Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting

Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting
Surely the man sensed his terror and nervousness by now, Luke thought wildly.His resolution of not long before to be ready to take on anything had alreadydisintegrated under the unwinking stare of this professional soldier. He knew whatwould happen if they got a look at his formal ID, with the location of his homesteadand the name of his nearest relatives on it. Something seemed to be buzzing insidehis head; he felt faint. Kenobi had leaned over and was talking easily to the trooper. "You don't needto see his identification," the old man informed the Imperial in an extremely peculiarvoice. Staring blankly back at him, the officer replied, as if it were self-evident, "I don'tneed to see your identification." His reaction was the opposite of Kenobi's: hisvoice was normal, but his expression peculiar. "These aren't the 'droids you're looking for," Kenobi told him pleasantly. "These aren't the 'droids we're looking for." "He can go about his business." "You can go about your business," the metal-masked officer informed Luke. The expression of relief that spread across Luke's face ought to have been asrevealing as his previous nervousness, but the Imperial ignored it. "Move along," Kenobi whispered. "Move along," the officer instructed Luke. Unable to decide whether he should salute, nod, or give thanks to the man, Lukesettled for nudging the accelerator. The landspeeder moved forward, drawing awayfrom the circle of troops. As they prepared to round a corner, Luke risked a glancebackward. The officer who had inspected them appeared to be arguing with severalcomrades, though at this distance Luke couldn't be sure.

The Abduction of Psyche

The Abduction of Psyche
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
Luke didn't like the idea of kicking Threepio and Artoo out, but he didn't knowhow else to deal with the problem. The bartender didn't appear to be the sort whowould readily respond to reason, and when he looked around for old Ben, Luke sawthat he was locked in deep conversation with one of the Corellians. Meanwhile, the discussion had attracted the attention of several especiallygruesome-looking types who happened to be clustered within hearing range. Alwere regarding Luke and the two 'droids in a decidedly unfriendly fashion. "Yes, of course," Luke said, realizing this wasn't the time or place to force theissue of 'droid rights. "I'm sorry." He looked over at Threepio. "You'd betterstay outside with the speeder. We don't want any trouble in here." "I heartily agree with you, sir," Threepio said, his gaze traveling past Luke andthe bartender to take in the unfriendly stares at the bar. "I don't feel the need forlubrication at the moment anyway." With Artoo waddling in his wake, the tall robothastily headed for the exit. That finished things as far as the bartender was concerned, but Luke now foundhimself the subject of some unwanted attention. He abruptly became aware of hisisolation and felt as if at one time or another every eye in the place rested a momenton him, that things human and otherwise were smirking and making comments abouthim behind his back.

The Kitchen Maid

The Kitchen Maid
The British Are Coming
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
Leaning close, Kenobi gestured toward the far end of the bar. A small knot ofrough-looking humans lounged there, drinking laughing, and trading stories ofdubious origin. "Corellians—pirates, most likely." "I thought we were looking for an independent freighter captain with his ownship for hire," Luke whispered back. "So we are, young Luke, so we are," agreed Kenobi. "And there's bound to beone or two adequate for our needs among that group. It's just that in Corellianterminology the distinction between who owns what cargo tends to get a littlemuddled from time to time. Wait here." Luke nodded and watched as Kenobi worked his way through the crowd. TheCorrellians' suspicion at his approach vanished as soon as he engaged them inconversation. Something grabbed Luke's shoulder and spun him around. "Hey" Looking around and struggling to regain his composure, he foundhimself staring up at an enormous, scruffy-looking human. Luke saw by the man'sclothing that he must be the bartender, if not the owner of this cantina. "We don't serve their kind in here," the glaring form growled. "What?" Luke replied dumbly. He still hadn't recovered from his suddensubmergence into the cultures of several dozen races. It was rather different fromthe poolroom behind the Anchorhead power station. "Your 'droids," the bartenderexplained impatiently, gesturing with a thick thumb. Luke peered in the indicateddirection, to see Artoo and Threepio standing quietly nearby. "They'll have to waitoutside. We don't serve them in here. I only carry stuff for organics, not," heconcluded with an expression of distaste, "mechanicals."

The Nut Gatherers

The Nut Gatherers
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
Nodding without really understanding, Luke indicated the run-down thoughobviously popular cantina. "Do you really think we can find a pilot here capable oftaking us all the way to Alderaan?" Kenobi was exiting from the speeder. "Most of the good, independent freighterpilots frequent this place, though many can afford better. They can talk freely here.You should have learned by now, Luke, not to equate ability with appearance." Lukesaw the old man's shabby clothing anew and felt ashamed. "Watch yourself, though.This place can be rough." Luke found himself squinting as they entered the cantina. It was darker insidethan he would have liked. Perhaps the regular habitués of this place wereunaccustomed to the light of day, or didn't wish to be seen clearly. It didn't occur toLuke that the dim interior in combination with the brilliantly lit entrance permittedeveryone inside to see each newcomer before he could see them. Moving inward, Luke was astonished at the variety of beings making use of thebar. There were one-eyed creatures and thousand-eyed, creature with scales,creatures with fur, and some with skin that seemed to ripple and change consistencyaccording to their feelings of the moment. Hovering near the bar itself was a towering insectoid that Luke glimpsed only asa threatening shadow. It contrasted with two of the tallest women Luke had everseen. They were among the most normal looking of the outrageous assemblage ofhumans that mixed freely among alien counterparts. Tentacles, claws, and handswere wrapped around drinking utensils of various sizes and shapes. Conversationwas a steady babble of human and alien tongues.

The Three Ages of Woman

The Three Ages of Woman
The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
He peered up at his tall companion and started to say something. Kenobiseemed to have some idea where they were headed. Luke studied the run-downstructures and equally unwholesome-looking individuals they were passing. Theyhad entered the oldest section of Mos Eisley and consequently the one where the oldvices flourished most strongly. Kenobi pointed and Luke pulled the landspeeder up in front of what appeared tobe one of the original spaceport's first blockhouses. It had been converted into acantina whose clientele was suggested by the diverse nature of transport parkedoutside. Some of them Luke recognized, others he had only heard rumors of. Thecantina itself, he knew from the design of the building, must lie partially underground. As the dusty but still sleek craft pulled into an open spot, a jawa materializedfrom nowhere and began running covetous hands over the metal sides. Luke leanedout and barked something harsh at the sub-human, which caused it to scurry away. "I can't abide those jawas," murmured Threepio with lofty disdain."Disgusting creatures." Luke's mind was too full of their narrow escape for him to comment onThreepio's sentiments. "I still can't understand how we got by these troops. Ithought we were as good as dead." "The force is in the mind, Luke, and can sometime be used to influence others.It's a powerful ally. But as you come to know the force, you will discover that it canalso be a danger."

klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks
Woman with a Parasol

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
American Day Dream
Biblis painting
Boulevard des Capucines
Charity painting
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
Dance Me to the End of Love
Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting

A Greek Beauty

A Greek Beauty
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
klimt painting the kiss
His uncle helped himself to the milk pitcher, mumbling his reply around amouthful of food. "The jawas have a tendency to pick up anything that's not tieddown, Luke, but remember, they're basically afraid of their own shadows. To resortto outright theft, they'd have to have considered the consequences of being pursuedand punished. Theoretically, their minds shouldn't be capable of that. What makesyou think the 'droid is stolen?" "For one thing, it's in awfully good shape for a discard. It generated ahologram recording while I was cleaning—" Luke tried to conceal his horror at theslip. He added hastily. "But that's not important. The reason I think it might bestolen is because it claims to be the property of someone it calls Obi-wan Kenobi." Maybe something in the food, or perhaps the milk, caused Luke's uncle to gag.Then again, it might have been an expression of disgust, which was Owen's way ofindicating his opinion of that peculiar personage. In any case, he continued eatingwithout looking up at his nephew. Luke pretended the display of graphic dislike had never happened. "I thought,"he continued determinedly, "it might have meant old Ben. The first name is different,but the last is identical." When his uncle steadfastly maintained his silence, Luke prompted him directly."Do you know who he's talking about, Uncle Owen?" Surprisingly, his uncle looked uncomfortable instead of angry. "It's nothing,"he mumbled, still not meeting Luke's gaze. "A name from another time." Hesquirmed nervously in his seat. "A name that can only mean trouble." Luke refused to heed the implied warning and pressed on. "Is it someonerelated to old Ben, then? I didn't know he had any relatives."

Boulevard des Capucines

Boulevard des Capucines
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
American Day Dream
Biblis painting
Luke's Aunt Beru was filling a pitcher with blue liquid from a refrigerated container.Behind her, in the dining area, a steady buzz of conversation reached to the kitchen. She sighed sadly. The mealtime discussions between her husband and Lukehad grown steadily more acrimonious as the boy's restlessness pulled him indirections other than farming. Directions for which Owen, a stolid man of the soil ifthere ever was one, had absolutely no sympathy. Returning the bulk container to the refrigerator unit, she placed the pitcher on atray and hurried back to the dining room. Beru was not a brilliant woman, but shepossessed an instinctive understanding of her important position in this household.She functioned like the damping rods in a nuclear reactor. As long as she waspresent, Owen and Luke would continue to generate a lot of heat, but if she was out oftheir presence for too long—boom! Condenser units built into the bottom of each plate kept the food on the dining-room table hot as she hurried in. immediately, both men lowered their voices tosomething civilized and shifted the subject. Beru pretended not to notice the change. "I think that Artoo unit might have been stolen, Uncle Owen," Luke was saying,as if that had been the topic of conversation all along.

Evening Mood painting

Evening Mood painting
Charity painting
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
Dance Me to the End of Love
embarrassed and nervous as he translated. "He said. 'What message?' " Threepio's attention turned half angrily to his companion. "What message?You know what message! The one you just played a fragment of for us. The oneyou're hauling around inside tour recalcitrant, rust-ridden innards, you stubborn bunkof junk!" Artoo sat and hummed softly to himself. "I'm sorry, sir," Threepio said slowly, "but he shows signs of having developedan alarming flutter in his obedience-rational module. Perhaps if we—" a voice from down a corridor interrupted him. "Luke…oh, Luke—come todinner!" Luke hesitated, then rose and turned away from the puzzling little 'droid."Okay," he called, "I'm coming. Aunt Beru!" He lowered his voice as he spoke toThreepio. "See what you can do with him. I'll be back soon." Tossing the just-removed restraining bolt on the workbench, he hurried from the chamber, As soon as the human was gone, Threepio whirled on his shorter companion."You'd better consider playing that whole recording for him," he growled, withsuggestive nod toward a workbench laden with dismembered machine parts."Otherwise he's liable to take up that cleaning pick again and go digging for it. Hemight not be too careful what he cuts through if he believes you're deliberatelywithholding something from him." A plaintive beep came from Artoo.

Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting

girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting
Luke's gaze was drawn irresistibly back to the hologram. "I wonder who she is.She must be important—especially if what you told me just now is true, Threepio.She sounds and looks as if she's in some kind of trouble. Maybe the message isimportant. We ought to hear the rest of it." He reached again for the Artoo's internal controls, and the robot scurriedbackward again, squeaking a blue streak. "He says there's a restraining separator bolt that's circuiting out his self-motivation components." Threepio translated. "He suggests that if you move thebolt he might be able to repeat the entire message," Threepio finished uncertainly.When Luke continued to stare at the portrait, Threepio added, more loudly "Sir!" Luke shook himself. "What…? Oh, yes." He considered the request.Then he moved and peered into the open panel. This time Artoo didn't retreat. "I see it, I think. Well, I guess you're too small to run away from me if I takethis off. I wonder what someone would be sending a message to old Ben for." Selecting the proper tool, Luke reached down into the exposed circuitry andpopped the restraining bolt free. The first noticeable result of this action was thatthe portrait disappeared. Luke stood back. "There, now." There was an uncomfortable pause duringwhich the hologram showed no sign of returning. "Where did she go?" Lukefinally prompted. "Make her come back. Play the entire message, Artoo Detoo." An innocent-sounding beep came from the robot. Threepio appeared

jesus christ on the cross

jesus christ on the cross
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
Hylas and the Nymphs
Threepio paused before replying. "He says that he is the property of one Obi-wan Kenobi, a resident of this world. Of this very region, in fact. The sentencefragment we are hearing is part of a private message intended for this person." Threepio shook his head slowly. "Quite frankly, sir, I don't know what he'stalking about. Our last master was Captain Colton. I never heard Artoo mention aprior master. I've certainly never heard of an Obi-wan Kenobi. But with all we'vebeen through," he concluded apologetically, "I'm afraid his logic circuits have gottena bit scrambled. He's become decidedly eccentric at times." And while Lukeconsidered this turn of events, Threepio took the opportunity to throw Artoo a furiouslook of warning. "Obi-wan Kenobi," Luke recited thoughtfully. His expression suddenlybrightened. "Say…I wonder if he could be referring to old Ben Kenobi." "Begging your pardon," Threepio gulped, astonished beyond measure, "but youactually know of such a person?" "Not exactly," he admitted in a more subdued voice. "I don't know anyonenamed Obi-wan—but old Ben lives somewhere out on the fringe of the Western DuneSea. He's kind of a local character—a hermit. Uncle Owen and a few of the otherfarmers say he's a sorcerer. "He comes around once in a while to trade things. I hardly ever talk to him,though. My uncle usually runs him off." He paused and glanced across at thesmall robot again. "But I never heard that old Ben owned a 'droid of any kind. Atleast, none that I ever heard tell of."

Regatta At Argenteuil

Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Presently the dusty, unpaved streets were quiet, deserted. Sandflies buzzedlazily in the cracked eaves of pourstone building. A dog barked in the distance, thesole sign of habitation until a lone old woman appeared and started across the street.Her metallic sun shawl was pulled tight around her. Something made her look up, tired eyes squinting into the distance. The soundsuddenly leaped in volume as a shining rectangular shape came roaring around a farcorner. Her eyes popped as the vehicle bore down on her, showing no sign ofaltering its path. She had to scramble to get out of its way. Panting and waving an angry fist after the landspeeder, she raised her voice overthe sound of its passage. "Won't you kids ever learn to slow down!" Luke might have seen her, but he certainly didn't hear her. In both cases hisattention was focused elsewhere as he pulled up behind a low, long concrete station.Various coils and rods jutted from its top and sides. Tatooine's relentless sand wavesbroke in frozen yellow spume against the station's walls. No one had bothered toclear them away. There was no point. They would only return again the followingday. Luke slammed the front door aside and shouted, "Hey!" A rugged young man in mechanic's dress sat sprawled in a chair behind the

One Moment in Time

One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
The Treadwell started toward him, hesitated, and then commenced spinning in atight circle, smoke belching from every joint. Luke shouted further instruction, thenfinally gave up in disgust when he realized that it would take more than words tomotivate the Treadwell again. For a moment Luke hesitated at leaving the machine behind—but, he argued tohimself, its vital components were obviously shot. So he jumped into thelandspeeder, causing the recently repaired repulsion floater to list alarmingly to oneside until he was able to equalize weight distribution by sliding behind the controls.Maintaining its altitude slightly above the sandy ground, the light-duty transportvehicle steadied itself like a boat in a heavy sea. Luke gunned the engine, whichwhined in protest, and sand erupted behind the floater as he aimed the craft toward thedistant town of Anchorhead. Behind him, a pitiful beacon of black smoke from the burning robot continued torise into the clear desert air. It wouldn't be there when Luke returned. There werescavengers of metal as well as flesh in the wide wastes of Tatooine. Metal and stone structures bleached white by the glaze of twin Tatoo I and IIhuddled together tightly, for company as much as for protection. They formed thenexus of the widespread farming community of Anchorhead.

My Sweet Rose painting

My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
beckoning seductively to small abrasive particles with an oily gleam. He wipedsweat from his forehead and leaned back for a moment. The most prepossessingthing about the young man was his name. A light breeze tugged at his shaggy hairand baggy work tunic as he regarded the device. No point in staying angry at it, hecounseled himself. It's only an unintelligent machine. As Luke considered his predicament, a third figure appeared, scooting out frombehind the vaporator to fumble awkwardly at the damaged section. Only three of theTreadwell model robot's six arms were functioning, and these had seen more wearthan the boots on Luke's feet. The machine moved with unsteady stop-and-startmotions. Luke gazed at it sadly, then inclined his head to study the sky. Still no sign of acloud, and he knew there never would be unless he got that vaporator working. Hewas about to try once again when a small, intense gleam of light caught his eye.Quickly he slipped the carefully cleaned set of macrobinoculars from his utility beltand focused the lenses skyward. For long moments he stared, wishing all the while that he had a real telescopeinstead of the binocs. As he stared, vaporators, the heat, and the day's remainingchores were forgotten. Clipping the binoculars back onto his belt, Luke turned anddashed for the landspeeder. Halfway to the vehicle he thought to call behind him. "Hurry up," he shouted impatiently. "What are you waiting for? Get it in

The Abduction of Psyche

The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
Shape it up, you guys," Luke yelled excitedly. Then he noticed the older manin the uniform. The subject of his suddenly startled gaze recognized himsimultaneously. "Biggs!" The man's face twisted in a half grin. "Hello, Luke." Then they wereembracing each other warmly. Luke finally stood away, openly admiring the other's uniform. "I didn't knowyou were back. When did you get in?" The confidence in the other's voice bordered the realm of smugness withoutquite entering it. "Just a little while ago. I wanted to surprise you, hotshot." Heindicated the room. "I thought you'd be here with these other two nightcrawlers."Deak and Windy both smiled. "I certainly didn't expect you to be out working."He laughed easily, a laugh few people found resistible. "The academy didn't change you much," Luke commented. "But you're backso soon." His expression grew concerned. "Hey, what happened—didn't you getyour commission?" There was something evasive about Biggs as he replied, looking slightly away,"Of course I got it. Signed to serve aboard the freighter Rand Ecliptic just last week.First Mate Biggs Darklighter, at your service." He performed a twisting salute, half

Samson And Delilah

Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
station's unkempt control desk. Sunscreen oil had kept his skin from burning. Theskin of the girl on his lap had been equally protected, and there was a great deal moreof the protected area in view. Somehow even dried sweat looked good on her. "Hey, everybody!" Luke yelled again, having elicited something less than anoverwhelming response with his first cry. He ran toward the instrument room at therear of the station while the mechanic, half asleep, ran a hand across his face andmumbled, "Did I hear a young noise blast through here?" The girl on his lap stretched sensuously, her well-worn clothing tugging invarious intriguing directions. Her voice was casually throaty. "Oh," she yawned,"that was just Wormie on one of his rampages." Deak and Windy looked up from the computer-assisted pool game as Luke burstinto the room. They were dressed much like Luke, although their clothing was ofbetter fit and somewhat less exercised. All three youths contrasted strikingly with the burly handsome player at the farside of the table. From neatly clipped hair to his precision-cut uniform he stood outin the room like an Oriental poppy in a sea of oats. Behind the three humans a softhum came from where a repair robot was working patiently on a broken piece ofstation equipment.

The Painter's Honeymoon

The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
was some Months however before I resolved upon this; and therefore, as I had rewarded the old Captain fully, and to his Satisfaction, who had been my former Benefactor, so I began to think of my poor Widow, whose Husband had been my first Benefactor, and she, while it was in her Power, my faithful Steward and Instructor. So the first thing I did, I got a Merchant in Lisbon to write to his Correspondent in London, not only to pay a Bill, but to go find her out, and carry her in Money, an hundred Pounds from me, and to talk with her, and comfort her in her Poverty, by telling her she should, if I liv'd, have a further Supply: At the same time I sent my two Sisters in the Country, each of them an Hundred Pounds, they being, though not in Want, yet not in very good Circumstances; one having been marry'd, and left a Widow; and the other having a Husband not so kind to her as he should be.
But among all my Relations, or Acquaintances, I could not yet pitch upon one, to whom I durst commit the Gross of my Stock, that I might go away to the Brasils, and leave things safe behind me; and this greatly perplex'd me.
I had once a Mind to have gone to the Brasils, and have settled my self there; for I was, as it were, naturaliz'd to the Place; but I had some little Scruple in my Mind about Religion, which insensibly drew me back, of which I shall say more presently. However, it was not Religion that kept me rom going there for the present; and as I had made no Scruple of being openly of the Religion of the Country, all the while I was among them, so neither did I yet; only that now and then having of late thought more of it, (than formerly) when I began to think of living and dying among them, I began to regret my having profess'd my self a Papist, and thought it might not be the best Religion to die with.

Rembrandt The Return of the Prodigal Son Painting

Rembrandt The Return of the Prodigal Son Painting
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
The first thing I did, was to recompense my original Benefactor, my good old Captain, who had been first charitable to me in my Distress, kind to me in my Beginning, and honest to me at the End: I shew'd him all that was sent me, I told him, that next to the Providence of Heaven, which disposes all things, it was Owing to him; and that it now lay on me to reward him, which I would do a hundred fold: So I first return'd to him the hundred Moidores I had receiv'd of him, then I sent for a Notary, and caused him to draw up a general Release or Discharge for the 470 Moidores, which he had acknowledg'd he ow'd me in the fullest and firmest Manner possible; after which, I caused a Procuration to be drawn, impowering him to be my Receiver of the annual Profits of my Plantation, and appointing my Partner to accompt to him, and make the Returns by the usual Fleets to him in my Name; and a Clause in the End, being a Grant of 100 Moidores a Year to him, during his Life, out of the Effects, and 50 Moidores a Year to his Son after him, for his Life: And thus I requited my old Man.
I was now to consider which Way to steer my Course next, and what to do with the Estate that Providence had thus put into my Hands; and indeed I had more Care upon my Head now, than I had in my silent State of Life in the Island, where I wanted nothing but what I had, and had nothing but what I wanted: Whereas I had now a great Charge upon me, and my Business was how to secure it. I had ne'er a Cave now to hide my Money in, or a Place where it might lye without Lock or Key, 'till it grew mouldy and tarnish'd before any Body would meddle with it: On the contrary, I knew not where to put it, or who to trust with it. My old Patron, the Captain, indeed was honest, and that was the only Refuge I had.
In the next Place, my Interest in the Brasils seem'd to summon me thither, but now I could not tell, how to think of going thither, 'till I had settled my Affairs, and left my Effects in some safe Hands behind me. At first I thought of my old Friend the Widow, who I knew was honest, and would be just to me; but then she was in Years, and but poor, and for ought I knew, might be in Debt; so that in a Word, I had no Way but to go back to England my self, and take my Effects with

precious time

precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At ArgenteuilBy the same Fleet, my two Merchant Trustees shipp'd me 1 200 Chests of Sugar, 800 Rolls of Tobacco, and the rest of the whole Accompt in Gold.
I might well say, now indeed, That the latter End of Job was better than the Beginning. It is impossible to express pere the Flutterings of my very Heart, when I look'd over these Letters, and especially when I found all my Wealth about me; for as the Brasil Ships come all in Fleets, the same Ships which brought my Letters, brought my Goods; and the Effects were safe in the River before the Letters came to my Hand. In a Word, I turned pale, and grew sick; and had not the old Man run and fetch'd me a Cordial, I believe the sudden Surprize of Joy had overset Nature, and I had dy'd upon the Spot.
Nay after that, I continu'd very ill, and was so some Hours, 'till a Physician being sent for, and something of the real Cause of my illness being known, he order'd me to be let Blood; after which, I had Relief, and grew well: But I verily believe, if it had not been eas'd by a Vent given in that Manner, to the Spirits, I should have dy'd.
I was now Master, all on a Sudden, of above 5000 l. Sterling in Money, and had an Estate, as I might well call it, in the Brasils, of above a thousand Pounds a Year, as sure as an Estate of Lands in England: And in a Word, I was in a Condition which I scarce knew how to understand, or how to compose my self, for the Enjoyment of it.

Naiade oil painting

Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
First, There was the Account Current of the Produce of my Farms or Plantation, from the Year when their Fathers had ballanc'd with my old Portugal Captain, being for six Years; the Ballance appear'd to be 1174 Moidores in my Favour.
Secondly, There was the Account of four Years more while they kept the Effects in their Hands, before the Government claim'd the Administration, as being the Effects of a Person not to be found, which they call'd Civil
Death; and the Ballance of this, the Value of the Plantation encreasing, amounted to [38,892] Cruisadoes, which made 3241 Moidores.
Thirdly, There was the Prior of the Augustin's Account, who had receiv'd the Profits for above fourteen Years; but not being to account for what was dispos'd to the Hospital, very honestly declar'd he had 872 Moidores not distributed, which he acknowledged to my Account; as to the King's Part, that refunded nothing.
There was a Letter of my Partner's, congratulating me very affectionately upon my being alive, giving me an Account how the Estate was improv'd, and what it produced a Year, with a Particular of the Number of Squares or Acres that it contained; how planted, how many Slaves there were upon it, and making two and twenty Crosses for Blessings, told me he had said so many Ave Marias to thank the Blessed Virgin that I was alive; inviting me very passionately to come over and take Possession of my own; and in the mean time to give him Orders to whom he should deliver my Effects, if I did not come my self; concluding with a hearty Tender of his Friendship, and that of his Family, and sent me, as a Present, seven fine Leopard's Skins, which he had it seems received from Africa, by some other Ship which he had sent thither, and who it seems had made a better Voyage than I: He sent me also five Chests of excellent Sweet-meats, and an hundred Pieces of Gold uncoin'd, not quite so large as Moidores.

Madonna Litta

Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Every thing the good Man said was full of Affection, and I could hardly refrain from Tears while he spoke: In short, I took 100 of the Moidores, and call'd for a Pen and Ink to give him a Receipt for them; then I returned him the rest, and told him, If ever I had Possession of the Plantation, I would return the other to him also, as indeed I afterwards did; and that as to the Bill of Sale of his Part in his Son's Ship, I would not take it by any Means; but that if I wanted the Money, I found he was honest enough to pay me; and if I did not, but came to receive what he gave me reason to expect, I would never have a Penny more from him.
When this was pass'd, the old Man began to ask me, If he should put me into a Method to make my Claim to my Plantation? I told him, I thought to go over to it my self: He said, I might do so if I pleas'd; but that if I did not, there were Ways enough to secure my Right, and immediately to appropriate the Profits to my Use; and as there were Ships in the River of Lisbon, just ready to go away to Brasil, he made me enter my Name in a Publick Register, with his Affidavit, affirming upon Oath that I was alive, and that I was the same Person who took up the Land for the Planting the said Plantation at first.
This being regularly attested by a Notary, and a Procuration affix'd, he directed me to send it with a Letter of his Writing, to a Merchant of his Acquaintance at the Place, and then propos'd my staying with him till an Account came of the Return.
Never any Thing was more honourable, than the Proceedings upon this Procuration; for in less than seven Months, I receiv'd a large Packet from the Survivors of my Trustees the Merchants, for whose Account I went to Sea, in which were the following particular Letters and Papers enclos'd.

the polish rider

the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
In the mean time, Friday and the Captain's Mate so well manag'd their Business with the rest, that they drew them by hollowing and answering, from one Hill to another, and from one Wood to another, till they not only heartily tyr'd them but left them, where they were very Sure they could not reach back to the Boat, before it was dark; and indeed they were heartily tyr'd themselves also by the Time they came back to us.
We had nothing now to do, but to watch for them, in the Dark, and to fall upon them, so as to make sure work with them.
It was several Hours after Friday came back to me, before they came back to their Boat; and we could hear the foremost of them long before they came quite up, calling to those behind to come along, and could also hear them answer and complain, how lame and tyr'd they were, and not able to -come any faster, which was very welcome News to us.
At length they came up to the Boat; but 'tis impossible to express their Confusion, when they found the Boat fast a-Ground in the Creek, the Tide ebb'd out, and their two Men gone We could hear them call to one another in a most lamentable Manner, telling one another, they were gotten into an inchanted Island; that either there were Inhabitants in it, and they should all be murther'd, or else there were Devils and Spirits in it, and they should be all carry'd away, and devour'd.

the night watch by rembrandt

the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
The Painter's Honeymoon
The Captain made a very just Proposal to me, upon this Consultation of theirs, viz. That perhaps they would all fire a Volley again, to endeavour to make their Fellows hear, and that we should all Sally upon them, just at the Juncture when their Pieces were all discharg'd, and they would certainly yield, and we should have them without Bloodshed: I lik'd the Proposal, provided it was done while we heard, when they were presently stopp'd by the Creek, where the Water being up, they could not get over, and call'd for the Boat to come up, and Set them over, as indeed I expected.
When they had Set themselves over, I observ'd, that the Boat being gone up a good way into the Creek, and as it were, in a Harbour within the Land, they took one of the three Men out of her to go along with them, and left only two in the Boat, having fastned her to the Stump of a little Tree on the Shore.
This was what I wish'd for, and immediately leaving Friday and the Captain's Mate to their Business, I took the rest with me, and crossing the Creek out of their Sight, we surpriz'd the two Men before they were aware; one of them lying on Shore, and the other being in the Boat; the Fellow on Shore, was between sleeping and waking, and going to start up, the Captain who was foremost, ran in upon him, and knock'd him down, and then call'd out to him in the Boat, to yield, or he was a dead Man.
There needed very few Arguments to perswade a single Man to yield, when he Saw five Men upon him, and his Comrade knock'd down; besides, this was it seems one of the three who were not so hearty in the Mutiny as the rest of the Crew, and therefore was easily perswaded, not only to yield, but afterwards to joyn very sincere with us.

Rembrandt The Jewish Bride

Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
The Lady of Shalott
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
female nude reclining
They all appear'd very penitent, and begg'd hard for their Lives; as for that, he told them, they were none of his Prisoners, but the Commander of the Island; that they thought they had set him on Shore in a barren uninhabited Island, but it had pleased God so to direct them, that the Island was inhabited, and that the Governour was an English Man; that he might hang them all there, if he pleased; but as he had given them all Quarter, he supposed he would send them to England to be dealt with there, as Justice requir'd, except Atkins, who he was commanded by the Governour to advise to prepare for Death; for that he would be hang'd in the Morning.
Though this was all a Fiction of his own, yet it had its desired Effect; Atkins fell upon his Knees to beg the Captain to interceed with the Governour for his Life; and all the rest beg'd of him for God's Sake, that they might not be sent to England.
It now occurr'd to me, that the time of our Deliverance was come, and that it would be a most easy thing to bring these Fellows in, to be hearty in getting Possession of the Ship; so I retir'd in the Dark from them, that they might not see what Kind of a Governour they had, and call'd the Captain to me; when I call'd, as at a good Distance, one of the Men was order'd to speak again, and say to the Captain, Captain, the Commander calls for you; and presently the Captain reply'd, Tell his Excellency, I am just a coming: This more perfectly amused' them; and they all believed that the Commander was just by with his fifty Men.
Upon the Captain's coming to me, I told him my Project for seizing the Ship, which he lik'd of wonderfully well, and resolv'd to put it in Execution the next Morning.
But in Order to execute it with more Art, and secure of Success, I told him, we must divide the Prisoners, and that he should go and take Atkins and two more of the worst of them, and send them pinion'd to the Cave where the others lay: This was committed to Friday and the two Men who came on Shore with the Captain.
They convey'd them to the Cave, as to a Prison; and it was indeed a dismal Place, especially to Men in their Condition.
The other I order'd to my Bower, as I call'd it, of which I have given a full Description; and as it was fenc'd in, and they pinion'd, the Place was secure enough, considering they were upon their Behaviour.

Evening Mood painting

Evening Mood painting
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
jesus christ on the cross
Nude on the Beach
Who must me yield to? where are they? (says Smith again;) Here they are: says he, here's our Captain, and fifty Men with him, have been hunting you this two Hours; the Boatswain is kill'd, Will Frye is wounded, and I am a Prisoner; and if you do not yield, you are all lost.
Will they give us. Quarter then, (says Tom Smith) and we will yield? I'll go and ask, if you promise to yield, says Robinson; So he ass:'d the Captain, and the Captain then calls himself out, You Smith, you know my Voice, if you lay down your Arms immediately, and submit, you shall have your Lives all but Will. Atkins.
Upon this, Will Atkins cry'd out, For God's Sake, Captain, give me Quarter, what have I done? They have been all as bad as I, which by the Way was not true neither; for it seems this Will. Atkins was the first Man that laid hold of the Captain, when they first mutiny'd, and used him barbarously, in tying his Hands, and giving him injurious Language. However, the Captain told him he must lay down his Arms at Discretion, and trust to the Governour's Mercy, by which he meant me; for they all call'd me Governour.
In a Word, they all laid down their Arms, and begg'd their Lives; and I sent the Man that had parley'd with them, and two more, who bound them all; and then my great Army of 50 Men, which particularly with those three, were all but eight, came up and seiz'd upon them all, and upon their Boat, only that I kept my self and one more out of Sight, for Reasons of State.
Our next Work was to repair the Boat, and think of seizing the Ship; and as for the Captain, now he had Leisure to parley with them: He expostulated with them upon the Villany of their Practices with him, and at length upon the farther Wickedness of their Design, and how certainly it must bring them to Misery and Distress in the End, and perhaps to the Gallows.

Evening Mood painting

Evening Mood painting
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
jesus christ on the cross
Nude on the Beach
Who must me yield to? where are they? (says Smith again;) Here they are: says he, here's our Captain, and fifty Men with him, have been hunting you this two Hours; the Boatswain is kill'd, Will Frye is wounded, and I am a Prisoner; and if you do not yield, you are all lost.
Will they give us. Quarter then, (says Tom Smith) and we will yield? I'll go and ask, if you promise to yield, says Robinson; So he ass:'d the Captain, and the Captain then calls himself out, You Smith, you know my Voice, if you lay down your Arms immediately, and submit, you shall have your Lives all but Will. Atkins.
Upon this, Will Atkins cry'd out, For God's Sake, Captain, give me Quarter, what have I done? They have been all as bad as I, which by the Way was not true neither; for it seems this Will. Atkins was the first Man that laid hold of the Captain, when they first mutiny'd, and used him barbarously, in tying his Hands, and giving him injurious Language. However, the Captain told him he must lay down his Arms at Discretion, and trust to the Governour's Mercy, by which he meant me; for they all call'd me Governour.
In a Word, they all laid down their Arms, and begg'd their Lives; and I sent the Man that had parley'd with them, and two more, who bound them all; and then my great Army of 50 Men, which particularly with those three, were all but eight, came up and seiz'd upon them all, and upon their Boat, only that I kept my self and one more out of Sight, for Reasons of State.
Our next Work was to repair the Boat, and think of seizing the Ship; and as for the Captain, now he had Leisure to parley with them: He expostulated with them upon the Villany of their Practices with him, and at length upon the farther Wickedness of their Design, and how certainly it must bring them to Misery and Distress in the End, and perhaps to the Gallows.

The Water lily Pond

The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks
Woman with a Parasol
They hallow'd again, and call'd their two Comerades by their Names, a great many times, but no Answer. After some time, we could see them, by the little Light there was, run about wringing their Hands like Men in Despair; and that sometimes they would go and sit down in the Boat to rest themselves, then come ashore again, and walk about again, and so over the same thing again.
My Men would fain have me given them Leave to fall upon them at once in the Dark; but I was willing to take them at some Advantage, so to spare them, and kill as few of them as I could; and especially I was unwilling to hazard the killing any of our own Men, knowing the other were very well armed. I resolved to wait to see if they did not separate; and therefore to make sure of them, I drew my Ambuscade nearer, and order'd Friday and the Captain, to creep upon their Hands and Feet as close to the Ground as they could, that they might not be discover'd, and get as near them as they could possibly, before they offered to fire.
They had not been long in that Posture, but that the Boatswain, who was the principal Ringleader of the Mutiny, and had now shewn himself the most dejected and dispirited of all the rest, came walking towards them with two more of their Crew; the Captain was so eager, as having this principal Rogue so much in his Power, that he could hardly have Patience to let him come so near, as to be sure of him; for they only heard his Tongue before: But when they came nearer, the Captain and Friday starting up on their Feet, let fly at them.
The Boatswain was kill'd upon the Spot, the next Man was Shot into the Body, and fell just by him, tho' he did not die 'till an Hour or two after; and the third run for it.
At the Noise of the Fire, I immediately advanc'd with my whole Army, which was now 8 Men, viz. my self Generalissimo, Friday my Lieutenant-General, the Captain and his two Men, and the three Prisoners of War, who we had trusted with Arms.
We came upon them indeed in the Dark, so that they could not see our Number; and I made the Man we had left in the Boat, who was now one of us, call to them by Name, to try if I could bring them to a Parley, and so might perhaps reduce them to Terms, which fell out just as we desir'd: for deed it was easy to think, as their Condition then was, they would be very willing to capitulate; so he calls out as loud as he could, to one of them, Tom Smith, Tom Smith; Tom Smith answered immediately, Who's that, Robinson? for it seems he knew his Voice: T'other answered, Ay, ay; for God's Sake, Tom Smith, throw down your Arms, and yield, or, you are all dead Men this Moment.

Venus and Cupid

Venus and Cupid
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks
Woman with a Parasol So that I had now a double Wall, and my Outer Wall was thickned with Pieces Of Timber, old Cables, and every Thing I could think of, to make it strong; having in it seven little Holes, about as big as I might put my Arm out at: In the In-side of this, I thickned my Wall to above ten Foot thick, with continual bringing Earth out of my Cave, and laying it at the Foot of the Wall, and walking upon it; and through the seven Holes, I contriv'd to plant the Musquets, of which I took Notice, that I got seven on Shore out of the Ship; these, I say, I planted like my Cannon, and fitted them into Frames that held them like a Carriage, that so I could fire all the seven Guns in two Minutes Time: This Wall I was many a weary Month a finishing, and yet never thought my self safe till it was done.
When this was done, I stuck all the Ground without my Wall, for a great way every way, as full with Stakes or Sticks of the Osier like Wood, which I found so apt to grow, as they could well stand; insomuch, that I believe I might set in near twenty thousand of them, leaving a pretty large Space between them and my Wall, that I might have room to see an Enemy, and they might have no shelter from the young Trees, if they attempted to approach my outer Wall.
Thus in two Years Time I had a thick Grove and in five or six Years Time I had a Wood before my Dwelling, growing so monstrous thick and strong, that it was indeed perfectly impassable; and no Men of what kind soever, would ever imagine that there was any Thing beyond it, much less a Habitation: As for the Way which I propos'd to my self to go in and out, for I left no Avenue; it was by setting two Ladders, one to a Part of the Rock which was low and then broke in, and left room to place another Ladder upon that; so when the two Ladders were taken down, no Man living could come down to me without mischieving himself; and if they had come down, they were still on the Out-side of my outer Wall.
Thus I took all the Measures humane Prudence could suggest for my own Preservation; and it will be seen at length, that they were not altogether without just Reason; though I foresaw nothing at that Time, more than my meer Fear suggested to me.

The Three Ages of Woman

The Three Ages of Woman
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Water lily Pond
This Confusion of my Thoughts kept me waking all Night; but in the Morning I fell asleep, and having by the Amusement of my Mind, been, as it were, tyr'd, and my Spirits exhausted; I slept very soundly, and wak'd much better compos'd than I had ever been before; and now I began to think sedately; and upon the utmost Debate with my self, I concluded, That this Island, which was so exceeding pleasant, fruitful, and no farther from the main Land than as I had seen, was not so entirely abandon'd as I might imagine: That altho' there were no stated Inhabitants who liv'd on the Spot; yet that there might sometimes come Boats off from the Shore, who either with Design, or perhaps never, but when they were driven by cross Winds, might come to this Place.
That I had liv'd here fifteen Years now, and had not met with the least Shadow or Figure of any People yet; and that if at any Time they should be driven here, it was probable they went away again as soon as ever they could, seeing they had never thought fit to fix there upon any Occasion, to this Time.
That the most I cou'd suggest any Danger from, was, from any such casual accidental Landing of straggling People from the Main, who, as it was likely if they were driven hither, were here against their Wills; so they made no stay here, but went off again with all possible Speed, seldom staying one Night on Shore, least they should not have the Help of the Tides, and Day-light back again; and that therefore I had nothing to do but to consider of some safe Retreat, in Case I should see any Savages land upon the Spot.
Now I began sorely to repent, that I had dug my Cave so large, as to bring a Door through again, which Door, as I said, came out beyond where my Fortification joyn'd to the Rock; upon maturely considering this therefore, I resolv'd to draw me a second Fortification, in the same Manner of a Semicircle, at a Distance from my Wall, just where I had planted a double Row of Trees, about twelve Years before, of which I made mention: These Trees having been planted so thick before, they wanted but a few Piles to be driven between them, that they should be thicker, and stronger, and my Wall would be soon finish'd.

The Painter's Honeymoon

The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
However, as I went down thus two or three Days, and having seen nothing, I began to be a little bolder; and to think there was really nothing in it, but my own Imagination: But I cou'd not perswade my self fully of this, till I should go down to the Shore again, and see this Print of a Foot, and measure it by my own, and see if there was any Similitude or Fitness, that I might be assur'd it was my own Foot: But when I came to the Place, First, It appear'd evidently to me, that when I laid up my Boat, I could not possibly be on Shore any where there about. Secondly, When I came to measure the Mark with my own Foot, I found my Foot not so large by a great deal; both these Things fill'd my Head with new Imaginations, and gave me the Vapours again, to the highest Degree; so that I shook with cold, like one in an Ague: And I went Home again, fill'd with the Belief that some Man Or Men had been on Shore there; or in short, that the Island was inhabited, and I might be surpriz'd before I was aware; and what course to take for my Security I knew not.
O what ridiculous Resolution Men take, when possess'd with Fear! It deprives them of the Use of those Means which Reason offers for their Relief. The first Thing I propos'd to my self, was, to throw down my Enclosures, and turn all my tame Cattle wild into the Woods, that the Enemy might not find them; and then frequent the Island in Prospect of the same, or the like Booty: Then to the simple' Thing of Digging up my two Corn Fields, that they might not find such a Grain there, and still be prompted to frequent the Island; then to demolish my Bower, and Tent, that they might not see any Vestiges of Habitation, and be prompted to look farther, in order to find out the Persons inhabiting.
These were the Subject of the first Night's Cogitation, after I was come Home again, while the Apprehensions which had so over-run my Mind were fresh upon me, and my Head was full of Vapours, as above: Thus Fear of Danger is ten thousand Times more terrifying than Danger it self, when apparent to the Eyes; and we find the Burthen of Anxiety greater by much, than the Evil which we are anxious about; and which was worse than all this, I had not that Relief in this Trouble from the Resignation I used to practice, that I hop'd to have. I look'd, I thought, like Saul, who complain'd not only that the Philistines were upon him; but that God had forsaken him; for I did not now take due Ways to compose my Mind, by crying to God in my Distress, and resting upon his Providence, as I had done before, for my Defence and Deliverance; which if I had done, I had, at least, been more cheerfully supported under this new Surprise, and perhaps carry'd through it with more Resolution.

Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting

Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting
In the mean time it occur'd to me that it would require a vast deal of time for me to do this, and that I must be contented to run the Venture where I was, till I had form'd a Camp for my self, and had secur'd it so as to remove to it: So with this Resolution I compos'd my self for a time, and resolv'd that I would go to work with all Speed to build me a Wall with Piles and Cables, &c. in a Circle as before, and set my Tent up in it when it was finish'd, but that I would venture to stay where I was till it was finish'd and fit to remove to. This was the 21st.
April 22. The next Morning I began to consider of Means to put this Resolve in Execution, but I was at a great loss about my Tools; I had three large Axes and abundance of Hatchets, (for we carried the Hatchets for Traffick with the Indians) but with much chopping and cutting knotty hard Wood, they were all full of Notches and dull, and tho' I had a Grindstone, I could not turn it and grind my Tools too, this cost me as much Thought as a Statesman would have bestow'd upon a grand Point of Politicks, or a Judge upon the Life and Death of a Man. At length I contriv'd a Wheel with a String, to turn it with my Foot, that I might have both my Hands at Liberty: Note, I had never seen any such thing in England, or at least not to take Notice how it was done, tho' Since I have observ'd it is very common there; besides that, my Grindstone was very large and heavy. This Machine cost me a full Week's Work to bring it to Perfection.
April 28, 29. These two whole Days I took up in grinding my Tools, my Machine for turning my Grindstone performing very well.

The Virgin and Child with St Anne

The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
It continu'd raining all that Night, and great Part of the next Day, so that I could not stir abroad, but my Mind being more compos'd, I began to think of what I had best do, concluding that if the Island was subject to these Earth-quakes, there would be no living for me in a Cave, but I must consider of building me some little Hut in an open Place which I might surround with a Wall as I had done here, and so make my self secure from wild Beasts or Men; but concluded, if I staid where I was, I should certainly, one time or other, be bury'd alive.
With these Thoughts I resolv'd to remove my Tent from the Place where it stood, which was just under the hanging Precipice of the Hill, and which, if it should be shaken again, would certainly fall upon my Tent: And I spent the two next Days, being the 19th and 20th of April, in contriving where and how to remove my Habitation.
The fear of being swallow'd up alive, made me that I never slept in quiet, and yet the Apprehensions of lying broad without any Fence was almost equal to it; but still when I look'd about and saw how every thing was put in order, how pleasantly conceal'd I was, and how safe from Danger, it made me very loath to remove.

The Painter's Honeymoon

The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
While I sat thus, I found the Air over-cast, and grow cloudy, as if it would Rain; soon after that the Wind rose by little and little, so that, in less than half an Hour, it blew a most dreadful Hurricane: The Sea was all on a Sudden cover'd over with Foam and Froth, the Shore was cover'd with the Breach of the Water, the Trees were torn up by the Roots, and a terrible Storm it was; and this held about three Hours, and then began to abate, and in two Hours more it was stark calm, and began to rain very hard.
All this while I sat upon the Ground very much terrify'd and dejected, when on a sudden it came into my thoughts, that these Winds and Rain being the Consequences of the Earthquake, the Earthquake it self was spent and over, and I might venture into my Cave again: With this Thought my Spirits began to revive, and the Rain also helping to persuade me, I went in and sat down in my Tent, but the Rain was so violent, that my Tent was ready to be beaten down with it, and I was forc'd to go into my Cave, tho' very much afraid and uneasy for fear it should fall on my Head.
This violent Rain forc'd me to a new Work, viz. To cut a Hole thro' my new Fortification like a Sink to let the Water go out, which would else have drown'd my Cave. After I had been in my Cave some time, and found still no more Shocks of the Earthquake follow, I began to be more compos'd; and now to support my Spirits, which indeed wanted it very much, I went to my little Store and took a small Sup of Rum, which however I did then and always very sparingly, knowing I could have no more when that was gone.

The Painter's Honeymoon

The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
I felt stunned by the awful event; and my memory unavoidably recurred to former times with a sort of oppressive sadness. But poor Hareton, the most wronged, was the only one that really suffered much. He sat by the corpse all night, weeping in bitter earnest. He pressed its hand, and kissed the sarcastic savage face that everyone else shrank from contemplating; and bemoaned him with that strong grief which springs naturally from a generous heart, though it be tough as tempered steel.
Mr Kenneth was perplexed to pronounce of what disorder the master died. I concealed the fact of his having swallowed nothing for four days, fearing it might lead to trouble, and then, I am persuaded, he did not abstain on purpose: it was the consequence of his strange illness, not the cause.
`We buried him, to the scandal of the whole neighbourhood, as he wished. Earnshaw and I, the sexton, and six men to carry the coffin, comprehended the whole attendance. The six men departed when they had let it down into the grave: we stayed to see it covered. Hareton, with a streaming face, dug green sods, and laid them over the brown mould himself: at present it is as smooth and verdant as its companion mounds--and I hope its tenant sleeps as soundly. But the country folk, if you ask them, would swear on the Bible that he walks: there are those who speak to having met him near the church, and on the moor, and even in this house. Idle tales, you'll say, and so say I. Yet that old man by the kitchen fire affirms he has seen two on `em, looking out of his chamber window, on every rainy night since his death: and an odd thing happened to me about a month ago. I was going to the Grange one evening--a dark evening, threatening thunder--and, just at the turn of the Heights, I encountered a little boy with a sheep and two lambs before him; he was crying terribly; and I supposed the lambs were skittish, and would not be guided.

Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting

Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting
As they stepped on to the doorstones, and halted to take a last look at the moon--or, more correctly, at each other by her light--I felt irresistibly impelled to escape them again; and, pressing a remembrance into the hand of Mrs Dean, and disregarding her expostulations at my rudeness, I vanished through the kitchen as they opened the house-door; and so should have confirmed Joseph in his opinion of his fellow-servant's gay indiscretions, had he not fortunately recognized me for a respectable character by the sweet ring of a sovereign at his feet.
My walk home was lengthened by a diversion in the direction of the kirk. `When beneath its walls, I perceived decay had made progress, even in seven months: many a window showed black gaps deprived of glass; and slates jutted off, here and there, beyond the right line of the roof, to be gradually worked off in coming autumn storms.
I sought, and soon discovered, the three headstones on the slope next the moor: the middle one grey, and half buried in heath: Edgar Linton's only harmonized by the turf and moss creeping up its foot: Heathcliff's still bare.
I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth.

The Virgin and Child with St Anne

The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
What's the matter, my little man?' I asked.
`There's Heathcliff and a woman, yonder, under t' nab,' he blubbered, `un' I darnut pass `em.'
I saw nothing; but neither the sheep nor he would go on; so I bid him take the road lower down. He probably raised the phantoms from thinking, as he traversed the moors alone, on the nonsense he had heard his parents and companions repeat. Yet, still, I don't like being out in the dark now; and I don't like being left by myself in this grim house: I cannot help it; I shall be glad when they leave it, and shift to the Grange.
`They are going to the Grange, then,' I said.
`Yes,' answered Mrs Dean, `is soon as they are married, and that will be on New Year's Day.'
`And who will live here, then?'
`Why, Joseph will take care of the house, and, perhaps, a lad to keep him company. They will live in the kitchen, and the rest will be shut up.'
`For the use of such ghosts as choose to inhabit it,' I observed.
`No, Mr Lockwood,' said Nelly, shaking her head. `I believe the dead are at peace: but it is not right to speak of them with levity.'
At that moment the garden gate swung to; the ramblers were returning.
`They are afraid of nothing,' I grumbled, watching their approach through the window. `Together they would brave Satan and all his legions.'

The Virgin and Child with St Anne

The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
`I do not ask', he said, `that she may visit here; but, am I never to see her, because my father forbids me to go to her home, and you forbid her to come to mine? Do now and then, ride with her towards the Heights; and let us exchange a few words, in your presence! We have done nothing to deserve this separation; and you are not angry with me; you have no reason to dislike me, you allow, yourself. Dear uncle! send me a kind note tomorrow, and leave to join you anywhere you please, except at Thrushcross Grange. I believe an interview would convince you that my father's character is not mine: he affirms I am more your nephew than his son; and though I have faults which render me unworthy of Catherine, she has excused them, and for her sake, you should also. You inquire after my health--it is better; but while I remain cut off from all hope, and doomed to solitude, or the society of those who never did and never will like me, how can I be cheerful and well?'
Edgar, though he felt for the boy, could not consent to grant his request; because he could not accompany Catherine. He said, in summer, perhaps, they might meet: meantime, he wished him to continue writing at intervals, and engaged to give him what advice and comfort he was able by letter; being well aware of his hard position in his family. Linton complied; and had he been unrestrained, would probably have spoiled all by filling his epistles with complaints and lamentations: but his father kept a sharp watch over him; and, of course, insisted on every line that my master sent being shown; so, instead of penning his peculiar personal sufferings and distresses, the themes constantly uppermost in his thoughts, he harped on the cruel obligation of being held asunder from his friend and love; and gently intimated that Mr Linton must allow an interview soon, or he should fear he was purposely deceiving him with empty promises.

The Painter's Honeymoon

The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
Resign her to God, as it is, sir,' I answered, `and if we should lose you--which may He forbid--under His providence, I'll stand her friend and counsellor to the last. Miss Catherine is a good girl: I don't fear that she will go wilfully wrong; and people who do their duty are always finally rewarded.'
Spring advanced; yet my master gathered no real strength, though he resumed his walks in the grounds with his daughter. To her inexperienced notions, this itself was a sign of convalescence; and then his cheek was often flushed, and his eyes were bright: she felt sure of his recovering. On her seventeenth birthday, he did not visit the churchyard: it was raining, and I observed:
`You'll surely not go out tonight, sir?'
He answered:
`No, I'll defer it this year a little longer.'
He wrote again to Linton, expressing his great desire to see him; and, had the invalid been presentable, I've no doubt his father would have permitted him to come. As it was, being instructed, he returned an answer, intimating that Mr Heathcliff objected to his calling at the Grange; but his uncle's kind remembrance delighted him, and he hoped to meet him, sometimes, in his rambles, and personally to petition that his cousin and he might not remain long so utterly divided.
That part of his letter was simple, and probably his own. Heathcliff knew he could plead eloquently enough for Catherine's company, then.

Vermeer girl with the pearl earring

Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting
in his family. Linton complied; and had he been unrestrained, would probably have spoiled all by filling his epistles with complaints and lamentations: but his father kept a sharp watch over him; and, of course, insisted on every line that my master sent being shown; so, instead of penning his peculiar personal sufferings and distresses, the themes constantly uppermost in his thoughts, he harped on the cruel obligation of being held asunder from his friend and love; and gently intimated that Mr Linton must allow an interview soon, or he should fear he was purposely deceiving him with empty promises.
Cathy was a powerful ally at home; and, between them, they at length persuaded my master to acquiesce in their having a ride or a walk together about once a week, under my guardianship, and on the moors nearest the Grange: for June found him still declining; and though he had set aside yearly a portion of his income for my young lady's fortune, he had a natural desire that she might retain--or at least return in a short time to--the house of her ancestors; and he considered her only prospect of doing that was by a union with his heir; he had no idea that the latter was failing almost as fast as himself; nor had anyone; I believe: no doctor visited the Heights, and no one saw Master Heathcliff to make report of his condition among us. I, for my part, began to fancy my forebodings were false, and that he must be actually rallying, when he mentioned riding and walking on the moors, and seemed so earnest in pursuing his object. I could not picture a father treating a dying child as tyrannically and wickedly as I afterwards learned Heathcliff had treated him, to compel this apparent eagerness: his efforts redoubling the more imminently his avaricious and unfeeling plans were threatened with defeat by death.

The Virgin and Child with St Anne

The Virgin and Child with St Anne
Like him?' I exclaimed. `The worst-tempered bit of a sickly slip that ever struggled into its teens. Happily, as Mr Heathcliff conjectured, he'll not win twenty. I doubt whether he'll see spring, indeed. And small loss to his family whenever he drops off. And lucky it is for us that his father took him: the kinder he was treated, the more tedious and selfish he'd be. I'm glad you have no chance of having him for a husband, Miss Catherine.'
My companion waxed serious at hearing this speech. To speak of his death so regardlessly, wounded her feelings.
`He's younger than I,' she answered, after a protracted pause of meditation, `and he ought to live the longest: he will--he must live as long as I do. He's as strong now as when he first came into the north; I'm positive of that. It's only a cold that ails him, the same as papa has. You say papa will get better, and why shouldn't he?'
The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
`Well, well,' I cried, `after all, we needn't trouble ourselves; for listen, miss, and mind, I'll keep my word,--if you attempt going to Wuthering Heights again, with or without me, I shall inform Mr Linton, and, unless he allow it, the intimacy with your cousin must not be revived.'
`It has been revived,' muttered Cathy sulkily. `Must not be continued, then,' I said.
`We'll see,' was her reply, and she set off at a gallop, leaving me to toil in the rear.
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring

The Painter's Honeymoon

The Painter's Honeymoon
Catherine repeated the longest she could remember. The employment pleased both mightily. Linton would have another; and after that another, notwithstanding my strenuous objections; and so they went on until the clock struck twelve, and we heard Hareton in the court, returning for his dinner.
`And tomorrow, Catherine, will you be here tomorrow?' asked young Heathcliff, holding her frock as she rose reluctantly.
`No,' I answered, `nor next day neither.' She, however, gave a different response evidently, for his forehead cleared as she stooped and whispered in his ear.
`You won't go tomorrow, recollect, miss!' I commenced, when we were out of the house. `You are not dreaming of it, are you?'
`Oh, I'll take good care,' I continued: `I'll have that lock mended, and you can escape by no way else.'
the polish rider
`I can get over the wall,' she said, laughing. `The Grange is not a prison, Ellen, and you are not my jailer. And besides, I'm almost seventeen: I'm a woman. And I'm certain Linton would recover quickly if he had me to look after him. I'm older than he is, you know, and wiser: less childish, am I not? And he'll soon do as I direct him, with some slight coaxing. He's a pretty little darling when he's good. I'd make such a pet of him, if he were mine. We should never quarrel, should we, after we were used to each other? Don't you like him, Ellen?'
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman

virgin of the rocks

virgin of the rocks
We both reached home before our dinner time; my master supposed we had been wandering through the park, and therefore he demanded no explanation of our absence. As soon as I entered, I hastened to change my soaked shoes and stockings; but sitting such a while at the Heights had done the mischief. On the succeeding morning I was laid up, and during three weeks I remained incapacitated for attending to my duties: a calamity never experienced prior to that period, and never, I am thankful to say, since.
My little mistress behaved like an angel, in coming to wait on me, and cheer my solitude: the confinement brought me exceedingly low. It is wearisome, to a stirring active body: but few have slighter reasons for complaint than I had. The moment Catherine left Mr Linton's room, she appeared at my bedside. Her day was divided
Woman with a Parasol

between us; no amusement usurped a minute: she neglected her meals, her studies, and her play; and she was the fondest nurse that ever watched. She must have had a warm heart, when she loved her father so, to give so much to me. I said her days were divided between us; but the master retired early, and I generally needed nothing after six o'clock; thus the evening was her own. Poor thing! I never considered what she did with herself after tea. And though frequently, when she looked in to bid me good night, I remarked a fresh colour in her cheeks and a pinkness over her slender fingers; instead of fancying the hue borrowed from a cold ride across the moors, I laid it to the charge of a hot fire in the library.
Woman with a Parasol

virgin of the rocks

virgin of the rocks
Woman with a Parasol
So make haste, Ellen!' she cried. `I know where I wish to go; where a colony of moor game are settled: I want to see whether they have made their nests yet.
`That must be a good distance up,' I answered; `they don't breed on the edge of the moor.
`No, it's not,' she said. `I've gone very near with papa.'
I put on my bonnet and sallied out, thinking nothing more of the matter. She bounded before me, and returned to my side, and was off again like a young greyhound; and, at first, I found plenty of entertainment in listening to the larks singing far and near, and enjoying the sweet, warm sunshine; and watching her, my pet, and my delight, with her golden ringlets flying loose behind, and her bright cheek, as soft and pure in its bloom as a wild rose, and her eyes radiant with cloudless pleasure. She was a happy creature, and an angel, in those days. It's a pity she could not be content.
`Well,' said I, `where are your moor game, Miss Cathy? We should be at them: the Grange park fence is a great way off now.'
`Oh, a little farther--only a little farther, Ellen,' was her answer continually. `Climb to that hillock, pass that bank, and by the time
Woman with a Parasol
But there were so many hillocks and banks to climb and pass, that, at length, I began to be weary, and told her we must halt, and retrace our steps. I shouted to her, as she had outstripped me a long way; she either did not hear or did not regard, for she still sprang on, and I was compelled to follow. Finally, she dived into a hollow; and before I came in sight of her again, she was two miles nearer Wuthering Heights than her own home; and I beheld a couple of persons arrest her, one of whom I felt convinced was Mr Heathcliff himself.
Cathy had been caught in the fact of plundering, or, at least, hunting out the nests of the grouse. The Heights were Heathcliff's land, and he was reproving the poacher.
`I've neither taken any nor found any,' she said, as I toiled to them, expanding her hands in corroboration of the statement. `I didn't mean to take them; but papa told me there were quantities up here, and I wished to see the eggs.'
Heathcliff glanced at me with an ill-meaning smile, expressing his acquaintance with the party, and, consequently, his malevolence towards
Woman with a Parasol
virgin of the rocks

The Water lily Pond

The Water lily Pond `And I never knew such a faint-hearted creature,' added the woman; `nor one so careful of hisseln. He will go on, if I leave the window open a bit late in the evening. Oh! it's killing! a breath of night air! And he must have a fire in the middle of summer; and Joseph's bacca pipe is poison; and he must always have sweets and dainties, and always milk, milk for ever--heeding naught how the rest of us are pinched in winter; and there he'll sit, wrapped in his furred cloak in his chair by the fire, some toast and water or other slop on the hob to sip at; and if Hareton, for pity, comes to amuse him--Hareton is not bad-natured, though he's rough--they're sure to part, one swearing and the other crying. I believe the master would relish Earnshaw's thrashing him to a mummy, if he were not his son; and I'm certain he would be fit to turn him out of doors, if he knew half the nursing he gives hisseln. But then, he won't go into danger of temptation: he never enters the parlour, and should Linton show those ways in the house where he is, he sends him upstairs directly.'
Venus and Cupid
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
divined, from this account, that utter lack of sympathy had rendered young Heathcliff selfish and disagreeable, if he were not so originally; and my interest in him, consequently, decayed: though still I was moved with a sense of grief at his lot, and a wish that he had been left with us. Mr Edgar encouraged me to gain information: he thought a great deal about him, I fancy, and would have run some risk to see him; and he told me once to ask the housekeeper whether he ever came into the village? She said he had only been twice, on horseback, accompanying his father, and both times he pretended to be quite knocked up for three or four days afterwards. The housekeeper left, if I recollect rightly, two years after he came; and another, whom I did not know, was her successor: she lives there still.
Time wore on at the Grange in its former pleasant way, till Miss Cathy reached sixteen. On the anniversary of her birth we never manifested any signs of rejoicing, because it was also the anniversary of my late mistress's death. Her father invariably spent that day alone in the library; and walked, at dusk, as far as Gimmerton kirkyard, where he would frequently prolong his stay beyond midnight. Therefore Catherine was thrown on her own resources for amusement. This both of March was a beautiful spring day, and when her father had retired, my young lady came down dressed for going out, and said she had asked to have a ramble on the edge of the moors with me; and Mr Linton had given her leave, if we went only a short distance and were back within the hour.

The Sacrifice of Abraham painting

The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
We had sad work with little Cathy that day; she rose in high glee, eager to join her cousin, and such passionate tears and lamentations followed the news of his departure, that Edgar himself was obliged to soothe her, by affirming he should come back soon: he added, however, `if I can get him'; and there were no hopes of that. This promise poorly pacified her: but time was more potent; and though still at intervals she inquired of her father when Linton would return, before she did see him again his features had waxed so dim in her memory that she did not recognize him.
When I chanced to encounter the housekeeper of Wuthering Heights in paying business visits to Gimmerton, I used to ask how the young master got on; for he lived almost as secluded as Catherine herself, and was never to be seen. I could gather from her that he continued in weak health, and was a tiresome inmate. She said Mr Heathcliff seemed to dislike him ever longer and worse, though he took some trouble to conceal it: he had an antipathy to the sound of his voice, and could not do at all with his sitting in the same room with him many minutes together. There seldom passed much talk between them: Linton learnt his lessons and spent his evenings in a small apartment they called the parlour: or else lay in bed all day: for he was constantly getting coughs, and colds, and aches, and pains of some sort.
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
I
suggested boiled milk or tea; and the housekeeper received instructions to prepare some. Come, I reflected, his father's selfishness may contribute to his comfort. He perceives his delicate constitution, and the necessity of treating him tolerably. I'll console Mr Edgar by acquainting him with the turn Heathcliff's humour has taken. Having no excuse for lingering longer I slipped out, while Linton was engaged in timidly rebuilding the advances of a friendly sheepdog. But he was too much on the alert to be cheated: as I closed the door, I heard a cry, and a frantic repetition of the words:
`Don't leave me! I'll not stay here! I'll not stay here!'
Then the latch was raised and fell: they did not suffer him to come forth. I mounted Minny, and urged her to a trot; and so my brief guardianship ended.