"Oh!"

"It would not rest. I could not wait in calm. I was afraid you
wouldn't come--yet I was afraid of your coming. My face worked of its
own accord, and my words would not say what I knew--"

"When was that?"

"It was worse when I reached the jungle a little before noon and began
to watch for you."

"And--you ran away?"

"I was not good to look upon."

"But you are not like that now--quite controlled--like blue ice--"

Skag turned his eyes slowly back the path by the river where the cough
had come from.

"I am better now," he said.

"I wonder if anyone ever thought of running away like that?"

"It is not a good feeling to be at the mercy of oneself," Skag said.

Carlin caught a quick breath. There was a steadiness in his eyes. It
was steadier than anything she knew. The light of it was so high and
keen that it seemed _still_.

"Nothing like this has happened before," he said quietly.

Carlin arose. Their eyes met level.

"Everything is changed," he went on. "It was like a grief that you
were not here--when the monkeys came in. . . . I'm not right. I did
not know before that a girl was part of me. It was all animals before.
I'm not ready--but I will be! You are good to listen, but really you
had to--"

Carlin let her lids fall a second.

"I mean I couldn't stop when it started."

There was silence before he finished: "I know everything better. I
know all the creatures better--all the cries they make. And yet I'm
less--I'm only half--"

It was then her hand came out to him.

"Does it mean anything to you?" he asked.

"Yes--"

"_Does it mean everything to you--too?_"

Her voice trailed. It was closer. It was everywhere. It was like a
voice coming up from his own heart:

"Yes, everything--especially because you could run away. . . . But
I--came!"

They were walking toward Hurda among the shadows, Skag closer to the
river. . . . The night was coming with a richness they had never
seen--tinted shadows of purple, orange and rose--almost a living gleam
to the colours; the evening air cool and sweet.

Carlin told him that her family must understand and be considered and
give approval. . . . There was an eldest brother in Poona who must be
seen. . . . All arrangements must be made with him. Skag said he
would go to Poona at once. . . .

They were lingering now at the edge of the jungle; its spices upon them
in the dry air.

". . . And I will wait here in Hurda," C