Кінець рабства
III
Thebabbleoftheirirruptionsebbedoutassuddenlyasithadarisen;thedraughtycorridorsandthelongchairsoftheverandasknewtheirsight-seeinghurryortheirprostratereposenomore;andCaptainWhalley,substantialanddignified,leftwell-nighaloneinthevasthotelbyeachlight-heartedskurry,feltmoreandmorelikeastrandedtouristwithnoaiminview,likeaforlorntravelerwithoutahome.Inthesolitudeofhisroomhesmokedthoughtfully,gazingatthetwosea-chestswhichheldallthathecouldcallhisowninthisworld.Athickrollofchartsinasheathofsailclothleanedinacorner;theflatpacking-casecontainingtheportraitinoilsandthethreecarbonphotographshadbeenpushedunderthebed.Hewastiredofdiscussingterms,ofassistingatsurveys,ofalltheroutineofthebusiness.Whattotheotherpartieswasmerelythesaleofashipwastohimamomentouseventinvolvingaradicallynewviewofexistence.Heknewthatafterthisshiptherewouldbenoother;andthehopesofhisyouth,theexerciseofhisabilities,everyfeelingandachievementofhismanhood,hadbeenindissolublyconnectedwithships.Hehadservedships;hehadownedships;andeventheyearsofhisactualretirementfromtheseahadbeenmadebearablebytheideathathehadonlytostretchouthishandfullofmoneytogetaship.Hehadbeenatlibertytofeelasthoughheweretheownerofalltheshipsintheworld.
