The Call of the Blood

"I don't think I could sleep," said Artois.

He was feeling oddly excited, and attributed the sensation to his weak

state of health. For so long he had been shut up, isolated from the

world, that even this coming out was an event. He was accustomed to

examine his feelings calmly, critically, to track them to their sources.

He tried to do so now.

"I must beware of my own extra sensitiveness," he said to himself. "I'm

still weak. I am not normal. I may see things distorted. I may

exaggerate, turn the small into the great. At least half of what I think

and feel to-day may come from my peculiar state."

Thus he tried to raise up barriers against his feeling that Delarey had

got into some terrible trouble during the absence of Hermione, that he

was now stricken with remorse, and that he was also in active dread of

something, perhaps of some Nemesis.

"All this may be imagination," Artois thought, as he sipped his coffee.

But he said again: "I don't think I could sleep. I feel abnormally alive to-day. Do you

know the sensation, as if one were too quick, as if all the nerves were

standing at attention?"

"Then our peace here does not soothe you?" Hermione said.

"If I must be truthful--no," he answered.

He met Maurice's restless glance.

"I think I've had enough coffee," he added. "Coffee stimulates the nerves

too much at certain times."

Maurice finished his and asked for another cup.

"He isn't afraid of being overstimulated," said Hermione. "But, Emile,

you ought to sleep. You'll be dead tired this evening when you ride

down."

"This evening," Hermione had said. Maurice wondered suddenly how late

Artois was going to stay at the cottage.

"Oh no, it will be cool," Artois said.

"Yes," Maurice said. "Towards five we get a little wind from the sea

nearly always, even sooner sometimes. I--I usually go down to bathe about

that time."

"I must begin to bathe, too," Hermione said.

"What--to-day!" Maurice said, quickly.

"Oh no. Emile is here to-day."

Then Artois did not mean to go till late. But he--Maurice--must go down

to the sea before nightfall.

"Unless I bathe," he said, trying to speak naturally--"unless I bathe I

feel the heat too much at night. A dip in the sea does wonders for me."

"And in such a sea!" said Artois. "You must have your dip to-day. I shall

go directly that little wind you speak of comes. I told a boy to come up

from the village at four to lead the donkey down."