Конец рабства

           Thestrikingdignityofmannercouldbenothingelse,inamanreducedtosuchahumbleposition,buttheexpressionofsomethingessentiallynobleinthecharacter.Withallhistrustinmankindhewasnofool;theserenityofhistemperattheendofsomanyyears,sinceitcouldnotobviouslyhavebeenappeasedbysuccess,woreanairofprofoundwisdom.Mr.VanWykwasamusedatitsometimes.EventheveryphysicaltraitsoftheoldcaptainoftheSofala,hispowerfulframe,hisreposefulmien,hisintelligent,handsomeface,thebiglimbs,thebenigncourtesy,thetouchofruggedseverityintheshaggyeyebrows,madeupaseductivepersonality.Mr.VanWykdislikedlittlenessofeverykind,buttherewasnothingsmallaboutthatman,andintheexemplaryregularityofmanytripsanintimacyhadgrownupbetweenthem,awarmfeelingatbottomunderakindlystatelinessofformsagreeabletohisfastidiousness.

           Theykepttheirrespectiveopinionsonallworldlymatters.HisotherconvictionsCaptainWhalleyneverintruded.Thedifferenceoftheirageswaslikeanotherbondbetweenthem.Once,whentwittedwiththeuncharitablenessofhisyouth,Mr.VanWyk,runninghiseyeoverthevastproportionsofhisinterlocutor,retortedinfriendlybanter—

           “Oh.You’llcometomywayofthinkingyet.You’llhaveplentyoftime.Don’tcallyourselfold:youlookgoodforaroundhundred.”

           Buthecouldnothelphisstingingincisiveness,andthoughmoderatingitbyanalmostaffectionatesmile,headded—

           “Andbythenyouwillprobablyconsenttodiefromsheerdisgust.