Кінець рабства
VI
Withthefirstyellowtwinkleofastarthatappearedliketheheadofapinstabbeddeepintothesmooth,pale,shimmeringfabricofthesky,theedgeofakeenchillseemedtocleavethroughthewarmairoftheearth.AtthemomentofsteppingintothesampantogoandtryforthecommandoftheSofalaCaptainWhalleyshiveredalittle.
WhenonhisreturnhelandedonthequayagainVenus,likeachoicejewelsetlowonthehemofthesky,castafaintgoldtrailbehindhimupontheroadstead,aslevelasafloormadeofonedarkandpolishedstone.Theloftyvaultsoftheavenueswereblack—allblackoverhead—andtheporcelainglobesonthelamp-postsresembledegg-shapedpearls,giganticandluminous,displayedinarowwhosefartherendseemedtosinkinthedistance,downtothelevelofhisknees.Heputhishandsbehindhisback.Hewouldnowconsidercalmlythediscretionofitbeforesayingthefinalwordto-morrow.Hisfeetscrunchedthegravelloudly—thediscretionofit.Itwouldhavebeeneasiertoappraisehadtherebeenaworkablealternative.Thehonestyofitwasindubitable:hemeantwellbythefellow;andperiodicallyhisshadowleapedupintensebyhissideonthetrunksofthetrees,tolengthenitself,obliqueanddim,faroverthegrass—repeatinghisstride.
Thediscretionofit.Wasthereachoice?Heseemedalreadytohavelostsomethingofhimself;tohavegivenuptoahungryspectersomethingofhistruthanddignityinordertolive.Buthislifewasnecessary.Letpovertydoitsworstinexactingitstollofhumiliation.
