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and west before the sun rose。 Sometimes there were no paling planets and
no rising sun； and a black sea； ridged with white； tossed under a low
dark sky with dim rifts。
One morning； they saw the sun rise with a serenity and majesty which it
rarely has outside of the theatre。 The dawn began over that sea which
was like the rumpled canvas imitations of the sea on the stage； under
long mauve clouds bathed in solemn light。 Above these； in the pale
tender sky； two silver stars hung； and the steamer's smoke drifted across
them like a thin dusky veil。 To the right a bank of dun cloud began to
burn crimson； and to burn brighter till it was like a low hill…side full
of gorgeous rugosities fleeced with a dense dwarfish growth of autumnal
shrubs。 The whole eastern heaven softened and flushed through diaphanous
mists； the west remained a livid mystery。 The eastern masses and flakes
of cloud began to kindle keenly； but the stars shone clearly； and then
one star； till the tawny pink hid it。 All the zenith reddened； but still
the sun did not show except in the color of the brilliant clouds。 At
last the lurid horizon began to burn like a flame…shot smoke； and a
fiercely bright disc edge pierced its level； and swiftly defined itself
as the sun's orb。
Many thoughts went through March's mind； some of them were sad； but in
some there was a touch of hopefulness。 It might have been that beauty
which consoled him for his years； somehow he felt himself； if no longer
young； a part of the young immortal frame of things。 His state was
indefinable； but he longed to hint at it to his companion。
〃Yes；〃 said Eltwin； with a long deep sigh。 〃I feel as if I could walk
out through that brightness and find her。 I reckon that such hopes
wouldn't be allowed to lie to us； that so many ages of men couldn't have
fooled themselves so。 I'm glad I've seen this。〃 He was silent and they
both remained watching the rising sun till they could not bear its
splendor。 〃Now；〃 said the major； 〃it must be time for that mud； as you
call it。〃 Over their coffee and crackers at the end of the table which
they had to themselves； he resumed。 〃I was thinking all the time
we seem to think half a dozen things at once； and this was one of them
about a piece of business I've got to settle when I reach home； and
perhaps you can advise me about it； you're an editor。 I've got a
newspaper on my hands； I reckon it would be a pretty good thing； if it
had a chance； but I don't know what to do with it： I got it in trade with
a fellow who has to go West for his lungs； but he's staying till I get
back。 What's become of that young chapwhat's his name？that went out
with us？〃
〃Burnamy？〃 prompted March； rather breathlessly。
〃Yes。 Couldn't he take hold of it？ I rather liked him。 He's smart；
isn't he？〃
〃Very；〃 said March。 〃But I don't know where he is。 I don't know that he
would go into the country。 But he might； if〃
They entered provisionally into the case； and for argument's sake
supposed that Burnamy would take hold of the major's paper if he could be
got at。 It really looked to March like a good chance for him； on
Eltwin's showing； but he was not confident of Burnamy's turning up very
soon； and he gave the major a pretty clear notion why； by entering into
the young fellow's history for the last three months。
〃Isn't it the very irony of fate？〃 he said to his wife when he found her
in their room with a cup of the same mud he had been drinking； and
reported the facts to her。
〃Irony？〃 she said； with all the excitement he could have imagined or
desired。 〃Nothing of the kind。 It's a leading； if ever there was one。
It will be the easiest thing in the world to find Burnamy。 And out there
she can sit on her steps！〃
He slowly groped his way to her meaning； through the hypothesis of
Burnamy's reconciliation and marriage with Agatha Triscoe； and their
settlement in Major Eltwin's town under social conditions that implied a
habit of spending the summer evenings on their front porch。 While he was
doing this she showered him with questions and conjectures and
requisitions in which nothing but the impossibility of going ashore saved
him from the instant devotion of all his energies to a world…wide；
inquiry into Burnamy's whereabouts。
The next morning he was up before Major Eltwin got out； and found the
second…cabin passengers free of the first…cabin promenade at an hour when
their superiors were not using it。 As he watched these inferiors；
decent…looking； well…clad men and women； enjoying their privilege with a
furtive air； and with stolen glances at him； he asked himself in what
sort he was their superior； till the inquiry grew painful。 Then he rose
from his chair； and made his way to the place where the material barrier
between them was lifted； and interested himself in a few of them who
seemed too proud to avail themselves of his society on the terms made。
A figure seized his attention with a sudden fascination of conjecture and
rejection： the figure of a tall young man who came out on the promenade
and without looking round； walked swiftly away to the bow of the ship；
and stood there； looking down at the water in au attitude which was
bewilderingly familiar。 His movement； his posture； his dress； even； was
that of Burnamy； and March； after a first flush of pleasure； felt a
sickening repulsion in the notion of his presence。 It would have been
such a cheap performance on the part of life； which has all sorts of
chances at command； and need not descend to the poor tricks of second…
rate fiction； and he accused Burnamy of a complicity in the bad taste of
the affair； though he realized； when he reflected； that if it were really
Burnamy he must have sailed in as much unconsciousness of the Triscoes as
he himself had done。 He had probably got out of money and had hurried
home while he had still enough to pay the second…cabin fare on the first
boat back。 Clearly he was not to blame； but life was to blame for such a
shabby device； and March felt this so keenly that he wished to turn from
the situation； and have nothing to do with it。 He kept moving toward
him； drawn by the fatal attraction； and at a few paces' distance the
young man whirled about and showed him the face of a stranger。
March made some witless remark on the rapid course of the ship as it cut
its way through the water of the bow； the stranger answered with a strong
Lancashire accent； and in the talk which followed； he said he was going
out to see the cotton…mills at Fall River and New Bedford； and he seemed
hopeful of some advice or information from March； then he said he must go
and try to get his Missus out； March understood him to mean his wife； and
he hurried down to his own； to whom he related his hair…breadth escape
from Burnamy。
〃I don't call it an escape at all！〃 she declared。 〃I call it the
greatest possible misfortune。 If it had been Burnamy we could have
brought them together at once； just when she has seen so clearly that she
was in the wrong； and is feeling all broken up。 There wouldn't have been
any difficulty about his being in the second…cabin。 We could have
contrived to have them meet somehow。 If the worst came to the worst you
could have lent him money to pay the difference； and got him into the
first…cabin。〃
〃I could have taken that six…hundred…dollar room for him；〃 said March；
〃and then he could have eaten with the swells。〃
She answered that now he was teasing； that he was fundamentally incapable
of taking anything seriously； and in the end he retired before the
stewardess bringing her first coffee； with a well…merited feeling that if
it had not been for his triviality the young Lancashireman would really
have been Burnamy。
LXXV。
Except for the first day and night out from Queenstown； when the ship
rolled and pitched with straining and squeaking noises； and a thumping of
the lifted screws； there was no rough weather； and at last the ocean was
livid and oily； with a long swell； on which she swayed with no
perceptible motion save from her machinery。
Most of the seamanship seemed to be done after dark； or in those early
hours when March found the stewards cleaning the stairs； and the sailors
scouring the promenades。 He made little acquaintance with his fellow…
passengers。 One morning he almost spoke with an old Quaker lady whom he
joined in looking at the Niagara flood which poured from the churning
screws； but he did not quite get the words out。 On the contrary he
talked freely with an American who； bred horses on a farm near Boulogne；
and was going home to the Horse Show； he had been thirty…five years out
of the country； but he had preserved his Yankee accent in all its purity；
and was the most typical…looking American on board。 Now and then March
walked up and down with a blond Mexican whom he found of the usual well…
ordered Latin intelligence； but rather flavorless； at times he sat beside
a nice Jew； who talked agreeably； but only about business； and he
philosophized the race as so tiresome often because it seemed so often
without philosophy。 He made desperate attempts at times to interest
himself in the pool…selling in the smok