Two weeks since the date of the preceding chapter have passed; we have
slept our last, for long years to come, on the English soil. It is
night, and Vivian has been admitted to an interview with his father.
They have been together alone an hour and more, and I and my father
will not disturb them. But the clock strikes, the hour is late, the ship
sails to-night; we should be on board. And as we two stand below, the
door opens in the room above, and a heavy step descends the stairs: the
father is leaning on the son’s arm. You should see how timidly the son
guides the halting step. And now, as the light gleams on their faces,
there are tears on Vivian’s cheek; but the face of Roland seems calm and
happy. Happy, when about to be separated, perhaps forever, from his son?
Yes, happy, because he has found a son for the first time, and is not
thinking of years and absence and the chance of death, but thankful for
the Divine Mercy, and cherishing celestial hope. If ye wonder why Roland
is happy in such an hour, how vainly have I sought to make him breathe
and live and move before you!
We are on board; our luggage all went first. I had had time, with the
help of a carpenter, to knock up cabins for Vivian, Guy Bolding, and
myself in the hold; for thinking we could not too soon lay aside the
pretensions of Europe,--“de-fine-gentlemanize” ourselves, as Trevanion
recommended,--we had engaged steerage passage, to the great humoring of
our finances. We had, too, the luxury to be by ourselves, and our own
Cumberland folks were round us, as our friends and servants both.
We are on board, and have looked our last on those we are to leave, and
we stand on deck leaning on each other. We are on board, and the lights,
near and far, shine from the vast City; and the stars are on high,
bright and clear, as for the first mariners of old. Strange noises,
rough voices, and crackling cords, and here and there the sobs of women,
mingling with the oaths of men. Now the swing and heave of the vessel,
the dreary sense of exile that comes when the ship fairly moves over the
waters. And still we stood and looked and listened, silent, and leaning
on each other.
Night deepened, the City vanished: not a gleam from its myriad lights!
The river widened and widened. How cold comes the wind,--is that a gale
from the sea? The stars grow faint, the moon has sunk. And now, how
desolate seem the waters in the comfortless gray of dawn! Then we
shivered and looked at each other, and muttered something that was not
the thought deepest at our hearts, and crept into our berths, feeling
sure it was not for sleep. And sleep came on us, soft and kind. The
ocean lulled the exiles as on a mother’s breast.