"
He burst into a loud and unpleasant laugh which made Dain stare at him
with some apprehension, but got off the gunwale of the boat and moved
slowly towards Nina, glancing up at the sun as he walked.
"And you go when the sun is overhead?" he said.
"Yes, Tuan. Then we go," answered Dain.
"I have not long to wait," muttered Almayer. "It is most important for
me to see you go. Both of you. Most important," he repeated, stopping
short and looking at Dain fixedly.
He went on again towards Nina, and Dain remained behind. Almayer
approached his daughter and stood for a time looking down on her. She
did not open her eyes, but hearing footsteps near her, murmured in a low
sob, "Dain."
Almayer hesitated for a minute and then sank on the sand by her side.
She, not hearing a responsive word, not feeling a touch, opened her
eyes--saw her father, and sat up suddenly with a movement of terror.
"Oh, father!" she murmured faintly, and in that word there was expressed
regret and fear and dawning hope.
"I shall never forgive you, Nina," said Almayer, in a dispassionate
voice. "You have torn my heart from me while I dreamt of your happiness.
You have deceived me. Your eyes that for me were like truth itself lied
to me in every glance--for how long? You know that best.
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