第6章

"I’mjustreadingBrowning，"heconfessed，"andit’sprettytough。I

haven’tgotveryfaralong，andasitisI’veaboutlostmybearings。"

Nottobetiresome，IshallsaythatIfetchedthebookfromhisstate—roomandread"Caliban"aloud。Hewasdelighted。Itwasaprimitivemodeofreasoningandoflookingatthingsthatheunderstoodthoroughly。Heinterruptedagainandagainwithcommentandcriticism。WhenIfinished，hehadmereaditoverasecondtime，andathird。Wefellintodiscussion——philosophy，science，evolution，religion。Hebetrayedtheinaccuraciesoftheself—readman，and，itmustbegranted，thesurenessanddirectnessoftheprimitivemind。Theverysimplicityofhisreasoningwasitsstrength，andhismaterialismwasfarmorecompellingthanthesubtlycomplexmaterialismofCharleyFuruseth。NotthatI，——aconfirmedand，asFurusethphrasedit，atemperamentalidealist，——wastobecompelled；butthatWolfLarsenstormedthelaststrongholdsofmyfaithwithavigorthatreceivedrespect，whilenotaccordedconviction。

Timepassed。Supperwasathandandthetablenotlaid。becamerestlessandanxious，andwhenThomasMugridgeglareddownthecompanionway，sickandangryofcountenance，Ipreparedtogoaboutmyduties。ButWolfLarsencriedouttohim：——

"Cooky，you’vegottohustleto—night。I’mbusywithHump，andyou’lldothebestyoucanwithouthim。"

Andagaintheunprecedentedwasestablished。ThatnightIsatattablewiththecaptainandthehunters，whileThomasMugridgewaitedonusandwashedthedishesafterward——awhim，aCaliban—moodofWolfLarsen’s，andoneIforesawwouldbringmetrouble。Inthemeantimewetalkedandtalked，muchtothedisgustofthehunters，whocouldnotunderstandaword。TheSeaWolf：Chapter9CHAPTER9

Threedaysofrest，threeblesseddaysofrest，arewhatIhadwithWolfLarsen，eatingatthecabintableanddoingnothingbutdiscusslife，literature，andtheuniverse，thewhileThomasMugridgefumedandragedanddidmyworkaswellashisown。

"Watchoutforsqualls，isallIcansaytoyou，"wasLouis’swarning，givenduringasparehalf—hourondeckwhileWolfLarsenwasengagedinstraighteningoutarowamongthehunters。

"Yecan’ttellwhat’llbehappenin’，"Louiswenton，inresponsetomyqueryformoredefiniteinformation。"Theman’sascontraryasaircurrentsorwatercurrents。Youcanneverguessthewaysivhim。’Tisjustasyou’rethinkin’youknowhimandaremakin’afavorableslantalonghim，thathewhirlsaround，deadahead，andcomeshowlin’downuponyouanda—rippin’

allivyourfine—weathersailstorags。"

SoIwasnotaltogethersurprisedwhenthesquallforetoldbyLouissmoteme。Wehadbeenhavingaheateddiscussion，——uponlife，ofcourse，——and，grownoverbold，IwaspassingstiffstricturesuponWolfLarsenandthelifeofWolfLarsen。Infact，Iwasvivisectinghimandturningoverhissoul—stuffaskeenlyandthoroughlyasitwashiscustomtodoittoothers。ItmaybeaweaknessofminethatIhaveanincisivewayofspeech；butIthrewallrestrainttothewindsandcutandslasheduntilthewholemanofhimwassnarling。Thedarksun—bronzeofhisfacewentblackwithwrath，hiseyeswereablaze。Therewasnoclearnessorsanityinthem——nothingbuttheterrificrageofamadman。ItwasthewolfinhimthatIsaw，andamadwolfatthat。

Hesprangformewithahalf—roar，grippingmyarm。Ihadsteeledmyselftobrazenitout，thoughIwastremblinginwardly；buttheenormousstrengthofthemanwastoomuchformyfortitude。Hehadgrippedmebythebicepswithhissinglehand，andwhenthatgriptightenedIwiltedandshriekedaloud。Myfeetwentoutfromunderme。Isimplycouldnotstanduprightandenduretheagony。Themusclesrefusedtheirduty。Thepainwastoogreat。Mybicepswasbeingcrushedtoapulp。

Heseemedtorecoverhimself，foralucidgleamcameintohiseyes，andherelaxedhisholdwithashortlaughthatwasmorelikeagrowl。

Ifelltothefloor，feelingveryfaint，whilehesatdown，lightedacigar，andwatchedmeasacatwatchesamouse。AsIwrithedaboutIcouldseeinhiseyesthatcuriosityIhadsooftennoted，thatwonderandperplexity，thatquesting，thateverlastingqueryofhisastowhatitwasallabout。

Ifinallycrawledtomyfeetandascendedthecompanionstairs。Fairweatherwasover，andtherewasnothingleftbuttoreturntothegalley。

Myleftarmwasnumb，asthoughparalyzed，anddayspassedbeforeIcoulduseit，whileweekswentbybeforethelaststiffnessandpainwentoutofit。Andhehaddonenothingbutputhishanduponmyarmandsqueeze。

Therehadbeennowrenchingorjerking。Hehadjustclosedhishandwithasteadypressure。WhathemighthavedoneIdidnotfullyrealizetillnextday，whenheputhisheadintothegalley，and，asasignofrenewedfriendliness，askedmehowmyarmwasgettingon。

"Itmighthavebeenworse，"hesmiled。

Iwaspeelingpotatoes。Hepickedoneupfromthepan。Itwasfair—sized，firm，andunpeeled。Heclosedhishanduponit，squeezed，andthepotatosquirtedoutbetweenhisfingersinmushystreams。Thepulpyremnanthedroppedbackintothepanandturnedaway，andIhadasharpvisionofhowitmighthavefaredwithmehadthemonsterputhisrealstrengthuponme。

Butthethreedays’restwasgoodinspiteofitall，forithadgivenmykneetheverychanceitneeded。Itfeltmuchbetter，theswellinghadmateriallydecreased，andthecapseemeddescendingintoitsproperplace。

Also，thethreedays’restbroughtthetroubleIhadforeseen。ItwasplainlyThomasMugridge’sintentiontomakemepayforthosethreedays。Hetreatedmevilely，cursedmecontinually，andheapedhisownworkuponme。Heevenventuredtoraisehisfisttome，butIwasbecominganimal—likemyself，andIsnarledinhisfacesoterriblythatitmusthavefrightenedhimback。ItisnopleasantpictureIcanconjureupofmyself，HumphreyVanWeyden，inthatnoisomeship’sgalley，crouchedinacornerovermytask，myfaceraisedtothefaceofthecreatureabouttostrikeme，mylipsliftedandsnarlinglikeadog’s，myeyesgleamingwithfearandhelplessnessandthecouragethatcomesoffearandhelplessness。Idonotlikethepicture。Itremindsmetoostronglyofaratinatrap。Idonotcaretothinkofit；butitwaseffective，forthethreatenedblowdidnotdescend。

ThomasMugridgebackedaway，glaringashatefullyandviciouslyasI

glared。Apairofbeastsiswhatwewere，pennedtogetherandshowingourteeth。Hewasacoward，afraidtostrikemebecauseIhadnotquailedsufficientlyinadvance；sohechoseanewwaytointimidateme。Therewasonlyonegalleyknifethat，asaknife，amountedtoanything。This，throughmanyyearsofserviceandwear，hadacquiredalong，leanblade。Itwasunusuallycruel—looking，andatfirstIhadshudderedeverytimeIusedit。ThecookborrowedastonefromJohansenandproceededtosharpentheknife。Hediditwithgreatostentation，glancingsignificantlyatmethewhile。Hewhetteditupanddownalldaylong。Everyoddmomenthecouldfindhehadtheknifeandstoneoutandwaswhettingaway。Thesteelacquiredarazoredge。

Hetrieditwiththeballofhisthumboracrossthenail。Heshavedhairsfromthebackofhishand，glancedalongtheedgewithmicroscopicacuteness，andfound，orfeignedthathefound，always，aslightinequalityinitsedgesomewhere。Thenhewouldputitonthestoneagainandwhet，whet，whet，tillIcouldhavelaughedaloud，itwassoveryludicrous。

Itwasalsoserious，forIlearnedthathewascapableofusingit，thatunderallhiscowardicetherewasacourageofcowardice，likemine，thatwouldimpelhimtodotheverythinghiswholenatureprotestedagainstdoingandwasafraidofdoing。"Cooky’ssharpeninghisknifeforHump，"

wasbeingwhisperedaboutamongthesailors，andsomeofthemtwittedhimaboutit。Thishetookingoodpart，andwasreallypleased，noddinghisheadwithdirefulforeknowledgeandmystery，untilGeorgeLeach，theerstwhilecabin—boy，venturedsomeroughpleasantryonthesubject。

NowithappenedthatLeachwasoneofthesailorstoldofftodouseMugridgeafterhisgameofcardswiththecaptain。LeachhadevidentlydonehistaskwithathoroughnessthatMugridgehadnotforgiven，forwordsfollowedandevilnamesinvolvingsmirchedancestries。Mugridgemenacedwiththeknifehewassharpeningforme。LeachlaughedandhurledmoreofhisTelegraphHillbillingsgate，andbeforeeitherheorIknewwhathadhappened，hisrightarmhadbeenrippedopenfromelbowtowristbyaquickslashoftheknife。Thecookbackedaway，afiendishexpressiononhisface，theknifeheldbeforehiminapositionofdefence。ButLeachtookitquitecalmly，thoughbloodwasspoutinguponthedeckasgenerouslyaswaterfromafountain。

"I’mgoin’togetyou，Cooky，"hesaid，"andI’llgetyouhard。AndIwon’tbeinnohurryaboutit。You’llbewithoutthatknifewhenIcomeforyou。"

Sosaying，heturnedandwalkedquietlyforward。Mugridge’sfacewaslividwithfearatwhathehaddoneandatwhathemightexpectsoonerorlaterfromthemanhehadstabbed。Buthisdemeanortowardmewasmoreferociousthanever。Inspiteofhisfearatthereckoninghemustexpecttopayforwhathehaddone，hecouldseethatithadbeenanobject—lessontome，andhebecamemoredomineeringandexultant。Alsotherewasalustinhim，akintomadness，whichhadcomewithsightofthebloodhehaddrawn。Hewasbeginningtoseeredinwhateverdirectionhelooked。Thepsychologyofitissadlytangled，andyetcouldreadtheworkingsofhismindasclearlyasthoughitwereaprintedbook。

Severaldayswentby，theGhoststillfoamingdownthetrades，andIcouldswearIsawmadnessgrowinginThomasMugridge’seyes。AndIconfessthatIbecameafraid，verymuchafraid。Whet，whet，whet，itwentalldaylong。Thelookinhiseyesashefeltthekeenedgeandglaredatmewaspositivelycarnivorous。Iwasafraidtoturnmyshouldertohim，andwhenIleftthegalleyIwentoutbackwards——totheamusementofthesailorsandhunters，whomadeapointofgatheringingroupstowitnessmyexit。Thestrainwastoogreat。sometimesthoughtmymindwouldgivewayunderit——ameetthingonthisshipofmadmenandbrutes。Everyhour，everyminuteofmyexistencewasinjeopardy。Iwasahumansoulindistress，andyetnosoul，foreoraft，betrayedsufficientsympathytocometomyaid。AttimesIthoughtofthrowingmyselfonthemercyofWolfLarsen，butthevisionofthemockingdevilinhiseyesthatquestionedlifeandsneeredatitwouldcomestronguponmeandcompelmetorefrain。AtothertimesIseriouslycontemplatedsuicide，andthewholeforceofmyhopefulphilosophywasrequiredtokeepmefromgoingoverthesideinthedarknessofnight。

SeveraltimesWolfLarsentriedtoinveiglemeintodiscussion，butIgavehimshortanswersandeludedhim。Finally，hecommandedmetoresumemyseatatthecabintableforatimeandletthecookdomywork。ThenIspokefrankly，tellinghimwhatIwasenduringfromThomasMugridgebecauseofthethreedaysoffavoritismwhichhadbeenshownme。WolfLarsenregardedmewithsmilingeyes。

"Soyou’reafraid，eh？"hesneered。

"Yes，"Isaiddefiantlyandhonestly，"Iamafraid。"

"That’sthewaywithyoufellows，"hecried，halfangrily，"sentimentalizingaboutyourimmortalsoulsandafraidtodie。AtsightofasharpknifeandacowardlyCockneytheclingingoflifetolifeovercomesallyourfondfoolishness。Why，mydearfellow，youwillliveforever。Youareagod，andGodcannotbekilled。Cookycannothurtyou。Youaresureofyourresurrection。What’stheretobeafraidof？

"Youhaveeternallifebeforeyou。Youareamillionnaireinimmortality，andamillionnairewhosefortunecannotbelost，whosefortuneislessperishablethanthestarsandaslastingasspaceortime。Itisimpossibleforyoutodiminishyourprincipal。Immortalityisathingwithoutbeginningorend。Eternityiseternity，andthoughyoudiehereandnowyouwillgoonlivingsomewhereelseandhereafter。Anditisallverybeautiful，thisshakingoffofthefleshandsoaringoftheimprisonedspirit。Cookycannothurtyou。Hecanonlygiveyouaboostonthepathyoueternallymusttread。

"Or，ifyoudonotwishtobeboostedjustyet，whynotboostCooky？

Accordingtoyourideas，he，too，mustbeanimmortalmillionnaire。Youcannotbankrupthim。Hispaperwillalwayscirculateatpar。Youcannotdiminishthelengthofhislivingbykillinghim，forheiswithoutbeginningorend。He’sboundtogoonliving，somewhere，somehow。Thenboosthim。

Stickaknifeinhimandlethisspiritfree。Asitis，it’sinanastyprison，andyou’lldohimonlyakindnessbybreakingdownthedoor。Andwhoknows？——itmaybeaverybeautifulspiritthatwillgosoaringupintothebluefromthatuglycarcass。Boosthimalong，andI’llpromoteyoutohisplace，andhe’sgettingforty—fivedollarsamonth。"

ItwasplainthatIcouldlookfornohelpormercyfromWolfLarsen。

WhateverwastobedoneImustdoformyself；andoutofthecourageoffearIevolvedtheplanoffightingThomasMugridgewithhisownweapons。

IborrowedawhetstonefromJohansen。Louis，theboat—steerer，hadalreadybeggedmeforcondensedmilkandsugar。Thelazarette，wheresuchdelicacieswerestored，wassituatedbeneaththecabinfloor。Watchingmychance，Istolefivecansofthemilk，andthatnight，whenitwasLouis’swatchondeck，Itradedthemwithhimforadirkasleanandcruel—lookingasThomasMugridge’svegetableknife。Itwasrustyanddull，butIturnedthegrindstonewhileLouisgaveitanedge。Isleptmoresoundlythanusualthatnight。

Nextmorning，afterbreakfast，ThomasMugridgebeganhiswhet，whet，whet。Iglancedwarilyathim，forIwasonmykneestakingtheashesfromthestove。WhenIreturnedfromthrowingthemoverside，hewastalkingtoHarrison，whosehonestyokel’sfacewasfilledwithfascinationandwonder。

"Yes，"Mugridgewassaying，"an’wotdoes’isworshipdobutgivemetwoyearsinReading。ButblimeyifIcared。Theothermugwasfixedplenty。

Should’aseen’im。Knifejustlikethis。Istuckitin，likeintosoftbutter，an’thew’y’esquealedwasbetter’natu—pennygaff。"HeshotaglanceinmydirectiontoseeifIwastakingitin，andwenton。"`I

didn’tmeanit，Tommy，’’ewassnifflin’；`so’elpmeGawd，Ididn’tmeanit！’`I’llfixyerbloodywellright，’Isez，an’keptrightafter’im。

Icut’iminribbons，that’swotIdid，an’’ea—squealin’allthetime。

Once’egot’is’andontheknifean’triedto’oldit。’Ad’isfingersaroundit，butIpulleditthrough，cuttin’tothebone。O，’ewasasight，Icantellyer。"

Acallfromthemateinterruptedthegorynarrative，andHarrisonwentaft。Mugridgesatdownontheraisedthresholdtothegalleyandwentonwithhisknife—sharpening。Iputtheshovelawayandcalmlysatdownonthecoal—boxfacinghim。Hefavoredmewithaviciousstare。Stillcalmly，thoughmyheartwasgoingpitapat，pulledoutLouis’sdirkandbegantowhetitonthestone。IhadlookedforalmostanysortofexplosionontheCockney’spart，buttomysurprisehedidnotappearawareofwhatIwasdoing。Hewentonwhettinghisknife。SodidI。Andfortwohourswesatthere，facetoface，whet，whet，whet，tillthenewsofitspreadabroadandhalftheship’scompanywascrowdingthegalleydoorstoseethesight。

Encouragementandadvicewerefreelytendered，andJockHorner，thequiet，self—spokenhunterwholookedasthoughhewouldnotharmamouse，advisedmetoleavetheribsaloneandtothrustupwardfortheabdomen，atthesametimegivingwhathecalledthe"Spanishtwist"totheblade。

Leach，hisbandagedarmprominentlytothefore，beggedmetoleaveafewremnantsofthecookforhim；andWolfLarsenpausedonceortwiceatthebreakofthepooptoglancecuriouslyatwhatmusthavebeentohimastirringandcrawlingoftheyeastythingheknewaslife。

AndImakefreetosaythatforthetimebeinglifeassumedthesamesordidvaluestome。Therewasnothingprettyaboutit，nothingdivine——onlytwocowardlymovingthingsthatsatwhettingsteeluponstone，andagroupofothermovingthings，cowardlyandotherwise，thatlookedon。Halfofthem，Iamsure，wereanxioustoseeussheddingeachother’sblood。Itwouldhavebeenentertainment。AndIdonotthinktherewasonewhowouldhaveinterferedhadweclosedinadeath—struggle。

Ontheotherhand，thewholethingwaslaughableandchildish。Whet，whet，whet，——HumphreyVanWeydensharpeninghisknifeinaship’sgalleyandtryingitsedgewithhisthumb！Ofallsituationsthiswasthemostinconceivable。Iknowthatmyownkindcouldnothavebelieveditpossible。

Ihadnotbeencalled"Sissy"VanWeydenallmydayswithoutreason，andthat"Sissy"VanWeydenshouldbecapableofdoingthisthingwasarevelationtoHumphreyVanWeyden，whoknewnotwhethertobeexultantorashamed。

Butnothinghappened。AttheendoftwohoursThomasMugridgeputawayknifeandstoneandheldouthishand。

"Wot’sthegoodofmykin’a’olyshowofourselvesforthemmugs？"hedemanded。"Theydon’tloveus，an’bloodywellgladthey’dbea—seein’

uscuttin’ourthroats。Yernot’arfbad，’Ump！You’vegotspunk，asyouYankss’y，an’Ilikeyerinaw’y。Socomeonan’shyke。"

CowardthatImightbe，Iwaslessacowardthanhe。ItwasadistinctvictoryIhadgained，andIrefusedtoforegoanyofitbyshakinghisdetestablehand。

"Allright，"hesaidpridelessly，"tykeitorleaveit，I’lllikeyernonethelessforit。"Andtosavehisfaceheturnedfiercelyupontheonlookers。"Getoutamygalley—doors，youbloomin’swabs！"

Thiscommandwasreinforcedbyasteamingkettleofwater，andatsightofitthesailorsscrambledoutoftheway。ThiswasasortofvictoryforThomasMugridge，andenabledhimtoacceptmoregracefullythedefeatIhadgivenhim，though，ofcourse，hewastoodiscreettoattempttodrivethehuntersaway。

"IseeCooky’sfinish，"IheardSmokesaytoHorner。

"Youbet，"wasthereply。"Humprunsthegalleyfromnowon，andCookypullsinhishorns。"

Mugridgeheardandshotaswiftglanceatme，butIgavenosignthattheconversationhadreachedme。Ihadnotthoughtmyvictorywassofar—reachingandcomplete，butIresolvedtoletgonothingIhadgained。Asthedayswentby，Smoke’sprophecywasverified。TheCockneybecamemorehumbleandslavishtomethaneventoWolfLarsen。Imisteredhimandsirredhimnolonger，washednomoregreasypots，andpeelednomorepotatoes。Ididmyownwork，andmyownworkonly，andwhenandinwhatfashionIsawfit。

Also，Icarriedthedirkinasheathatmyhip，sailor—fashion，andmaintainedtowardThomasMugridgeaconstantattitudewhichwascomposedofequalpartsofdomineering，insult，andcontempt。TheSeaWolf：Chapter10CHAPTER10

MyintimacywithWolfLarsenincreases——ifbyintimacymaybedenotedthoserelationswhichexistbetweenmasterandman，or，betteryet，betweenkingandjester。Iamtohimnomorethanatoy，andhevaluesmenomorethanachildvaluesatoy。Myfunctionistoamuse，andsolongasIamuseallgoeswell；butlethimbecomebored，orlethimhaveoneofhisblackmoodscomeuponhim，andatonceIamrelegatedfromcabintabletogalley，while，atthesametime，Iamfortunatetoescapewithmylifeandawholebody。

Thelonelinessofthemanisslowlybeingborneinuponme。Thereisnotamanaboardbuthatesorfearshim，noristhereamanwhomhedoesnotdespise。Heseemsconsumingwiththetremendouspowerthatisinhimandthatseemsnevertohavefoundadequateexpressioninworks。HeisasLuciferwouldbe，werethatproudspiritbanishedtoasocietyofsoulless，Tomlinsonianghosts。

Thislonelinessisbadenoughinitself，but，tomakeitworse，heisoppressedbytheprimalmelancholyoftherace。Knowinghim，reviewtheoldScandinavianmythswithclearerunderstanding。Thewhite—skinned，fair—hairedsavageswhocreatedthatterriblepantheonwereofthesamefibreashe。

Thefrivolityofthelaughter—lovingLatinsisnopartofhim。Whenhelaughsitisfromahumorthatisnothingelsethanferocious。Buthelaughsrarely；heistoooftensad。Anditisasadnessasdeep—reachingastherootsoftherace。Itistheraceheritage，thesadnesswhichhasmadetheracesober—minded，clean—lived，andfanaticallymoral，andwhich，inthislatterconnection，hasculminatedamongtheEnglishintheReformedChurchandMrs。Grundy。

Inpointoffact，thechiefventtothisprimalmelancholyhasbeenreligioninitsmoreagonizingforms。ButthecompensationsofsuchreligionaredeniedWolfLarsen。Hisbrutalmaterialismwillnotpermitit。So，whenhisbluemoodscomeon，nothingremainsforhimbuttobedevilish。

Werehenotsoterribleaman，Icouldsometimesfeelsorryforhim，asinstancethreemorningsago，whenIwentintohisstate—roomtofillhiswater—bottleandcameunexpectedlyuponhim。Hedidnotseeme。Hisheadwasburiedinhishands，andhisshoulderswereheavingconvulsivelyaswithsobs。Heseemedtornbysomemightygrief。AsIsoftlywithdrewI

couldhearhimgroaning，"God！God！God！"NotthathewascallinguponGod；itwasamereexpletive，butitcamefromhissoul。

Atdinnerheaskedthehuntersforaremedyforheadache，andbyevening，strongmanthathewas，hewashalf—blindandreelingaboutthecabin。

"I’veneverbeensickinmylife，Hump，"hesaid，asIguidedhimtohisroom。"NordidIeverhaveaheadacheexceptthetimemyheadwashealingafterhavingbeenlaidopenforsixinchesbyacapstan—bar。"

Forthreedaysthisblindingheadachelasted，andhesufferedaswildanimalssuffer，asitseemedthewayonshiptosuffer，withoutplaint，withoutsympathy，utterlyalone。

Thismorning，however，onenteringhisstate—roomtomakethebedandputthingsinorder，Ifoundhimwellandhardatwork。Tableandbunkwerelitteredwithdesignsandcalculations。Onalargetransparentsheet，compassandsquareinhand，hewascopyingwhatappearedtobeascaleofsomesortorother。

"Hello，Hump，"hegreetedmegenially。"I’mjustfinishingthefinishingtouches。Wanttoseeitwork？"

"Butwhatisit？"Iasked。

"Alabor—savingdeviceformariners，navigationreducedtokindergartensimplicity，"heansweredgayly。"Fromto—dayachildwillbeabletonavigateaship。Nomorelong—windedcalculations。Allyouneedisonestarintheskyonadirtynighttoknowinstantlywhereyouare。Look。Iplacethetransparentscaleonthisstar—map，revolvingthescaleontheNorthPole。

OnthescaleI’veworkedoutthecirclesofaltitudeandthelinesofbearing。

AllIdoistoputitonastar，revolvethescaletillitisoppositethosefiguresonthemapunderneath，andpresto！thereyouare，theship’spreciselocation！"

Therewasaringoftriumphinhisvoice，andhiseyes，clearbluethismorningasthesea，weresparklingwithlight。

"Youmustbewellupinmathematics，"Isaid。"Wheredidyougotoschool？"

"Neversawtheinsideofone，worseluck，"wastheanswer。"hadtodigitoutformyself。"

"AndwhydoyouthinkIhavemadethisthing？"hedemanded，abruptly。

"Dreamingtoleavefootprintsonthesandsoftime？"Helaughedoneofhishorriblemockinglaughs。"Notatall。Togetitpatented，tomakemoneyfromit，torevelinpiggishnesswithallnightinwhileothermendothework。That’smypurpose。Also，Ihaveenjoyedworkingitout。"

"Thecreativejoy，"Imurmured。

"Iguessthat’swhatitoughttobecalled。Whichisanotherwayofexpressingthejoyoflifeinthatitisalive，thetriumphofmovementovermatter，ofthequickoverthedead，theprideoftheyeastbecauseitisyeastandcrawls。"

Ithrewupmyhandswithhelplessdisapprovalofhisinveteratematerialismandwentaboutmakingthebed。Hecontinuedcopyinglinesandfiguresuponthetransparentscale。Itwasataskrequiringtheutmostnicetyandprecision，andIcouldnotbutadmirethewayhetemperedhisstrengthtothefinenessanddelicacyoftheneed。

WhenIhadfinishedthebed，Icaughtmyselflookingathiminafascinatedsortofway。Hewascertainlyahandsomeman——beautifulinthemasculinesense。Andagain，withnever—failingwonder，remarkedthetotallackofviciousness，orwickedness，orsinfulness，inhisface。Itwastheface，Iamconvinced，ofamanwhodidnowrong。AndbythisIdonotwishtobemisunderstood。WhatImeanisthatitwasthefaceofamanwhoeitherdidnothingcontrarytothedictatesofhisconscience，orwhohadnoconscience。

Iaminclinedtothelatterwayofaccountingforit。Hewasamagnificentatavism，amansopurelyprimitivethathewasofthetypethatcameintotheworldbeforethedevelopmentofthemoralnature。Hewasnotimmoral，butmerelyunmoral。

AsIhavesaid，inthemasculinesensehiswasabeautifulface。Smooth—shaven，everylinewasdistinct，anditwascutasclearandsharpasacameo；

whileseaandsunhadtannedthenaturallyfairskintoadarkbronzewhichbespokestruggleandbattleandaddedbothtohissavageryandhisbeauty。

Thelipswerefull，yetpossessedofthefirmness，almostharshness，whichischaracteristicofthinlips。Thesetofhismouth，hischin，hisjaw，waslikewisefirmorharsh，withallthefiercenessandindomitablenessofthemale——thenosealso。Itwasthenoseofabeingborntoconquerandcommand。Itjusthintedoftheeaglebeak。ItmighthavebeenGrecian，itmighthavebeenRoman，onlyitwasashadetoomassivefortheone，ashadetoodelicatefortheother。Andwhilethewholefacewastheincarnationoffiercenessandstrength，theprimalmelancholyfromwhichhesufferedseemedtogreatenthelinesofmouthandeyeandbrow，seemedtogivealargenessandcompletenesswhichotherwisethefacewouldhavelacked。