When you were
caressing my cheek you were counting the minutes to the sunset that was
the signal for your meeting with that man--there!"
He ceased, and they both sat silent side by side, not looking at each
other, but gazing at the vast expanse of the sea. Almayer's words had
dried Nina's tears, and her look grew hard as she stared before her into
the limitless sheet of blue that shone limpid, unwaving, and steady like
heaven itself. He looked at it also, but his features had lost all
expression, and life in his eyes seemed to have gone out. The face was a
blank, without a sign of emotion, feeling, reason, or even knowledge of
itself. All passion, regret, grief, hope, or anger--all were gone,
erased by the hand of fate, as if after this last stroke everything was
over and there was no need for any record.
Those few who saw Almayer during the short period of his remaining days
were always impressed by the sight of that face that seemed to know
nothing of what went on within: like the blank wall of a prison enclosing
sin, regrets, and pain, and wasted life, in the cold indifference of
mortar and stones.
"What is there to forgive?" asked Nina, not addressing Almayer directly,
but more as if arguing with herself.
Pages:
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259