Кінець рабства
IV
Itwasalongdark-greenlandau,havingadignifiedandbuoyantmotionbetweenthesharplycurvedC-springs,andasortofstrictlyofficialmajestyinitssupremeelegance.Itseemedmoreroomythanisusual,itshorsesseemedslightlybigger,theappointmentsashademoreperfect,theservantsperchedsomewhathigheronthebox.Thedressesofthreewomen—twoyoungandpretty,andone,handsome,large,ofmatureage—seemedtofillcompletelytheshallowbodyofthecarriage.Thefourthfacewasthatofaman,heavylidded,distinguishedandsallow,withasomber,thick,iron-grayimperialandmustaches,whichsomehowhadtheairofsolidappendages.HisExcellency—
Therapidmotionofthatoneequipagemadealltheothersappearutterlyinferior,blighted,andreducedtocrawlpainfullyatasnail’space.Thelandaudistancedthewholefileinasortofsustainedrush;thefeaturesoftheoccupantwhirlingoutofsightleftbehindanimpressionoffixedstaresandimpassivevacancy;andafterithadvanishedinfullflightasitwere,notwithstandingthelonglineofvehicleshuggingthecurbatawalk,thewholeloftyvistaoftheavenueseemedtolieopenandemptiedoflifeintheenlargedimpressionofanaugustsolitude.
CaptainWhalleyhadliftedhisheadtolook,andhismind,disturbedinitsmeditation,turnedwithwonder(asmen’smindswilldo)tomattersofnoimportance.Itstruckhimthatitwastothisport,wherehehadjustsoldhislastship,thathehadcomewiththeveryfirsthehadeverowned,andwithhisheadfullofaplanforopeninganewtradewithadistantpartoftheArchipelago.
