Кінець рабства
III
Thesellingofthisonewaswearywork;butwhenshepassedfromhimatlast,whenhesignedthelastreceipt,itwasasthoughalltheshipshadgoneoutoftheworldtogether,leavinghimontheshoreofinaccessibleoceanswithsevenhundredpoundsinhishands.
Stridingfirmly,withouthaste,alongthequay,CaptainWhalleyavertedhisglancesfromthefamiliarroadstead.Twogenerationsofseamenbornsincehisfirstdayatseastoodbetweenhimandalltheseshipsattheanchorage.Hisownwassold,andhehadbeenaskinghimself,Whatnext?
Fromthefeelingofloneliness,ofinwardemptiness,—andoflosstoo,asifhisverysoulhadbeentakenoutofhimforcibly,—therehadsprungatfirstadesiretostartrightoffandjoinhisdaughter.“Herearethelastpence,”hewouldsaytoher;“takethem,mydear.Andhere’syouroldfather:youmusttakehimtoo.”
Hissoulrecoiled,asifafraidofwhatlayhiddenatthebottomofthisimpulse.Giveup!Never!Whenoneisthoroughlywearyallsortsofnonsensecomeintoone’shead.Aprettygiftitwouldhavebeenforapoorwoman—thissevenhundredpoundswiththeincumbranceofahaleoldfellowmorethanlikelytolastforyearsandyearstocome.Washenotasfittodieinharnessasanyoftheyoungstersinchargeoftheseanchoredshipsoutyonder?Hewasassolidnowaseverhehadbeen.Butastowhowouldgivehimworktodo,thatwasanothermatter
