CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE PURPOSE.

ItwouldbescarcelypossibletodescribethescenewhichHarryleftinthelibrary.TomGordonwasforafewmomentsstunnedbytheviolenceofhisfall,andClaytonandMr.Jekylatfirstdidnotknowbuthehadsustainedsomeseriousinjuryandthelatter,inhisconfusion,cameverynearattemptinghisrecovery,bypouringinhisfacethecontentsofthelargeinkstand.Certainly,quiteasappropriateamethod,underthecircumstances,astheexhortationswithwhichhehaddelugedHarry.ButClayton,withmorepresenceofmind,heldhishand,andrangforwater.Inafewmoments,however,Tomrecoveredhimself,andstartedupfuriously. "Whereishe?"heshouted,withavolleyofoaths,whichmadeMr.Jekylpulluphisshirt-collar,asbecameagoodelderlygentleman,preparatorytoalittleadmonition. "Myyoungfriend"—hebegan. "Blastyou!Noneofyouryoungfriendstome!Whereishe?" "Hehasescaped,"saidClayton,quietly. "Hegotrightoutofthewindow,"saidMr.Jekyl. "Confoundyou,whydidn'tyoustophim?"saidTom,violently. "Ifthatquestionisaddressedtome,"saidClayton,"Idonotinterfereinyourfamilyaffairs." "Youhaveinterfered,morethanyouevershallagain!"saidTomroughly."But,there'snousetalkingnowthatfellowmustbechased!Hethinkshe'sgotawayfromme—we'llsee!I'llmakesuchanexampleofhimasshallberemembered!"Herangthebellviolently."Jim,"hesaid,"didyouseeHarrygooffonmyhorse?" "Yes,sah!" "Then,whyinthunderdidn'tyoustophim?" "ItoughtMas'rTomsenthim—didso!" "Youknewbetter,youdog!Andnow,Itellyou,orderoutthebesthorses,andbeonafterhim!And,ifyoudon'tcatchhim,itshallbetheworseforyou!—Stay!Getmeahorse!I'llgomyself." ClaytonsawthatitwasuselesstoremainanylongeratCanema.Hethereforeorderedhishorse,anddeparted.TomGordoncastanevileyeafterhim,asherodeaway. "Ihatethatfellow!"hesaid."I'llmakehimmischief,oneofthesedays,ifIcan!" AstoClayton,herodeawayinbitternessofspirit.Therearesomemensoconstitutedthatthesightofinjustice,whichtheyhavenopowertoremedy,isperfectlymaddeningtothem.Thisisaverypainfulandunprofitableconstitution,sofarasthisworldisconcernedbuttheycannomorehelpitthantheycanthetoothache.Othersmaysaytothem,"Why,whatisittoyou?Youcan'thelpit,andit'snoneofyourconcern"butstillthefeverburnson.Besides,Claytonhadjustpassedthroughoneofthegreatcrisesoflife.Allthereisinthatstrangemysteryofwhatmancanfeelforwomanhadrisenlikeawavewithinhimand,gatheringintoitself,foratime,thewholeforceofhisbeing,hadbroken,withonedash,ontheshoreofdeath,andthewatershadflowedhelplesslybackward.Inthegreatvoidwhichfollowssuchacrisis,thesoulsetsupacravingandcryforsomethingtocomeintofilltheemptinessandwhiletheheartsaysnopersoncancomeintothatdesola