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Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924

"Chance"

I believe I was mad for a time or else I should
never have thought . . . "
* * * * *
"This was as near as she came to a confession," remarked Marlow in a
changed tone. "The confession I mean of that walk to the top of the
quarry which she reproached herself with so bitterly. And he made of it
what his fancy suggested. It could not possibly be a just notion. The
cab stopped alongside the ship and they got out in the manner described
by the sensitive Franklin. I don't know if they suspected each other's
sanity at the end of that drive. But that is possible. We all seem a
little mad to each other; an excellent arrangement for the bulk of
humanity which finds in it an easy motive of forgiveness. Flora crossed
the quarter-deck with a rapidity born of apprehension. It had grown
unbearable. She wanted this business over. She was thankful on looking
back to see he was following her. "If he bolts away," she thought, "then
I shall know that I am of no account indeed! That no one loves me, that
words and actions and protestations and everything in the world is
false--and I shall jump into the dock.


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