The deck was quickly dismantled, the lights went out, and all the dancers
disappeared. The masquerade was over; and again, through the darkness,
rose the plaintive "All's well!" And it kept ringing in my ears until it
became a mocking sound, from which I longed to be free. It was like the
voice of Lear crying over the body of Cordelia: "Never, never, never,
never, never!"
Something of Hungerford's superstitious feeling possessed me. I went
below, and involuntarily made my way to Boyd Madras's cabin.
Though the night was not hot, the door was drawn to. I tapped. His voice
at once asked who was there, and when I told him, and inquired how he
was, he said he was not ill, and asked me to come to his cabin in the
morning, if I would. I promised, and bade him good-night. He responded,
and then, as I turned away from the door, I heard him repeat the
good-night cordially and calmly.
CHAPTER VII
THE WHEEL COMES FULL CIRCLE
The next morning I was up early, and went on deck. The sun had risen, and
in the moist atmosphere the tints of sky and sea were beautiful.
Everywhere was the warm ocean undulating lazily to the vague horizon.
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