He had no illusions as
to the roughness of the life and companionship; but in his present
mood, the frank rudeness and profanity of the sailors seemed
preferable to his cramped life, and the scowls of his fellows; and
he knew himself to have seamanship enough to rise quickly, even if
he could not secure a mate's berth at first.
Mr. Castleford could not be heard from till the end of the week.
Friday, Saturday came and not a word. That was the climax! When
the consignment of cash, hitherto carried by Clarence to the Bank of
England, was committed to another clerk, the very office boy
sniggered, and the manager demonstratively waited to see him depart.
Unable to bear it any longer, he walked towards Wapping, bought a
Southwester, examined the lists of shipping, and entered into
conversation with one or two sailors about the vessels making up
their crews; intending to go down after dark, to meet the skipper of
a craft bound for Lisbon, who, he heard, was so much in want of a
mate as perhaps to overlook the lack of testimonials, and at any
rate take him on board on Sunday.
Going home to pick up a few necessaries, a book lent to him by Miss
Newton came in his way, and he felt drawn to carry it home, and see
her face for the last time.
All unconscious of his trouble and of his intentions, the good lady
told him of her strong desire to hear a celebrated preacher at a
neighbouring church on the Sunday evening, but said that in her
partial blindness and weakness, she was afraid to venture, unless he
would have the extreme goodness, as she said, to take care of her.
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