Nevertheless, there
is enough of his own prejudice retained for piquancy,--and since the
poor things must be insignificantly wicked, see how charming they can
be! There are many scenes between these covers that would well bear
repetition, were they not too fresh in the reader's mind to require it;
we will content ourselves with a single one, which contains the only
pretentious writing of the whole novel, done at a touch, with a light,
loose pen, but showing beyond compare the soul of the poet through the
flesh of the novelist.
"At six twenty-five, the grand orb set calm and red, and the sea
was gorgeous with miles and miles of great ruby dimples: it was
the first glowing smile of southern latitude. The night stole on
so soft, so clear, so balmy, all were loath to close their eyes on
it; the passengers lingered long on deck, watching the Great Bear
dip, and the Southern Cross rise, and overhead a whole heaven of
glorious stars most of us have never seen and never shall see in
this world. No belching smoke obscured, no plunging paddles
deepened; all was musical; the soft air sighing among the sails;
the phosphorescent water bubbling from the ship's bows; the
murmurs from little knots of men on deck subdued by the great
calm: home seemed near, all danger far; Peace ruled the sea, the
sky, the heart: the ship, making a track of white fire on the
deep, glided gently, yet swiftly, homeward, urged by snowy sails
piled up like alabaster towers against a violet sky, out of which
looked a thousand eyes of holy, tranquil fire.
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