owe for this scar, and have I laid a finger on him?
To turn the other cheek is beyond me, I own,' he added, with some honest
regret.

It so fell out that on the very morrow that same toleration witnessed
against him fatally. From the snap of a rabid dog a child died, under
circumstances of horror that excited a frenzy against Christian, who had
been seen handling the beast after the night of stoning, when the
victim's brother it was who had marked him for life. So his iniquities
crowned the brim, to seethe over with a final ingredient when mooting
came along the coast of a trespasser off the Isle Sinister, by timing,
incontestably, the alien.

When the fleet lay spread dredging, Christian, obedient to direction from
Giles, stationed his boat in the midst; but one by one his neighbours
edged away, till he lay isolated deliberately. This manifestation of
mislike was not unexpected, but it galled that weary day when the burdens
of his life were weighing heavy.

Exceeding the gross of more solid apprehensions, Rhoda's face haunted him
to disquiet. By an unjust transfer, shame possessed him, even as when
Diadyomene had advanced naked and unabashed before his diffident eyes.
Indefinite reproach clamoured all day at his conscience, What have I
done? what have I done? And a further unanswerable question, What can I
do? beset him to no purpose.

Before his mind hung a vision of prompt, delicious escape, which he did
not banish, only because he did not think it could seriously attempt his
will. But the hours told so on the aching boy, that for once he abandoned
his own strict standard of fortitude, and his distress cried aloud to
solitude, 'Diadyomene! O my love, Diadyomene, Diadyomene!'

First, a silver shoal close beneath his eye leapt into air and slid
again; then his stare discerned a trail of weed upfloating tranquilly:
no weed, two dim hands part it to the showing of a moony countenance
graciously inquisitive, and pearly shoulders brightening as they rose,
till glistening white to the air Diadyomene lay afloat cradled by happy
waves.

'Diadyomenos!' she said softly, and her eyes invented dreams.

For an instant, so mad was Christian rendered by this consummate favour,
that he clutched the gunwale on an impulse to over-leap it finally. Like
hounds straining on the leash, natural passions tried the control of the
human soul. He dared not speak.

Diadyomene drifted gently lower with never a word more, and lower yet
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