e. If you are a human being you
will. I suffer horribly--and for your sake."

Almayer lifted his eyebrows. "Indeed! How? But you are raving," he
added, negligently.

"Ah! You don't know," whispered Willems. "She is gone. Gone," he
repeated, with tears in his voice, "gone two days ago."

"No!" exclaimed the surprised Almayer. "Gone! I haven't heard that
news yet." He burst into a subdued laugh. "How funny! Had enough of you
already? You know it's not flattering for you, my superior countryman."

Willems--as if not hearing him--leaned against one of the columns of the
roof and looked over the river. "At first," he whispered, dreamily, "my
life was like a vision of heaven--or hell; I didn't know which. Since
she went I know what perdition means; what darkness is. I know what it
is to be torn to pieces alive. That's how I feel."

"You may come and live with me again," said Almayer, coldly. "After all,
Lingard--whom I call my father and respect as such--left you under my
care. You pleased yourself by going away. Very good. Now you want
to come back. Be it so. I am no friend of yours. I act for Captain
Lingard."

"Come back?" repeated Willems, passionately. "Come back to you and
abandon her? Do you think I am mad? Without her! Man! what are you
made of? To think that she moves, lives, breathes out of my sight. I am
jealous of the wind that fans her, of the air she breathes, of the earth
that receives the caress of her foot, of the sun that looks at her now
while I . . . I haven't seen her for two days--two days."

The intensity of Willems' feeling moved Almayer somewhat, but he
affected to yawn elaborately, "You do bore me," he muttered. "Why don't
you go after her instead of coming here?"

"Why indeed?"

"Don't you know where she is? She can't be very far. No native craft has
left this river for the last fortnight."

"No! not very far--and I will tell you where she is. She is in Lakamba's
campong." And Willems fixed his eyes steadily on Almayer's face.

"Phew! Patalolo never sent to let me know. Strange," said Almayer,
thoughtfully. "Are you afraid of that lot?" he added, after a short
pause.

"I--afraid!"

"Then is it the care of your dignity which prevents you from following
her there, my high-minded friend?" asked Almayer, with mock solicitude.
"How noble of you!"

There was a short silence; then Willems said, quietly, "You are a fool.
I should like to kick you."

"No fear," answered Almayer, carelessl