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He put his handto his head and leaned against something. Somehow he felt that
theconfession had been drawn from him.
Do you from now on consider that which
she holds in her arms. All day he had lost it amid the narrowstreets of the
stinking water front. A note of foreboding crept intoher voice.
Then he saw the
two fingers on Father Xaviers breast move. I hire you forall day, with meals at
restaurants, wine included, he said. There is something beyond us andyet in us
and with us. Even with only one candle and a littlemoonlight Anthony felt at
home in the place immediately.
I do not think I shall live long enough to find
out whatreally happened in some of them, father.
But he must forget that, not
hear the feet, onthe deck, anywhere.
I do not think I shall live long enough to
find out whatreally happened in some of them, father.
FatherXavier walked as
though he had a child beside him.
Through whatvicissitudes had it been since
then, he wondered, to come here?
You must tell me about yourself, father, said
Anthony.
I remember some days I think it would take ten years to tellabout. He
began to tell themabout his voyages to Canton. The swallows dippedand left
rings in the shallows. I seem to have beeninterested only in myself tonight.
Then the captain suddenlyresumed the mask which experience had provided him. I
am sorry to have given youpain, said Anthony. They had descended somewhat into
the shades of the vegetation anddense paths. I am sorry to have given youpain,
said Anthony. Just one or two whiffs at first, if you do not reallycare for it.
Captain Elisha could not remember but Father Xavier did.
That has been one
remote result, said Father Xavier half tohimself.
He rose to his feet
overpowered by so sublime athought, striving for words. So Christ came into
theworld, but so did he not go out of it.
I have been busy upon the errands of
my order.
A fly was crawling over his bald head slowly.
There is something
beyond us andyet in us and with us. We are not alone in this deserted house,
are we?
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