II
Hisagesatlightlyenoughonhim;andofhisruinhewasnotashamed.HehadnotbeenalonetobelieveinthestabilityoftheBankingCorporation.Menwhosejudgmentinmattersoffinancewasasexpertashisseamanshiphadcommendedtheprudenceofhisinvestments,andhadthemselveslostmuchmoneyinthegreatfailure.Theonlydifferencebetweenhimandthemwasthathehadlosthisall.Andyetnothisall.Therehadremainedtohimfromhislostfortuneaveryprettylittlebark,FairMaid,whichhehadboughttooccupyhisleisureofaretiredsailor—“toplaywith,”asheexpressedithimself.
Hehadformallydeclaredhimselftiredoftheseatheyearprecedinghisdaughter’smarriage.ButaftertheyoungcouplehadgonetosettleinMelbournehefoundoutthathecouldnotmakehimselfhappyonshore.Hewastoomuchofamerchantsea-captainformereyachtingtosatisfyhim.Hewantedtheillusionofaffairs;andhisacquisitionoftheFairMaidpreservedthecontinuityofhislife.Heintroducedhertohisacquaintancesinvariousportsas“mylastcommand.”Whenhegrewtoooldtobetrustedwithaship,hewouldlayherupandgoashoretobeburied,leavingdirectionsinhiswilltohavethebarktowedoutandscuttleddecentlyindeepwateronthedayofthefuneral.Hisdaughterwouldnotgrudgehimthesatisfactionofknowingthatnostrangerwouldhandlehislastcommandafterhim.Withthefortunehewasabletoleaveher,thevalueofa500-tonbarkwasneitherherenorthere.
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