufficientlytomurmurcoldlyhisregretofthiswasteoftime。Forthatwaswhat，hesupposed，theprofessorhadinhismind。
\"Time，\"musedProfessorMoorsom。\"Idon\'tknowthattimecanbewasted。ButIwilltellyou，mydearfriend，whatthisis:itisanawfulwasteoflife。Imeanforallofus。Evenformysister，whohasgotaheadacheandisgonetoliedown。\"
HeshookgentlyRenouard\'sarm。\"Yes，forallofus!Onemaymeditateonlifeendlessly，onemayevenhaveapooropinionofit-butthefactremainsthatwehaveonlyonelifetolive。Anditisshort。Thinkofthat，myyoungfriend。\"
HereleasedRenouard\'sarmandsteppedoutoftheshadeopeninghisparasol。Itwasclearthattherewassomethingmoreinhismindthanmereanxietyaboutthedateofhislecturesforfashionableaudiences。Whatdidthemanmeanbyhisconfoundedplatitudes？ToRenouard，scaredbyLuizinthemorning(forhefeltthatnothingcouldbemorefatalthantohavehisdeceptionunveiledotherwisethanbypersonalconfession)，thistalksoundedlikeencouragementorawarningfromthatmanwhoseemedtohimtobeverybrazenandverysubtle。Itwaslikebeingbulliedbythedeadandcajoledbythelivingintoathrowofdiceforasupremestake。
Renouardwentawaytosomedistancefromthehouseandthrewhimselfdownintheshadeofatree。Helaythereperfectlystillwithhisforeheadrestingonhisfoldedarms，light-headedandthinking。Itseemedtohimthathemustbeonfire，thenthathehadfallenintoacoolwhirlpool，asmoothfunnelofwaterswirlingaboutwithnauseatingrapidity。Andthen(itmusthavebeenareminiscenceofhisboyhood)hewaswalkingonthedangerousthiniceofariver，unabletoturnback……Suddenlyitpartedfromshoretoshorewithaloudcracklikethereportofagun。
Withoneleaphefoundhimselfonhisfeet。Allwaspeace，stillness，sunshine。Hewalkedawayfromthereslowly。Hadhebeenagamblerhewouldhaveperhapsbeensupportedinameasurebythemereexcitement。Buthewasnotagambler。Hehadalwaysdisdainedthatartificialmannerofchallengingthefates。Thebungalowcameintoview，brightandpretty，andallabouteverythingwaspeace，stillness，sunshine……
Whilehewasploddingtowardsithehadadisagreeablesenseofthedeadman\'scompanyathiselbow。Theghost!Heseemedtobeeverywherebutinhisgrave。Couldoneevershakehimoff？hewondered。AtthatmomentMissMoorsomcameoutontheverandah；
andatonce，asifbyamysteryofradiatingwaves，sherousedagreattumultinhisheart，shookearthandskytogether-butheploddedon。Thenlikeagravesong-noteinthestormhervoicecametohimominously。
\"Ah!Mr。Renouard……\"Hecameupandsmiled，butshewasveryserious。\"Ican\'tkeepstillanylonger。Istheretimetowalkupthisheadlandandbackbeforedark？\"
Theshadowswerelyinglengthenedontheground；allwasstillnessandpeace。\"No，\"saidRenouard，feelingsuddenlyassteadyasarock。\"ButIcanshowyouaviewfromthecentralhillwhichyourfatherhasnotseen。Aviewofreefsandofbrokenwaterwithoutend，andofgreatwheelingcloudsofsea-birds。\"
Shecamedowntheverandahstepsatonceandtheymovedoff。\"Yougofirst，\"heproposed，\"andI\'lldirectyou。Totheleft。\"
Shewaswearingashortnankinskirt，amuslinblouse；hecouldseethroughthethinstufftheskinofhershoulders，ofherarms。Thenobledelicacyofherneckcausedhimasortoftransport。\"Thepathbeginswherethesethreepalmsare。Theonlypalmsontheisland。\"
\"Isee。\"
Sheneverturnedherhead。Afterawhilesheobserved:\"Thispathlooksasifithadbeenmaderecently。\"
\"Quiterecently，\"heassentedverylow。
Theywentonclimbingsteadilywithoutexchanginganotherword；andwhentheystoodonthetopshegazedalongtimebeforeher。Theloweveningmistveiledthefurtherlimitofthereefs。Abovetheenormousandmelancholyconfusion，asofafleetofwreckedislands，therestlessmyriadsofsea-birdsrolledandunrolleddarkribbonsonthesky，gatheredinclouds，soaredandstoopedlikeaplayofshadows，fortheyweretoofarforthemtoheartheircries。
Renouardbrokethesilenceinlowtones。
\"They\'llbesettlingforthenightpresently。\"Shemadenosound。
Roundthemallwaspeaceanddecliningsunshine。Nearby，thetopmostpinnacleofMalata，resemblingthetopofaburiedtower，rosearock，weather-worn，grey，wearyofwatchingthemonotonouscenturiesofthePacific。Renouardleanedhisshouldersagainstit。FeliciaMoorsomfacedhimsuddenly，hersplendidblackeyesfullonhisfaceasthoughshehadmadeuphermindatlasttodestroyhiswitsonceandforall。Dazzled，heloweredhiseyelidsslowly。
\"Mr。Renouard!Thereissomethingstrangeinallthis。Tellmewhereheis？\"
Heanswereddeliberately。
\"Ontheothersideofthisrock。Iburiedhimtheremyself。\"
Shepressedherhandstoherbreast，struggledforherbreathforamoment，then:\"Ohhh!……Youburiedhim!……Whatsortofmanareyou？……Youdarednottell!……Heisanotherofyourvictims？……Youdarednotconfessthatevening……Youmusthavekilledhim。Whatcouldhehavedonetoyou？……Youfastenedonhimsomeatrociousquarreland……\"
Hervengefulaspect，herpoignantcrieslefthimasunmovedasthewearyrockagainstwhichheleaned。Heonlyraisedhiseyelidstolookatherandloweredthemslowly。Nothingmore。Itsilencedher。Andasifashamedshemadeagesturewithherhand，puttingawayfromherthatthought。Hespoke，quietlyironicatfirst。
\"Ha!thelegendaryRenouardofsensitiveidiots-theruthlessadventurer-theogrewithafuture。Thatwasaparrotcry，MissMoorsom。Idon\'tthinkthatthegreatestfoolofthemalleverdaredhintsuchastupidthingofmethatIkilledmenfornothing。
No，Ihadnoticedthismaninahotel。HehadcomefromupcountryIwastold，andwasdoingnothing。Isawhimsittingtherelonelyinacornerlikeasickcrow，andIwentoveroneeveningtotalktohim。Justonimpulse。Hewasn\'timpressive。Hewaspitiful。
Myworstenemycouldhavetoldyouhewasn\'tgoodenoughtobeoneofRenouard\'svictims。Itdidn\'ttakemelongtojudgethathewasdrugginghimself。Notdrinking。Drugs。\"
\"Ah!It\'snowthatyouaretryingtomurderhim，\"shecried。
\"Really。AlwaystheRenouardofshopkeepers\'legend。Listen!I
wouldneverhavebeenjealousofhim。AndyetIamjealousoftheairyoubreathe，ofthesoilyoutreadon，oftheworldthatseesyou-movingfree-notmine。Butnevermind。Iratherlikedhim。
ForacertainreasonIproposedheshouldcometobemyassistanthere。Hesaidhebelievedthiswouldsavehim。Itdidnotsavehimfromdeath。Itcametohimasitwerefromnothing-justafall。Amereslipandtumbleoftenfeetintoaravine。Butitseemshehadbeenhurtbeforeup-country-byahorse。Heailedandailed。No，hewasnotasteel-tippedman。Andhispoorsoulseemedtohavebeendamagedtoo。Itgavewayverysoon。\"
\"Thisistragic!\"FeliciaMoorsomwhisperedwithfeeling。
Renouard\'slipstwitched，buthislevelvoicecontinuedmercilessly。
\"That\'sthestory。Heralliedalittleonenightandsaidhewantedtotellmesomething。I，beingagentleman，hesaid，hecouldconfideinme。Itoldhimthathewasmistaken。Thattherewasagooddealofaplebeianinme，thathecouldn\'tknow。Heseemeddisappointed。Hemutteredsomethingabouthisinnocenceandsomethingthatsoundedlikeacurseonsomewoman，thenturnedtothewalland-justgrewcold。\"
\"Onawoman，\"criedMissMoorsomindignantly。\"Whatwoman？\"
\"Iwonder!\"saidRenouard，raisinghiseyesandnotingthecrimsonofherear-lobesagainstthelivewhitenessofhercomplexion，thesombre，asifsecret，night-splendourofhereyesunderthewrithingflamesofherhair。\"Somewomanwhowouldn\'tbelieveinthatpoorinnocenceofhis……Yes。Youprobably。Andnowyouwillnotbelieveinme-noteveninmewhomustintruthbewhatI
am-eventodeath。No!Youwon\'t。Andyet，Felicia，awomanlikeyouandamanlikemedonotoftencometogetheronthisearth。\"
Theflameofhergloriousheadscorchedhisface。Heflunghishatfaraway，andhissuddenlyloweredeyelidsbroughtoutstartlinglyhisresemblancetoantiquebronze，theprofileofPallas，still，austere，bowedalittleintheshadowoftherock。\"Oh!Ifyoucouldonlyunderstandthetruththatisinme!\"headded。
Shewaited，asiftooastoundedtospeak，tillhelookedupagain，andthenwithunnaturalforceasifdefendingherselffromsomeunspokenaspersion，\"It\'sIwhostandfortruthhere!Believeinyou!Inyou，whobyaheartlessfalsehood-andnothingelse，nothingelse，doyouhear？-havebroughtmehere，deceived，cheated，asinsomeabominablefarce!\"Shesatdownonaboulder，restedherchininherhands，intheposeofsimplegrief-
mourningforherself。
\"Itonlywantedthis。Why!Oh!Whyisitthatugliness，ridicule，andbasenessmustfallacrossmypath。\"
Onthatheight，alonewiththesky，theyspoketoeachotherasiftheearthhadfallenawayfromundertheirfeet。
\"Areyougrievingforyourdignity？Hewasamediocresoulandcouldhavegivenyoubutanunworthyexistence。\"
Shedidnotevensmileatthosewords，but，superb，asifliftingacorneroftheveil，sheturnedonhimslowly。
\"AnddoyouimagineIwouldhavedevotedmyselftohimforsuchapurpose!Don\'tyouknowthatreparationwasduetohimfromme？A
sacreddebt-afineduty。Toredeemhimwouldnothavebeeninmypower-Iknowit。Buthewasblameless，anditwasformetocomeforward。Don\'tyouseethatintheeyesoftheworldnothingcouldhaverehabilitatedhimsocompletelyashismarriagewithme？NowordofevilcouldbewhisperedofhimafterIhadgivenhimmyhand。Astogivingmyselfuptoanythinglessthantheshapingofaman\'sdestiny-ifIthoughtIcoulddoitIwouldabhormyself……\"Shespokewithauthorityinherdeepfascinating，unemotionalvoice。Renouardmeditated，gloomy，asifoversomesinisterriddleofabeautifulsphinxmetonthewildroadofhislife。
\"Yes。Yourfatherwasright。Youareoneofthesearistocrats……\"
Shedrewherselfuphaughtily。
\"Whatdoyousay？Myfather!……Ianaristocrat。\"
\"Oh!Idon\'tmeanthatyouarelikethemenandwomenofthetimeofarmours，castles，andgreatdeeds。Oh，no!Theystoodonthenakedsoil，hadtraditionstobefaithfulto，hadtheirfeetonthisearthofpassionsanddeathwhichisnotahothouse。Theywouldhavebeentooplebeianforyousincetheyhadtolead，tosufferwith，tounderstandthecommonesthumanity。No，youaremerelyofthetopmostlayer，disdainfulandsuperior，themerepurefrothandbubbleontheinscrutabledepthswhichsomedaywilltossyououtofexistence。Butyouareyou!Youareyou!Youaretheeternalloveitself-only，ODivinity，itisn\'tyourbody，itisyoursoulthatismadeoffoam。\"
Shelistenedasifinadream。Hehadsucceededsowellinhisefforttodrivebackthefloodofhispassionthathislifeitselfseemedtorunwithitoutofhisbody。Atthatmomenthefeltasonedeadspeaking。Buttheheadlongwavereturningwithtenfoldforceflunghimonhersuddenly，withopenarmsandblazingeyes。
Shefoundherselflikeafeatherinhisgrasp，helpless，unabletostruggle，withherfeetofftheground。Butthiscontactwithher，maddeningliketoomuchfelicity，destroyeditsownend。Fireranthroughhisveins，turnedhispassiontoashes，burnthimoutandlefthimempty，withoutforce-almostwithoutdesire。Helethergobeforeshecouldcryout。Andshewassousedtotheformsofrepressionenveloping，softeningthecrudeimpulsesofoldhumanitythatshenolongerbelievedintheirexistenceasifitwereanexplodedlegend。Shedidnotrecognisewhathadhappenedtoher。
Shecamesafeoutofhisarms，withoutastruggle，notevenhavingfeltafraid。
\"What\'sthemeaningofthis？\"shesaid，outragedbutcalminascornfulway。
Hegotdownonhiskneesinsilence，bentlowtoherveryfeet，whileshelookeddownathim，alittlesurprised，withoutanimosity，asifmerelycurioustoseewhathewoulddo。Then，whileheremainedbowedtothegroundpressingthehemofherskirttohislips，shemadeaslightmovement。Hegotup。
\"No，\"hesaid。\"WereyoueversomuchminewhatcouldIdowithyouwithoutyourconsent？No。Youdon\'tconquerawraith，coldmist，stuffofdreams，illusion。Itmustcometoyouandclingtoyourbreast。Andthen!Oh!Andthen!\"
Allecstasy，allexpressionwentoutofhisface。
\"Mr。Renouard，\"shesaid，\"thoughyoucanhavenoclaimonmyconsiderationafterhavingdecoyedmehereforthevilepurpose，apparently，ofgloatingovermeasyourpossibleprey，IwilltellyouthatIamnotperhapstheextraordinarybeingyouthinkIam。
Youmaybelieveme。HereIstandfortruthitself。\"
\"What\'sthattomewhatyouare？\"heanswered。\"AtasignfromyouIwouldclimbuptotheseventhheaventobringyoudowntoearthformyown-andifIsawyousteepedtothelipsinvice，incrime，inmud，Iwouldgoafteryou，takeyoutomyarms-wearyouforanincomparablejewelonmybreast。Andthat\'slove-truelove-thegiftandthecurseofthegods。Thereisnoother。\"
Thetruthvibratinginhisvoicemadeherrecoilslightly，forshewasnotfittohearit-notevenalittle-notevenonesingletimeinherlife。Itwasrevoltingtoher；andinhertrouble，perhapspromptedbythesuggestionofhisnameortosoftentheharshnessofexpression，forshewasobscurelymoved，shespoketohiminFrench。
\"ASSEZ!J\'AIHORREURDETOUTCELA，\"shesaid。
Hewaswhitetohisverylips，buthewastremblingnomore。Thedicehadbeencast，andnotevenviolencecouldalterthethrow。
Shepassedbyhimunbendingly，andhefollowedherdownthepath。
Afteratimesheheardhimsaying:
\"Andyourdreamistoinfluenceahumandestiny？\"
\"Yes!\"sheansweredcurtly，unabashed，withawoman\'scompleteassurance。
\"Thenyoumayrestcontent。Youhavedoneit。\"
Sheshruggedhershouldersslightly。Butjustbeforereachingtheendofthepathsherelented，stopped，andwentbacktohim。
\"Idon\'tsupposeyouareveryanxiousforpeopletoknowhownearyoucametoabsoluteturpitude。Youmayresteasyonthatpoint。
Ishallspeaktomyfather，ofcourse，andwewillagreetosaythathehasdied-nothingmore。\"
\"Yes，\"saidRenouardinalifelessvoice。\"Heisdead。Hisveryghostshallbedonewithpresently。\"
Shewenton，butheremainedstandingstockstillinthedusk。Shehadalreadyreachedthethreepalmswhensheheardbehindheraloudpealoflaughter，cynicalandjoyless，suchasisheardinsmoking-roomsattheendofascandalousstory。Itmadeherfeelpositivelyfaintforamoment。
CHAPTERXI
SlowlyacompletedarknessenvelopedGeoffreyRenouard。Hisresolutionhadfailedhim。InsteadoffollowingFeliciaintothehouse，hehadstoppedunderthethreepalms，andleaningagainstasmoothtrunkhadabandonedhimselftoasenseofanimmensedeceptionandthefeelingofextremefatigue。Thiswalkupthehillanddownagainwaslikethesupremeeffortofanexplorertryingtopenetratetheinteriorofanunknowncountry，thesecretofwhichistoowelldefendedbyitscruelandbarrennature。
Decoyedbyamirage，hehadgonetoofar-sofarthattherewasnogoingback。Hisstrengthwasatanend。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehehadtogiveup，andwithasortofdespairingself-
possessionhetriedtounderstandthecauseofthedefeat。Hedidnotascribeittothatabsurddeadman。
ThehesitatingshadowofLuizapproachedhimunnoticedtillitspoketimidly。Renouardstarted。
\"Eh？What？Dinnerwaiting？YoumustsayIbegtobeexcused。I
can\'tcome。ButIshallseethemto-morrowmorning，atthelandingplace。Takeyourordersfromtheprofessorastothesailingoftheschooner。Gonow。\"
Luiz，dumbfounded，retreatedintothedarkness。Renouarddidnotmove，buthoursafterwards，likethebitterfruitofhisimmobility，thewords:\"Ihadnothingtooffertohervanity，\"
camefromhislipsinthesilenceoftheisland。Anditwasthenonlythathestirred，onlytowearthenightoutinrestlesstrampingupanddownthevariouspathsoftheplantation。Luiz，whosesleepwasmadelightbytheconsciousnessofsomeimpendingchange，heardfootstepspassingbyhishut，thefirmtreadofthemaster；andturningonhismatsemittedafaintTse!Tse!Tse!ofdeepconcern。