Волны

           Wedrewapart;wewereconsumedinthedarknessofthetrees,leavingRhodaandLouistostandontheterracebytheurn.

           ’Whenweemergedfromthatimmersion--howsweet,howdeep!--andcametothesurfaceandsawtheconspiratorsstillstandingthereitwaswithsomecompunction.Wehadlostwhattheyhadkept.Weinterrupted.Butweweretired,andwhetherithadbeengoodorbad,accomplishedorleftundone,theduskyveilwasfallinguponourendeavours;thelightsweresinkingaswepausedforamomentupontheterracethatoverlookstheriver.Thesteamerswerelandingtheirtrippersonthebank;therewasadistantcheering,thesoundofsinging,asifpeoplewavedtheirhatsandjoinedinsomelastsong.ThesoundofthechoruscameacrossthewaterandIfeltleapupthatoldimpulse,whichhasmovedmeallmylife,tobethrownupanddownontheroarofotherpeople’svoices,singingthesamesong;tobetossedupanddownontheroarofalmostsenselessmerriment,sentiment,triumph,desire.Butnotnow.No!Icouldnotcollectmyself;Icouldnotdistinguishmyself;Icouldnothelplettingfallthethingsthathadmademeaminuteagoeager,amused,jealous,vigilant,andhostsofotherthings,intothewater.Icouldnotrecovermyselffromthatendlessthrowingaway,dissipation,floodingforthwithoutourwillingitandrushingsoundlesslyawayoutthereunderthearchesofthebridge,roundsomeclumpoftreesoranisland,outwheresea-birdssitonstakes,overtheroughenedwatertobecomewavesinthesea--Icouldnotrecovermyselffromthatdissipation.Soweparted.