At all events, he said nothing to discredit my story, to which they had all listened with profound interest.
From that time it seemed to be tacitly agreed to let bygones be bygones; and I could see that as the dangerous feeling that had threatened my life diminished, the old pleasure they had once found in my company returned.

But my feelings towards them did not change, nor could they while that black and terrible suspicion concerning Rima was in my heart.
I talked again freely with them, as if there had been no break in the old friendly relations.

If they watched me furtively whenever I went out of doors, I affected not to see it.

I set to work to repair my rude guitar, which had been broken in my absence, and studied to show them a cheerful countenance.

But when alone, or in my hammock, hidden from their eyes, free to look into my own heart, then I was conscious that something new and strange had come into my life; that a new nature, black and implacable, had taken the place of the old.