Кінець рабства

           Hewasonlyalonelyfigurewalkingpurposefully,withagreatwhitebeardlikeapilgrim,andwithathickstickthatresembledaweapon.OnonesidethenewCourtsofJusticehadalowandunadornedporticoofsquatcolumnshalfconcealedbyafewoldtreesleftintheapproach.OntheotherthepavilionwingsofthenewColonialTreasurycameouttothelineofthestreet.ButCaptainWhalley,whohadnownoshipandnohome,rememberedinpassingthatonthatverysitewhenhefirstcameoutfromEnglandtherehadstoodafishingvillage,afewmathutserectedonpilesbetweenamuddytidalcreekandamirypathwaythatwentwrithingintoatangledwildernesswithoutanydocksorwaterworks.

           Noship—nohome.AndhispoorIvyawaytherehadnohomeeither.Aboarding-houseisnosortofhomethoughitmaygetyoualiving.Hisfeelingswerehorriblyraspedbytheideaoftheboarding-house.Inhisrankoflifehehadthattrulyaristocratictemperamentcharacterizedbyascornofvulgargentilityandbyprejudicedviewsastothederogatorynatureofcertainoccupations.Forhisownparthehadalwayspreferredsailingmerchantships(whichisastraightforwardoccupation)tobuyingandsellingmerchandise,ofwhichtheessenceistogetthebetterofsomebodyinabargain—anundignifiedtrialofwitsatbest.HisfatherhadbeenColonelWhalley(retired)oftheH.E.I.Company’sservice,withveryslendermeansbesideshispension,butwithdistinguishedconnections.