to-day had gathered a fierce intensity. As she sat
guiding the tiller under her husband's eyes, doing just what he told
her, the strife within her seemed like her own effort to escape from
herself. She clung to the thought of Deronda: she persuaded herself
that he would not go away while she was there--he knew that she needed
help. The sense that he was there would save her from acting out the
evil within. And yet quick, quick, came images, plans of evil that
would come again and seize her in the night, like furies preparing the
deed that they would straightway avenge.

They were taken out of the port and carried eastward by a gentle
breeze. Some clouds tempered the sunlight, and the hour was always
deepening toward the supreme beauty of evening. Sails larger and
smaller changed their aspect like sensitive things, and made a cheerful
companionship, alternately near and far. The grand city shone more
vaguely, the mountains looked out above it, and there was stillness as
in an island sanctuary. Yet suddenly Gwendolen let her hands fall, and
said in a scarcely audible tone, "God help me!"

"What is the matter?" said Grandcourt, not distinguishing the words.

"Oh, nothing," said Gwendolen, rousing herself from her momentary
forgetfulness and resuming the ropes.

"Don't you find this pleasant?" said Grandcourt.

"Very."

"You admit now we couldn't have done anything better?"

"No--I see nothing better. I think we shall go on always, like the
Flying Dutchman," said Gwendolen wildly.

Grandcourt gave her one of his narrow examining glances, and then said,
"If you like, we can go to Spezia in the morning, and let them take us
up there."

"No; I shall like nothing better than this."

"Very well: we'll do the same to-morrow. But we must be turning in
soon. I shall put about."

CHAPTER LV.

"Ritorna a tua scienza
Che vuoi, quanto la cosa e piu perfetta
Piu senta if bene, e cosi la doglienza."
--DANTE.

When Deronda met Gwendolen and Grandcourt on the staircase, his mind
was seriously preoccupied. He had just been summoned to the second
interview with his mother.

In two hours after his parting from her he knew that the Princess
Halm-Eberstein had left the hotel, and so far as the purpose of his
journey to Genoa was concerned, he might himself have set off on his
way to Mainz, to deliver the letter from Joseph Kalonymos, and get
possession of the fami