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remember where； how and when I learned to read； I am not likely
to forget the process of being trained in the art of reading
aloud。 My poor father； an admirable reader himself； was the most
exacting of masters。 I reflect proudly that I must have read
that page of 〃Two Gentlemen of Verona〃 tolerably well at the age
of eight。 The next time I met them was in a 5s。 one…volume
edition of the dramatic works of William Shakespeare； read in
Falmouth； at odd moments of the day； to the noisy accompaniment
of caulkers' mallets driving oakum into the deck…seams of a ship
in dry dock。 We had run in； in a sinking condition and with the
crew refusing duty after a month of weary battling with the gales
of the North Atlantic。 Books are an integral part of one's life
and my Shakespearean associations are with that first year of our
bereavement； the last I spent with my father in exile （he sent me
away to Poland to my mother's brother directly he could brace
himself up for the separation）； and with the year of hard gales；
the year in which I came nearest to death at sea； first by water
and then by fire。
Those things I remember； but what I was reading the day before my
writing life began I have forgotten。 I have only a vague notion
that it might have been one of Trollope's political novels。 And
I remember； too； the character of the day。 It was an autumn day
with an opaline atmosphere； a veiled； semi…opaque； lustrous day；
with fiery points and flashes of red sunlight on the roofs and
windows opposite； while the trees of the square with all their
leaves gone were like tracings of indian ink on a sheet of tissue
paper。 It was one of those London days that have the charm of
mysterious amenity； of fascinating softness。 The effect of
opaline mist was often repeated at Bessborough Gardens on account
of the nearness to the river。
There is no reason why I should remember that effect more on that
day than on any other day； except that I stood for a long time
looking out of the window after the landlady's daughter was gone
with her spoil of cups and saucers。 I heard her put the tray
down in the passage and finally shut the door； and still I
remained smoking with my back to the room。 It is very clear that
I was in no haste to take the plunge into my writing life； if as
plunge this first attempt may be described。 My whole being was
steeped deep in the indolence of a sailor away from the sea； the
scene of never…ending labour and of unceasing duty。 For utter
surrender to indolence you cannot beat a sailor ashore when that
mood is on him； the mood of absolute irresponsibility tasted to
the full。 It seems to me that I thought of nothing whatever； but
this is an impression which is hardly to be believed at this
distance of years。 What I am certain of is； that I was very far
from thinking of writing a story； though it is possible and even
likely that I was thinking of the man Almayer。
I had seen him for the first time some four years before from the
bridge of a steamer moored to a rickety little wharf forty miles
up； more or less； a Bornean river。 It was very early morning and
a slight mist； an opaline mist as in Bessborough Gardens only
without the fiery flicks on roof and chimney…pot from the rays of
the red London sun； promised to turn presently into a woolly fog。
Barring a small dug…out canoe on the river there was nothing
moving within sight。 I had just come up yawning from my cabin。
The serang and the Malay crew were overhauling the cargo chains
and trying the winches； their voices sounded subdued on the deck
below and their movements were languid。 That tropical daybreak
was chilly。 The Malay quartermaster； coming up to get something
from the lockers on the bridge； shivered visibly。 The forests
above and below and on the opposite bank looked black and dank；
wet dripped from the rigging upon the tightly stretched deck
awnings； and it was in the middle of a shuddering yawn that I
caught sight of Almayer。 He was moving across a patch of burnt
grass； a blurred shadowy shape with the blurred bulk of a house
behind him； a low house of mats； bamboos and palm…leaves with a
high…pitched roof of grass。
He stepped upon the jetty。 He was clad simply in flapping
pyjamas of cretonne pattern （enormous flowers with yellow petals
on a disagreeable blue ground） and a thin cotton singlet with
short sleeves。 His arms； bare to the elbow； were crossed on his
chest。 His black hair looked as if it had not been cut for a
very long time and a curly wisp of it strayed across his
forehead。 I had heard of him at Singapore； I had heard of him on
board； I had heard of him early in the morning and late at night；
I had heard of him at tiffin and at dinner； I had heard of him in
a place called Pulo Laut from a half…caste gentleman there； who
described himself as the manager of a coal…mine； which sounded
civilised and progressive till you heard that the mine could not
be worked at present because it was haunted by some particulary
atrocious ghosts。 I had heard of him in a place called Dongola；
in the Island of Celebes； when the Rajah of that little…known
seaport （you can get no anchorage there in less than fifteen
fathom； which is extremely inconvenient） came on board in a
friendly way with only two attendants； and drank bottle after
bottle of soda…water on the after…skylight with my good friend
and commander； Captain C。 At least I heard his name distinctly
pronounced several times in a lot of talk in Malay language。 Oh
yes； I heard it quite distinctlyAlmayer； Almayerand saw
Captain C smile while the fat dingy Rajah laughed audibly。 To
hear a Malay Rajah laugh outright is a rare experience I can
assure you。 And I overhead more of Almayer's name amongst our
deck passengers （mostly wandering traders of good repute） as they
sat all over the shipeach man fenced round with bundles and
boxeson mats； on pillows； on quilts； on billets of wood；
conversing of Island affairs。 Upon my word； I heard the mutter
of Almayer's name faintly at midnight； while making my way aft
from the bridge to look at the patent taffrail…log tinkling its
quarter…miles in the great silence of the sea。 I don't mean to
say that our passengers dreamed aloud of Almayer； but it is
indubitable that two of them at least； who could not sleep
apparently and were trying to charm away the trouble of insomnia
by a little whispered talk at that ghostly hour； were referring
in some way or other to Almayer。 It was really impossible on
board that ship to get away