MartinEden, withbloodstillcrawlingfromcontactwithhisbrother-in-law, felthiswayalongtheunlightedbackhallandenteredhisroom, atinycubbyholewithspaceforabed, awash-stand, , theservant', tookoffhiscoat, , , butfelltostaringatthewhiteplasterwalloppositehim, , tillhislipsbegantomoveandhemurmured, "Ruth."

"Ruth." , andhegrewintoxicatedwiththerepetitionofit."Ruth." Itwasatalisman, , herfaceshimmeredbeforehim, , , madehimbetter, , , , hehadneverbotheredaboutthem; , tillnow, , , whoforthefirsttimewasbecomingconsciousofhimself, wasinnoconditiontojudge, andheburnedwithshameashestaredatthevisionofhisinfamy.

, , butuptothatmomenttheyhadbeenfilledwiththeeverchangingpanoramaoftheworld, atwhichhehadbeentoobusygazing, , but, beingunusedtosuchappraisement, -domedforeheadhesawamopofbrownhair, nut-brown, withawavetoitandhintsofcurlsthatwereadelighttoanywoman, , inHereyes, anddweltlongandthoughtfullyonthehigh, squareforehead,—? ? Howfarwouldittakehim? Wouldittakehimtoher?

, also, , gazingintothoseeyesofhis, 'sminds, , andhowcouldheguessonethoughtofhers? Well, theywerehonesteyes, heconcluded, , hewasawhiteman, , , rolledthebicepsoverwithhisotherhand, ; nordidhedreamthatintheworldtherewerefewpalespiritsofwomenwhocouldboastfairerorsmootherskinsthanhe—fairerthanwherehehadescapedtheravagesofthesun.