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but because of the ragged snowy thatch of the eyebrows
the affability of his attention acquired the character of
a dark and searching scrutiny。 With age he had put
on flesh a little； had increased his girth like an old tree
presenting no symptoms of decay； and even the opulent；
lustrous ripple of white hairs upon his chest seemed an
attribute of unquenchable vitality and vigor。
Once rather proud of his great bodily strength； and
even of his personal appearance； conscious of his worth；
and firm in his rectitude； there had remained to him；
like the heritage of departed prosperity； the tranquil
bearing of a man who had proved himself fit in every
sort of way for the life of his choice。 He strode on
squarely under the projecting brim of an ancient Panama
hat。 It had a low crown； a crease through its whole
diameter； a narrow black ribbon。 Imperishable and a
little discolored； this headgear made it easy to pick him
out from afar on thronged wharves and in the busy
streets。 He had never adopted the comparatively modern
fashion of pipeclayed cork helmets。 He disliked the
form； and he hoped he could manage to keep a cool
head to the end of his life without all these contrivances
for hygienic ventilation。 His hair was cropped close；
his linen always of immaculate whiteness； a suit of thin
gray flannel； worn threadbare but scrupulously brushed；
floated about his burly limbs； adding to his bulk by the
looseness of its cut。 The years had mellowed the good…
humored； imperturbable audacity of his prime into a
temper carelessly serene； and the leisurely tapping of
his iron…shod stick accompanied his footfalls with a self…
confident sound on the flagstones。 It was impossible to
connect such a fine presence and this unruffled aspect
with the belittling troubles of poverty； the man's whole
existence appeared to pass before you； facile and large；
in the freedom of means as ample as the clothing of his
body。
The irrational dread of having to break into his five
hundred pounds for personal expenses in the hotel dis…
turbed the steady poise of his mind。 There was no
time to lose。 The bill was running up。 He nourished
the hope that this five hundred would perhaps be the
means； if everything else failed； of obtaining some work
which； keeping his body and soul together （not a matter
of great outlay）； would enable him to be of use to his
daughter。 To his mind it was her own money which he
employed； as it were； in backing her father and solely
for her benefit。 Once at work； he would help her with
the greater part of his earnings； he was good for many
years yet； and this boarding…house business； he argued
to himself； whatever the prospects； could not be much of
a gold…mine from the first start。 But what work？ He
was ready to lay hold of anything in an honest way so
that it came quickly to his hand； because the five hun…
dred pounds must be preserved intact for eventual use。
That was the great point。 With the entire five hundred
one felt a substance at one's back； but it seemed to him
that should he let it dwindle to four…fifty or even four…
eighty； all the efficiency would be gone out of the money；
as though there were some magic power in the round
figure。 But what sort of work？
Confronted by that haunting question as by an uneasy
ghost； for whom he had no exorcising formula； Captain
Whalley stopped short on the apex of a small bridge
spanning steeply the bed of a canalized creek with
granite shores。 Moored between the square blocks a sea…
going Malay prau floated half hidden under the arch
of masonry； with her spars lowered down； without a sound
of life on board； and covered from stem to stern with a
ridge of palm…leaf mats。 He had left behind him the
overheated pavements bordered by the stone frontages
that； like the sheer face of cliffs； followed the sweep
of the quays； and an unconfined spaciousness of orderly
and sylvan aspect opened before him its wide plots of
rolled grass； like pieces of green carpet smoothly pegged
out； its long ranges of trees lined up in colossal porticos
of dark shafts roofed with a vault of branches。
Some of these avenues ended at the sea。 It was a ter…
raced shore； and beyond； upon the level expanse； pro…
found and glistening like the gaze of a dark…blue eye；
an oblique band of stippled purple lengthened itself in…
definitely through the gap between a couple of verdant
twin islets。 The masts and spars of a few ships far
away； hull down in the outer roads； sprang straight from
the water in a fine maze of rosy lines penciled on the
clear shadow of the eastern board。 Captain Whalley
gave them a long glance。 The ship； once his own； was
anchored out there。 It was staggering to think that it
was open to him no longer to take a boat at the jetty
and get himself pulled off to her when the evening came。
To no ship。 Perhaps never more。 Before the sale was
concluded； and till the purchase…money had been paid；
he had spent daily some time on board the Fair Maid。
The money had been paid this very morning； and now；
all at once； there was positively no ship that he could
go on board of when he liked； no ship that would need
his presence in order to do her workto live。 It seemed
an incredible state of affairs； something too bizarre to
last。 And the sea was full of craft of all sorts。 There
was that prau lying so still swathed in her shroud of
sewn palm…leavesshe too had her indispensable man。
They lived through each other； this Malay he had never
seen； and this high…sterned thing of no size that seemed
to be resting after a long journey。 And of all the ships
in sight； near and far； each was provided with a man；
the man without whom the finest ship is a dead thing；
a floating and purposeless log。
After his one glance at the roadstead he went on； since
there was nothing to turn back for； and the time must
be got through somehow。 The avenues of big trees ran
straight over the Esplanade； cutting each other at di…
verse angles； columnar below and luxuriant above。 The
interlaced boughs high up there seemed to slumber； not
a leaf stirred overhead： and the reedy cast…iron lamp…
posts in the middle of the road； gilt like scepters；
diminished in a long perspective； with their globes of
white porcelain atop； resembling a barbarous decoration
of ostriches' eggs displayed in a row。 The flaming sky
kindled a tiny crimson spark upon the glistening sur…
face of each glassy