parted company?"

"I shall return somewhere--perhaps here."

Maskull went close up to her, in order to study her face better.
"Shall you sink back into--the old state?"

"No, Maskull, thank heaven."

"Then how will you live?"

Sullenbode calmly removed the hand which he had placed on her arm.
There was a sort of swirling flame in her eyes. "And who said I
would go on living?"

Maskull blinked at her in bewilderment. A few moments passed before
he spoke again. "You women are a sacrificing lot. You know I can't
leave you like this."

Their eyes met. Neither withdrew them, and neither felt embarrassed.

"You will always be the most generous of men, Maskull. Now let us
go.... Corpang is a single-minded personage, and the least we
others--who aren't so single-minded--can do is to help him to his
destination. We mustn't inquire whether the destination of single-
minded men is as a rule worth arriving at."

"If it is good for Maskull, it will be good for me."

"Well, no vessel can hold more than its appointed measure."