II

           Hisagesatlightlyenoughonhim;andofhisruinhewasnotashamed.HehadnotbeenalonetobelieveinthestabilityoftheBankingCorporation.Menwhosejudgmentinmattersoffinancewasasexpertashisseamanshiphadcommendedtheprudenceofhisinvestments,andhadthemselveslostmuchmoneyinthegreatfailure.Theonlydifferencebetweenhimandthemwasthathehadlosthisall.Andyetnothisall.Therehadremainedtohimfromhislostfortuneaveryprettylittlebark,FairMaid,whichhehadboughttooccupyhisleisureofaretiredsailor—“toplaywith,”asheexpressedithimself.

           Hehadformallydeclaredhimselftiredoftheseatheyearprecedinghisdaughter’smarriage.ButaftertheyoungcouplehadgonetosettleinMelbournehefoundoutthathecouldnotmakehimselfhappyonshore.Hewastoomuchofamerchantsea-captainformereyachtingtosatisfyhim.Hewantedtheillusionofaffairs;andhisacquisitionoftheFairMaidpreservedthecontinuityofhislife.Heintroducedhertohisacquaintancesinvariousportsas“mylastcommand.”Whenhegrewtoooldtobetrustedwithaship,hewouldlayherupandgoashoretobeburied,leavingdirectionsinhiswilltohavethebarktowedoutandscuttleddecentlyindeepwateronthedayofthefuneral.Hisdaughterwouldnotgrudgehimthesatisfactionofknowingthatnostrangerwouldhandlehislastcommandafterhim.Withthefortunehewasabletoleaveher,thevalueofa500-tonbarkwasneitherherenorthere.