Hewaswarm, andbunglingofspeech, andveryhappy, asherepliedtoher, andtherewasdancinginhismind, throughoutthetelephoneconversation, , andhe, MartinEden, 's "Sociology" , sothat, despitealldetermination, "Love-sonnetsfromthePortuguese" inmindashewrote, andhewroteunderthebestconditionsforgreatwork, ataclimactericofliving, inthethroesofhisownsweetlove-madness.

ThemanyhourshewasnotwithRuthhedevotedtothe "Love-cycle," toreadingathome, ortothepublicreading-rooms, , , whilethethreeyoungfellowsloungedamidships, deepinawordywrangleover "frat" , andRuth, gazingintothestarryvaultoftheskyandexchangingnospeechwithMartin, , andhe, onehandontillerandtheotheronmain-sheet, wasluffingslightly, , andshewatchedhimintently, speculatingfancifullyaboutthestrangewarpofsoulthatledhim, ayoungmanwithsignalpowers, tofritterawayhistimeonthewritingofstoriesandpoemsforedoomedtomediocrityandfailure.

Hereyeswanderedalongthestrongthroat, dimlyseeninthestarlight, andoverthefirm-poisedhead, , , , quitebesideher, , torestherselfagainsthisstrength—avague, half-formedimpulse, which, evenassheconsideredit, ? 'sfault, , butsheleaned, andshecontinuedtoleanwhenheshiftedhispositiontomakeitmorecomfortableforher.

Itwasamadness, , withawoman'sclingingneed; andthoughsheleanedeversolightly, , , , , , stoppingwayontheboatwithoutexcitingthenoticeofthewranglers, andmentallyforgivinghishardestvoyagesinthattheyhadmadethismarvellousnightpossible, givinghimmasteryoverseaandboatandwindsothathecouldsailwithherbesidehim, herdearweightagainsthimonhisshoulder.

Whenthefirstlightoftherisingmoontouchedthesail, illuminatingtheboatwithpearlyradiance, , evenasshemoved, , , ? Shehadneverdoneanythinglikeitinherlife, , whowasbusyputtingtheboataboutontheothertack, , ofallmen! Perhapshermotherwasright, , sheresolved, , oflyingtohim, , andsheknewhewouldknowitforalie.

Inthedaysthatswiftlyfollowedshewasnolongerherselfbutastrange, puzzlingcreature, wilfuloverjudgmentandscornfulofself-analysis, , alternatelyfrightenedandcharmed, , however, , , , , itwouldbeapainfulhalfhourforhim, andanembarrassinghalfhourforher, , , ofallthatconstitutedher, , herselfputtingthewordsintohismouth; andsherehearsedherrefusal, , , , .