VII

           Sternewentdownsmirkingandapparentlynotatalldisconcerted,buttheengineerMassyremainedonthebridge,movingaboutwithuneasyself-assertion.Everybodyonboardwashisinferior—everyonewithoutexception.Hepaidtheirwagesandfoundthemintheirfood.Theyatemoreofhisbreadandpocketedmoreofhismoneythantheywereworth;andtheyhadnocareintheworld,whilehealonehadtomeetallthedifficultiesofshipowning.Whenhecontemplatedhispositioninallitsmenacingentirety,itseemedtohimthathehadbeenforyearsthepreyofabandofparasites:andforyearshehadscowledateverybodyconnectedwiththeSofalaexcept,perhaps,attheChinesefiremenwhoservedtogetheralong.Theirusewasmanifest:theywereanindispensablepartofthemachineryofwhichhewasthemaster.

           Whenhepassedalonghisdecksheshoulderedthosehecameacrossbrutally;buttheMalaydeckhandshadlearnedtododgeoutofhisway.Hehadtobringhimselftotoleratethembecauseofthenecessarymanuallaboroftheshipwhichmustbedone.HehadtostruggleandplanandschemetokeeptheSofalaafloat—andwhatdidhegetforit?Notevenenoughrespect.Theycouldnothavegivenhimenoughofthatifalltheirthoughtsandalltheiractionshadbeendirectedtothatend.Thevanityofpossession,thevaingloryofpower,hadpassedawaybythistime,andthereremainedonlythematerialembarrassments,thefearoflosingthatpositionwhichhadturnedoutnotworthhaving,andananxietyofthoughtwhichnoabjectsubservienceofmencouldrepay.

           Hewalkedupanddown.