Yes!theunfortunatemanhadwept!Somerecollectiondoubtlesshadflashedacrosshisbrain,andtouseCyrusHarding’sexpression,bythosetearshewasoncemoreaman.

           Thecolonistslefthimforsometimeontheplateau,andwithdrewthemselvestoashortdistance,sothathemightfeelhimselffree;buthedidnotthinkofprofitingbythisliberty,andHardingsoonbroughthimbacktoGraniteHouse.Twodaysafterthisoccurrence,thestrangerappearedtowishgraduallytominglewiththeircommonlife.Heevidentlyheardandunderstood,butnolessevidentlywashestrangelydeterminednottospeaktothecolonists;foroneevening,Pencroft,listeningatthedoorofhisroom,heardthesewordsescapefromhislips:—

           "No!here!I!never!"

           Thesailorreportedthesewordstohiscompanions.

           "Thereissomepainfulmysterythere!"saidHarding.

           Thestrangerhadbeguntousethelaboringtools,andheworkedinthegarden.Whenhestoppedinhiswork,aswasoftenthecase,heremainedretiredwithinhimself,butontheengineer’srecommendation,theyrespectedthereservewhichheapparentlywishedtokeep.Ifoneofthesettlersapproachedhim,hedrewback,andhischestheavedwithsobs,asifoverburdened!

           Wasitremorsethatoverwhelmedhimthus?Theywerecompelledtobelieveso,andGideonSpilettcouldnothelponedaymakingthisobservation,—

           "Ifhedoesnotspeakitisbecausehehas,Ifear,thingstooserioustobetold!"

           Theymustbepatientandwait.