"I've made an awful hash of things. That's obvious, isn't it? I'm right down at the bottom of the pit and there's no getting out for me. '_Black as the pit from pole to pole._'" I felt him smile as he made the quotation. "And the strange thing is that I don't see how I went wrong." I held my breath, for to me there is nothing more awe-inspiring than when a man discovers to you the nakedness of his soul. Then you see that no one is so trivial or debased but that in him is a spark of something to excite compassion. "It wouldn't be so rotten if I could see that it was all my own fault. It's true I drink, but I shouldn't have taken to that if things had gone differently. I wasn't really fond of liquor. I suppose I ought not to have married Ethel. If I'd kept her it would be all right. But I did love her so." His voice faltered. "She's not a bad lot, you know, not really. It's just rotten luck. We might have been as happy as lords. When she bolted I suppose I ought to have let her go, but I couldn't do that--I was dead stuck on her then; and there was the kid." "Are you fond of the kid?" I asked. "I was. There are two, you know. But they don't mean so much to me now. You'd take them for natives anywhere. I have to talk to them in Samoan." "Is it too late for you to start fresh? Couldn't you make a dash for it and leave the place?" "I haven't the strength. I'm done for." "Are you still in love with your wife?" "Not now. Not now." He repeated the two words with a kind of horror in his voice. "I haven't even got that now. I'm down and out." The bells of the Cathedral were ringing. "If you really want to come to the midnight mass we'd better go along," I said. "Come on." We got up and walked along the road. The Cathedral, all white, stood facing the sea not without impressiveness, and beside it the Protestant chapels had the look of meeting-houses. In the road were two or three cars, and a great number of traps, and traps were put up against the walls at the side. People had come from all parts of the island for the service, and through the great open doors we saw that the place was crowded. The high altar was all ablaze with light. There were a few whites and a good many half-castes, but the great majority were natives. All the men wore trousers, for the Church has decided that the _lava-lava_ is indecent. We found chairs at the back, near the open door, and sat down. Presently, following Lawson's eyes, I saw Ethel come in with a party of half-castes. They were all very much dressed up, the men in high, stiff collars and shiny boots, the women in large, gay hats. Ethel nodded and smiled to her friends as she passed up the aisle. The service began. When it was over Lawson and I stood on one side for a while to watch the crowd stream out, then he held out his hand. "Good-night," he said. "I hope you'll have a pleasant journey home." "Oh, but I shall see you before I go." He sniggered.