There was many a
group of friends closing wistfully together on the sunny deck, and saying
the last words of blessing and farewell. The bustle of the ship passes
dimly round about them; the hurrying noise of crew and officers running
on their duty; the tramp and song of the men at the capstan-bars; the
bells ringing, as the hour for departure comes nearer and nearer, as
mother and son, father and daughter, husband and wife, hold hands yet for
a little while. We saw Clive and his father talking together by the
wheel. Then they went below; and a passenger, her husband, asked me to
give my arm to an almost fainting lady, and to lead her off the ship.
Bayham followed us, carrying their two children in his arms, as the
husband turned away and walked aft. The last bell was ringing, and they
were crying, "Now for the shore." The whole ship had begun to throb ere
this, and its great wheels to beat the water, and the chimneys had flung
out their black signals for sailing. We were as yet close on the dock,
and we saw Clive coming up from below, looking very pale; the plank was
drawn after him as he stepped on land.
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