Дни грёз
The Twenty-first Of October
FromthedaysofBlakedowntothedeathofNelson(shenevercondescendedfurther)SelinahadtakenspiritualpartineverynotableengagementoftheBritishNavy;andeveninthedarkdayswhenshehadtopickupskirtsandflee,chasedbyanungallantDeRuyterorVanTromp,shewasyetcheerfulintheconsciousnessthaterelongshewouldbegleefullyhammeringthefleetsoftheworld,intheglorioustimestofollow.Whenthatgoldenperiodarrived,Selinawasbusyindeed;and,whilelovingbesttostandwherethesplinterswereflyingthethickest.shewasalsoacarefulandcriticalstudentofseamanshipandofmanoeuvre.Sheknewtheorderinwhichthegreatline-of-battleshipsmovedintoaction,thevesselstheyrespectivelyengaged,themomentwheneachletgoitsanchor,andwhichofthemhadaspringonitscable(whilenotunderstandingthephrase,shecarefullynotedthefact);andshehabituallywentintoanengagementonthequarter-deckofthegallantshipthatreserveditsfirethelongest.
AtthetimeofSelina’sweirdseizureIwasunfortunatelyawayfromhome,onaloathsomevisittoanaunt;andmyaccountisthereforefeeblycompoundedfromhearsay.ItwasanabsenceIneverceasedtoregret—scoringitup,withasenseofinjury,againsttheaunt.Therewasasplendiduselessnessaboutthewholeperformancethatspeciallyappealedtomyartisticsense.
