Серце темряви
Chapter 3
"Sheputoutherarmsasifafteraretreatingfigure,stretchingthembackandwithclaspedpalehandsacrossthefadingandnarrowsheenofthewindow.Neverseehim!Isawhimclearlyenoughthen.IshallseethiseloquentphantomaslongasIlive,andIshallseeher,too,atragicandfamiliarShade,resemblinginthisgestureanotherone,tragicalso,andbedeckedwithpowerlesscharms,stretchingbarebrownarmsovertheglitteroftheinfernalstream,thestreamofdarkness.Shesaidsuddenlyverylow,‘Hediedashelived.’
"‘Hisend,’saidI,withdullangerstirringinme,‘wasineverywayworthyofhislife.’
"‘AndIwasnotwithhim,’shemurmured.Myangersubsidedbeforeafeelingofinfinitepity.
"‘Everythingthatcouldbedone—’Imumbled.
"‘Ah,butIbelievedinhimmorethananyoneonearth—morethanhisownmother,morethan—himself.Heneededme!Me!Iwouldhavetreasuredeverysigh,everyword,everysign,everyglance.’
"Ifeltlikeachillgriponmychest.‘Don’t,’Isaid,inamuffledvoice.
"‘Forgiveme.I—Ihavemournedsolonginsilence—insilence...Youwerewithhim—tothelast?Ithinkofhisloneliness.NobodyneartounderstandhimasIwouldhaveunderstood.Perhapsnoonetohear...’
"‘Totheveryend,’Isaid,shakily.‘Iheardhisverylastwords...’Istoppedinafright.
"‘Repeatthem,’shemurmuredinaheart-brokentone.‘Iwant—Iwant—something—something—to—tolivewith.’
