Кінець рабства
VI
ItwascertainthatNedEliotthadrenderedhim,withoutknowingit,aserviceforwhichitwouldhavebeenimpossibletoask.HehopedNedwouldnotthinktherehadbeensomethingunderhandinhisaction.Hesupposedthatnowwhenheheardofithewouldunderstand—orperhapshewouldonlythinkWhalleyaneccentricoldfool.Whatwouldhavebeenthegoodoftellinghim—anymorethanofblurtingthewholetaletothatmanMassy?Fivehundredpoundsreadytoinvest.Lethimmakethebestofthat.Lethimwonder.Youwantacaptain—Iwantaship.That’senough.B-r-r-r-r.Whatadisagreeableimpressionthatempty,dark,echoingsteamerhadmadeuponhim....
Alaid-upsteamerwasadeadthingandnomistake;asailing-shipsomehowseemsalwaysreadytospringintolifewiththebreathoftheincorruptibleheaven;butasteamer,thoughtCaptainWhalley,withherfiresout,withoutthewarmwhiffsfrombelowmeetingyouonherdecks,withoutthehissofsteam,theclangsofironinherbreast—liesthereascoldandstillandpulselessasacorpse.
Inthesolitudeoftheavenue,allblackaboveandlightedbelow,CaptainWhalley,consideringthediscretionofhiscourse,met,asitwereincidentally,thethoughtofdeath.Hepusheditasidewithdislikeandcontempt.Healmostlaughedatit;andintheunquenchablevitalityofhisageonlythoughtwithakindofexultationhowlittleheneededtokeepbodyandsoultogether.Notabadinvestmentforthepoorwomanthissolidcarcassofherfather.
