\"Verywell，\"Mrs。Traversassented，seriously。\"Butinthatcasewehadbetternotremaintogether。\"Sheasked，then，d’AlcacertogobelowandsitwithMr。Traverswhodidn’tliketobeleftalone。\"Thoughhe，too，doesn’tseemtowanttobetoldanything，\"sheadded，parenthetically，andwenton：\"ButImustaskyousomethingelse，Mr。d’Alcacer。Iproposetositdowninthischairandgotosleep——ifIcan。Willyoupromisetocallmeaboutfiveo’clock？Iprefernottospeaktoanyoneondeck，and，moreover，Icantrustyou。\"
Hebowedinsilenceandwentawayslowly。Mrs。Travers，turningherhead，perceivedasteadylightatthebrig’syard—arm，verybrightamongthetarnishedstars。Shewalkedaftandlookedoverthetaffrail。Itwasexactlylikethatothernight。Shehalfexpectedtohearpresentlythelow，ripplingsoundofanadvancingboat。Buttheuniverseremainedwithoutasound。Whensheatlastdroppedintothedeckchairshewasabsolutelyattheendofherpowerofthinking。\"Isupposethat’showthecondemnedmanagetogetsomesleeponthenightbeforetheexecution，\"shesaidtoherselfamomentbeforehereyelidsclosedasifunderaleadenhand。
Shewokeup，withherfacewetwithtears，outofavividdreamofLingardinchain—mailarmourandvaguelyrecallingaCrusader，butbare—headedandwalkingawayfromherinthedepthsofanimpossiblelandscape。Shehurriedontocatchupwithhimbutathrongofbarbarianswithenormousturbanscamebetweenthematthelastmomentandshelostsightofhimforeverintheflurryofaghastlysand—storm。Whatfrightenedhermostwasthatshehadnotbeenabletoseehisface。Itwasthenthatshebegantocryoverherhardfate。Whenshewokeupthetearswerestillrollingdownhercheeksandsheperceivedinthelightofthedeck—lampd’Alcacerarrestedalittlewayoff。
\"Didyouhavetospeaktome？\"sheasked。
\"No，\"saidd’Alcacer。\"Youdidn’tgivemetime。WhenIcameasfarasthisIfanciedIheardyousobbing。Itmusthavebeenadelusion。\"
\"Oh，no。Myfaceiswetyet。Itwasadream。Isupposeitisfiveo’clock。Thankyouforbeingsopunctual。Ihavesomethingtodobeforesunrise。\"
D’Alcacermovednearer。\"Iknow。Youhavedecidedtokeepanappointmentonthesandbank。Yourhusbanddidn’tuttertwentywordsinallthesehoursbuthemanagedtotellmethatpieceofnews。\"
\"Ishouldn’thavethought，\"shemurmured，vaguely。
\"Hewantedmetounderstandthatithadnoimportance，\"statedd’Alcacerinaveryserioustone。
\"Yes。Heknowswhatheistalkingabout，\"saidMrs。Traversinsuchabittertoneastodisconcertd’Alcacerforamoment。\"I
don’tseeasinglesoulaboutthedecks，\"Mrs。Traverscontinued，almostdirectly。
\"Theverywatchmenareasleep，\"saidd’Alcacer。
\"Thereisnothingsecretinthisexpedition，butIprefernottocallanyone。Perhapsyouwouldn’tmindpullingmeoffyourselfinoursmallboat。\"
Itseemedtoherthatd’Alcacershowedsomehesitation。Sheadded：\"Ithasnoimportance，youknow。\"
Hebowedhisassentandprecededherdownthesideinsilence。
Whensheenteredtheboathehadthescullsreadyanddirectlyshesatdownheshovedoff。Itwassodarkyetthatbutforthebrig’syard—armlighthecouldnothavekepthisdirection。Hepulledaverydeliberatestroke，lookingoverhisshoulderfrequently。ItwasMrs。Traverswhosawfirstthefaintgleamoftheuncoveredsandspitontheblack，quietwater。
\"Alittlemoretotheleft，\"shesaid。\"No，theotherway……
\"D’Alcacerobeyedherdirectionsbuthisstrokegrewevenslowerthanbefore。Shespokeagain。\"Don’tyouthinkthattheuttermostfarthingshouldalwaysbepaid，Mr。d’Alcacer？\"
D’Alcacerglancedoverhisshoulder，then：\"Itwouldbetheonlyhonourableway。Butitmaybehard。Toohardforourcommonfearfulhearts。\"
\"Iampreparedforanything。\"
Heceasedpullingforamoment……\"Anythingthatmaybefoundonasandbank，\"Mrs。Traverswenton。\"Onanarid，insignificant，anddesertedsandbank。\"
D’Alcacergavetwostrokesandceasedagain。
\"Thereisroomforawholeworldofsufferingonasandbank，forallthebitternessandresentmentahumansoulmaybemadetofeel。\"
\"Yes，Isupposeyouwouldknow，\"shewhisperedwhilehegaveastrokeortwoandagainglancedoverhisshoulder。Shemurmuredthewords：
\"Bitterness，resentment，\"andamomentafterwardbecameawareofthekeeloftheboatrunninguponthesand。Butshedidn’tmove，andd’Alcacer，too，remainedseatedonthethwartwiththebladesofhisscullsraisedasifreadytodropthemandbackthedinghyoutintodeepwateratthefirstsign。
Mrs。Traversmadenosign，butsheasked，abruptly：\"Mr。
d’Alcacer，doyouthinkIshallevercomeback？\"
Hertoneseemedtohimtolacksincerity。Butwhocouldtellwhatthisabruptnesscovered——sincerefearormerevanity？Heaskedhimselfwhethershewasplayingapartforhisbenefit，oronlyforherself。
\"Idon’tthinkyouquiteunderstandthesituation，Mrs。Travers。
Idon’tthinkyouhaveaclearidea，eitherofhissimplicityorofhisvisionary’spride。\"
Shethought，contemptuously，thattherewereotherthingswhichd’Alcacerdidn’tknowandsurrenderedtoasuddentemptationtoenlightenhimalittle。
\"Youforgethiscapacityforpassionandthathissimplicitydoesn’tknowitsownstrength。\"
Therewasnomistakingthesincerityofthatmurmur。\"Shehasfeltit，\"d’Alcacersaidtohimselfwithabsolutecertitude。Hewonderedwhen，where，how，onwhatoccasion？Mrs。Traversstoodupinthesternsheetssuddenlyandd’Alcacerleapedonthesandtohelpheroutoftheboat。
\"Hadn’tIbetterhangaboutheretotakeyoubackagain？\"hesuggested，asheletgoherhand。
\"Youmustn’t！\"sheexclaimed，anxiously。\"Youmustreturntotheyacht。Therewillbeplentyoflightinanotherhour。IwillcometothisspotandwavemyhandkerchiefwhenIwanttobetakenoff。\"
Attheirfeettheshallowwatersleptprofoundly，theghostlygleamofthesandsbaffledtheeyebyitslackofform。Faroff，thegrowthofbushesinthecentreraisedamassiveblackbulkagainstthestarstothesouthward。Mrs。Traverslingeredforamomentneartheboatasifafraidofthestrangesolitudeofthislonelysandbankandofthisloneseathatseemedtofillthewholeencirclinguniverseofremotestarsandlimitlessshadows。
\"Thereisnobodyhere，\"shewhisperedtoherself。
\"Heissomewhereaboutwaitingforyou，orIdon’tknowtheman，\"
affirmedd’Alcacerinanundertone。Hegaveavigorousshovewhichsentthelittleboatintothewater。
D’Alcacerwasperfectlyright。LingardhadcomeupondecklongbeforeMrs。Traverswokeupwithherfacewetwithtears。Theburialpartyhadreturnedhoursbeforeandthecrewofthebrigwereplungedinsleep，exceptfortwowatchmen，whoatLingard’sappearanceretreatednoiselesslyfromthepoop。Lingard，leaningontherail，fellintoasombrereverieofhispast。Reproachfulspectrescrowdedtheair，animatedandvocal，notinthearticulatelanguageofmortalsbutassailinghimwithfaintsobs，deepsighs，andfatefulgestures。Whenhecametohimselfandturnedabouttheyvanished，allbutonedarkshapewithoutsoundormovement。Lingardlookedatitwithsecrethorror。
\"Who’sthat？\"heaskedinatroubledvoice。
Theshadowmovedcloser：\"It’sonlyme，sir，\"saidCarter，whohadleftorderstobecalleddirectlytheCaptainwasseenondeck。
\"Oh，yes，Imighthaveknown，\"mumbledLingardinsomeconfusion。
HerequestedCartertohaveaboatmannedandwhenafteratimetheyoungmantoldhimthatitwasready，hesaid\"Allright！\"
andremainedleaningonhiselbow。
\"Ibegyourpardon，sir，\"saidCarterafteralongishsilence，\"butareyougoingsomedistance？\"
\"No，Ionlywanttobeputashoreonthesandbank。\"
Carterwasrelievedtohearthis，butalsosurprised。\"Thereisnothinglivingthere，sir，\"hesaid。
\"Iwonder，\"mutteredLingard。
\"ButIamcertain，\"Carterinsisted。\"Thelastofthewomenandchildrenbelongingtothosecut—throatsweretakenoffbythesampanswhichbroughtyouandtheyacht—partyout。\"
HewalkedatLingard’selbowtothegangwayandlistenedtohisorders。
\"Directlythereisenoughlighttoseeflagsby，makeasignaltotheschoonertoheaveshortonhercableandloosehersails。Ifthereisanyhangingbackgivethemablankgun，Mr。Carter。I
willhavenoshilly—shallying。Ifshedoesn’tgoattheword，byheavens，Iwilldriveherout。Iamstillmasterhere——foranotherday。\"
Theoverwhelmingsenseofimmensity，ofdisturbingemptiness，whichaffectsthosewhowalkonthesandsinthemidstofthesea，intimidatedMrs。Travers。Theworldresembledalimitlessflatshadowwhichwasmotionlessandelusive。Thenagainstthesouthernstarsshesawahumanformthatisolatedandloneappearedtoherimmense：theshapeofagiantoutlinedamongsttheconstellations。Asitapproachedheritshranktocommonproportions，gotclearofthestars，lostitsawesomeness，andbecamemenacinginitsominousandsilentadvance。Mrs。Travershastenedtospeak。
\"Youhaveaskedforme。Iamcome。Itrustyouwillhavenoreasontoregretmyobedience。\"
Hewalkedupquiteclosetoher，bentdownslightlytopeerintoherface。ThefirstofthetropicaldawnputitscharacteristiccoldsheenintotheskyabovetheShoreofRefuge。
Mrs。Traversdidnotturnawayherhead。
\"Areyoulookingforachangeinme？No。Youwon’tseeit。NowI
knowthatIcouldn’tchangeevenifIwantedto。Iammadeofclaythatistoohard。\"
\"Iamlookingatyouforthefirsttime，\"saidLingard。\"Inevercouldseeyoubefore。Thereweretoomanythings，toomanythoughts，toomanypeople。No，Ineversawyoubefore。Butnowtheworldisdead。\"
Hegraspedhershoulders，approachinghisfaceclosetohers。Sheneverflinched。
\"Yes，theworldisdead，\"shesaid。\"Lookyourfillthen。Itwon’tbeforlong。\"
Helethergoassuddenlyasthoughshehadstruckhim。Thecoldwhitelightofthetropicaldawnhadcreptpastthezenithnowandtheexpanseoftheshallowwaterslookedcold，too，withoutstirorripplewithintheenormousrimofthehorizonwhere，tothewest，ashadowlingeredstill。
\"Takemyarm，\"hesaid。
Shedidsoatonce，andturningtheirbacksonthetwoshipstheybegantowalkalongthesands，buttheyhadnotmademanystepswhenMrs。Traversperceivedanoblongmoundwithaboardplanteduprightatoneend。Mrs。Traversknewthatpartofthesands。Itwasheresheusedtowalkwithherhusbandandd’Alcacereveryeveningafterdinner，whiletheyachtlaystrandedandherboatswereawayinsearchofassistance——whichtheyhadfound——whichtheyhadfound！Thiswassomethingthatshehadneverseentherebefore。Lingardhadsuddenlystoppedandlookedatitmoodily。
Shepressedhisarmtorousehimandasked，\"Whatisthis？\"
\"Thisisagrave，\"saidLingardinalowvoice，andstillgazingattheheapofsand。\"Ihadhimtakenoutoftheshiplastnight。
Strange，\"hewentoninamusingtone，\"howmuchagravebigenoughforonemanonlycanhold。Hismessagewastoforgeteverything。\"
\"Never，never，\"murmuredMrs。Travers。\"IwishIhadbeenonboardtheEmma……Youhadamadmanthere，\"shecriedout，suddenly。Theymovedonagain，LingardlookingatMrs。Traverswhowasleaningonhisarm。
\"Iwonderwhichofustwowasmad，\"hesaid。
\"Iwonderyoucanbeartolookatme，\"shemurmured。ThenLingardspokeagain。
\"Ihadtoseeyouoncemore。\"
\"ThatabominableJorgenson，\"shewhisperedtoherself。
\"No，no，hegavememychance——beforehegavemeup。\"
Mrs。TraversdisengagedherarmandLingardstopped，too，facingherinalongsilence。
\"Icouldnotrefusetomeetyou，\"saidMrs。Traversatlast。\"I
couldnotrefuseyouanything。YouhavealltherightonyoursideandIdon’tcarewhatyoudoorsay。ButIwonderatmyowncouragewhenIthinkoftheconfessionIhavetomake。\"Sheadvanced，laidherhandonLingard’sshoulderandspokeearnestly。\"Ishudderedatthethoughtofmeetingyouagain。Andnowyoumustlistentomyconfession。\"
\"Don’tsayaword，\"saidLingardinanuntroubledvoiceandnevertakinghiseyesfromherface。\"Iknowalready。\"
\"Youcan’t，\"shecried。Herhandslippedoffhisshoulder。\"Thenwhydon’tyouthrowmeintothesea？\"sheasked，passionately。
\"AmItoliveonhatingmyself？\"
\"Youmustn’t！\"hesaidwithanaccentoffear。\"Haven’tyouunderstoodlongagothatifyouhadgivenmethatringitwouldhavebeenjustthesame？\"
\"AmItobelievethis？No，no！Youaretoogeneroustoameresham。Youarethemostmagnanimousofmenbutyouarethrowingitawayonme。DoyouthinkitisremorsethatIfeel？No。Ifitisanythingitisdespair。Butyoumusthaveknownthat——andyetyouwantedtolookatmeagain。\"
\"ItoldyouIneverhadachancebefore，\"saidLingardinanunmovedvoice。\"ItwasonlyafterIheardtheygaveyoutheringthatIfelttheholdyouhavegotonme。HowcouldItellbefore？
Whathashateorlovetodowithyouandme？Hate。Love。Whatcantouchyou？Formeyoustandabovedeathitself；forIseenowthataslongasIliveyouwillneverdie。\"
Theyconfrontedeachotheratthesouthernedgeofthesandsasifafloatontheopensea。Thecentralridgeheapedupbythewindsmaskedfromthemtheverymastheadsofthetwoshipsandthegrowingbrightnessofthelightonlyaugmentedthesenseoftheirinvinciblesolitudeintheawfulserenityoftheworld。
Mrs。Traverssuddenlyputherarmacrosshereyesandavertedherface。
Thenheadded：
\"That’sall。\"
Mrs。Traversletfallherarmandbegantoretracehersteps，unsupportedandalone。Lingardfollowedherontheedgeofthesanduncoveredbytheebbingtide。AbeltoforangelightappearedinthecoldskyabovetheblackforestoftheShoreofRefugeandfadedquicklytogoldthatmeltedsoonintoablindingandcolourlessglare。ItwasnottillaftershehadpassedJaffir’sgravethatMrs。Traversstoleabackwardglanceanddiscoveredthatshewasalone。Lingardhadlefthertoherself。
Shesawhimsittingnearthemoundofsand，hisbackbowed，hishandsclaspinghisknees，asifhehadobeyedtheinvinciblecallofhisgreatvisionshauntingthegraveofthefaithfulmessenger。ShadinghereyeswithherhandMrs。Traverswatchedtheimmobilityofthatmanofinfiniteillusions。Henevermoved，heneverraisedhishead。Itwasallover。Hewasdonewithher。
Shewaitedalittlelongerandthenwentslowlyonherway。
Shaw，nowactingsecondmateoftheyacht，cameoffwithanotherhandinalittleboattotakeMrs。Traversonboard。Hestaredatherlikeanoffendedowl。Howtheladycouldsuddenlyappearatsunrisewavingherhandkerchieffromthesandbankhecouldnotunderstand。For，evenifshehadmanagedtorowherselfoffsecretlyinthedark，shecouldnothavesenttheemptyboatbacktotheyacht。ItwastoShawasortofimpropermiracle。
D’AlcacerhurriedtothetopofthesideladderandastheymetondeckMrs。Traversastonishedhimbysayinginastrangelyprovokingtone：
\"Youwereright。Ihavecomeback。\"Thenwithalittlelaughwhichimpressedd’Alcacerpainfullysheaddedwithanoddownward，\"andMartin，too，wasperfectlyright。Itwasabsolutelyunimportant。\"
Shewalkedonstraighttothetaffrailandd’Alcacerfollowedheraft，alarmedatherwhiteface，atherbrusquemovements，atthenervouswayinwhichshewasfumblingatherthroat。Hewaiteddiscreetlytillsheturnedroundandthrustouttowardhimheropenpalmonwhichhesawathickgoldringsetwithalargegreenstone。
\"Lookatthis，Mr。d’Alcacer。ThisisthethingwhichIaskedyouwhetherIshouldgiveuporconceal——thesymbolofthelasthour——thecallofthesuprememinute。Andhesaiditwouldhavemadenodifference！Heisthemostmagnanimousofmenandtheuttermostfarthinghasbeenpaid。Hehasdonewithme。Themostmagnanimous……butthereisagraveonthesandsbywhichI
lefthimsittingwithnoglancetospareforme。Hislastglanceonearth！Iamleftwiththisthing。Absolutelyunimportant。A
deadtalisman。\"Withanervousjerksheflungtheringoverboard，thenwithahurriedentreatytod’Alcacer，\"Stayhereamoment。
Don’tletanybodycomenearus，\"sheburstintotearsandturnedherbackonhim。
LingardreturnedonboardhisbrigandintheearlyafternoontheLightninggotunderway，runningpasttheschoonertogiveheraleadthroughthemazeofShoals。Lingardwasondeckbutneverlookedonceatthefollowingvessel。DirectlybothshipswereinclearwaterhewentbelowsayingtoCarter：\"Youknowwhattodo。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidCarter。
ShortlyafterhisCaptainhaddisappearedfromthedeckCarterlaidthemaintopsailtothemast。TheLightninglostherwaywhiletheschoonerwithallherlightkitesabroadpassedcloseunderhersternholdingonhercourse。Mrs。Traversstoodaftveryrigid，grippingtherailwithbothhands。Thebrimofherwhitehatwasblownupwardononesideandheryachtingskirtstirredinthebreeze。Byhersided’Alcacerwavedhishandcourteously。Carterraisedhiscaptothem。
Duringtheafternoonhepacedthepoopwithmeasuredsteps，withapairofbinocularsinhishand。Atlasthelaidtheglassesdown，glancedatthecompass—cardandwalkedtothecabinskylightwhichwasopen。
\"Justlosther，sir，\"hesaid。Allwasstilldownthere。Heraisedhisvoicealittle：
\"YoutoldmetoletyouknowdirectlyIlostsightoftheyacht。\"
ThesoundofastifledgroanreachedtheattentiveCarterandawearyvoicesaid，\"Allright，Iamcoming。\"
WhenLingardsteppedoutonthepoopoftheLightningtheopenwaterhadturnedpurplealreadyintheeveninglight，whiletotheeasttheShallowsmadeasteelyglitterallalongthesombrelineoftheshore。Lingard，withfoldedarms，lookedoverthesea。Carterapproachedhimandspokequietly。
\"Thetidehasturnedandthenightiscomingon。Hadn’twebettergetawayfromtheseShoals，sir？\"
Lingarddidnotstir。
\"Yes，thenightiscomingon。Youmayfillthemaintopsail，Mr。
Carter，\"hesaidandherelapsedintosilencewithhiseyesfixedinthesouthernboardwheretheshadowswerecreepingstealthilytowardthesettingsun。PresentlyCarterstoodathiselbowagain。
\"Thebrigisbeginningtoforgeahead，sir，\"hesaidinawarningtone。
Lingardcameoutofhisabsorptionwithadeeptremorofhispowerfulframeliketheshudderofanuprootedtree。
\"Howwastheyachtheadingwhenyoulostsightofher？\"heasked。
\"Southasnearaspossible，\"answeredCarter。\"Willyougivemeacoursetosteerforthenight，sir？\"
Lingard’slipstrembledbeforehespokebuthisvoicewascalm。
\"Steernorth，\"hesaid。
End
