Nina put the lamp out and passed into a large room she shared with her mother on the left of the central passage.

Entering, she saw that Mrs.Almayer had deserted the pile of mats serving her as bed in one corner of the room, and was now bending over the opened lid of her large wooden chest.

Half a shell of cocoanut filled with oil, where a cotton rag floated for a wick, stood on the floor, surrounding her with a ruddy halo of light shining through the black and odorous smoke.

Mrs.Almayer's back was bent, and her head and shoulders hidden in the deep box.

Her hands rummaged in the interior, where a soft clink as of silver money could be heard.