It is proverbial that incidents in themselves trivial frequently form the hinges on which great events turn. When Edgar Berrington went to London he learned that the owners of the fine ocean-steamer the Warrior2 wished him to become their chief engineer for that voyage, the previous chief having been suddenly taken ill and obliged to leave them. Although flattered by the proposal, and the terms in which it was made, Edgar declined it, for, having acquired all the knowledge he desired about marine3 engines during the voyage out and home, he did not wish to waste more time at sea. The owner, however, being aware of his worth, was not to be put off with a first refusal. He took Edgar into his private room and reasoned with him.
“Come now, Mr Berrington, consider my proposal again. You’ll go, won’t you?”
“Impossible,” replied Edgar. “You are very kind, and I assure you that I fully5 appreciate your offer, but—”
He was interrupted by a clerk who entered at the moment and spoke6 a few words in an under tone to the owner.
“Excuse me one minute, Mr Berrington,” said the latter, rising quickly. “I shall return immediately. There is a newspaper, to look—no—where is it? Ah! No matter: here is a list of the passengers going out to China in the Warrior. It may amuse you. Perhaps you may find a friend amongst them.”
Left alone, Edgar ran his eye carelessly over the names—thinking the while of the disagreeables of another long sea-voyage, and strengthening his resolves not to be tempted7 to go.
Now, the careless glance at this passenger-list was the apparently8 trifling9 incident on which hinged the whole of our hero’s future career; his careless glance became suddenly fixed10 and attentive11; his eyebrows12 lifted to their utmost elevation13 and his face flushed crimson14, for there he beheld15 the names of Charles Hazlit, Esquire, and his daughter, Miss Aileen Hazlit.
Just at that moment the owner of the Warrior returned. This owner was an intelligent, shrewd man—quick to observe. He noted16 the flush on Edgar’s countenance17, and Edgar immediately blew his nose with violence to account for the flush.
“Well now, Mr Berrington, what say you?” he resumed.
Poor Edgar knew not what to say. A reply had to be given at once. He had no time to think. Aileen going to China! An offer of a situation in the same vessel18!
“Well, sir,” said our hero, with sudden decision, “I will go.”
Of course the owner expressed himself well pleased, and then there followed a deal of nautico-scientific talk, after which Edgar ventured to say—
“I observe the name of Mr Charles Hazlit on your list. He is an acquaintance of mine. Do you happen to know what takes him so far from home?”
“Can’t say exactly,” replied the other. “I think some one told me his affairs in China require looking after, and his daughter’s health necessitates19 a long sea-voyage.”
“Health!” exclaimed Edgar, striving to look and speak in a comparatively indifferent manner. “She was quite well when I saw her last.”
“Very likely,” said the owner, with a smile, “but it does not take long to make a young lady ill—especially when her heart is touched. Some sort of rumour20 floats in my mind to the effect that Miss Hazlit is going out to China to be married, or requires to go out because she doesn’t want to be married—I forget which. But it comes pretty much to the same thing in the end!”
“Hah!” said Edgar shortly.
If he had said “Oh!” in tones of agony, it would have been more truly expressive21 of his feelings.
The moment he got out of the office and felt the cool air of the street he repented22 of his decision and pronounced himself to be a consummate23 donkey!
“There,” thought he, “I’ve made a fool of myself. I’ve engaged for a long voyage in a capacity which precludes24 the possibility of my associating with the passengers, for not only must nearly all my waking hours be spent down beside the engine, but when I come up to cool myself I must perforce do so in dirty costume, with oily hands and face, quite in an unfit state to be seen by Aileen, and without the slightest right to take any notice of her. Oh! Donkey—goose that you are, Eddy25! But you’ve done it now, and can’t undo26 it, therefore you must go through with it.”
Thinking of himself in this lowly strain he went home to the solitude27 of his lodging28, sat down before his tea-table, thrust both hands into his pockets, and, in a by no means unhappy frame of mind, brooded over his trials and sorrows.
Let us change the scene now. We are out upon the sea—in a floating palace. And oh how that palace rushes onward29, ever onward, without rest, without check, night and day, cleaving30 its way irresistibly31 through the mighty32 deep. Mighty! Ah! how mighty no one on board can tell so well as that thin, gentle, evidently dying youth who leans over the stern watching the screws and the “wake” that seems to rush behind, marking off, as it were mile by mile, the vast and ever-increasing space—never to be re-traversed he knows full well—that separates him from home and all that is dear to him on earth.
The palace is made of iron—hard, unyielding, unbeautiful, uncompromising iron,—but her cushions are soft, her gilding33 is gorgeous, her fittings are elegant, her food is sumptuous34, her society—at least much of it—is refined. Of course representatives of the unrefined are also there—in the after-cabin too—just as there are specimens35 of the refined in the fore-cabin. But, taking them all in all, they are a remarkably36 harmonious37 band, the inhabitants of this iron palace, from the captain to the cabin-boy inclusive. The latter is a sprightly38 imp4; the former is—to use the expression of one of the unrefined—“a brick.” He is not tall—few sea-captains seem to be so—but he is very broad, and manly39, and as strong as an elephant. He is a pattern captain. Gallant40 to the lady passengers, chatty with the gentlemen, polite to the unrefined, sedately41 grave among the officers and crew, and jocular to the children; in short, he is all things to all men—and much of the harmony on board is due to his unconscious influence. He has a handsome face, glittering black eyes, an aquiline42 nose that commands respect, and a black beard and moustache that covered a firm mouth and chin.
Grinding is one of the prominent ideas that are suggested on board the iron palace. There are many other ideas, no doubt. Among seventy or eighty educated and intelligent human beings of both sexes and all ages it could not be otherwise. We allude43, however, to the boat—not to the passengers. The screw grinds and the engine grinds incessantly44. When one thinks of a thing, or things, going round and round, or up and down, regularly, uninterruptedly, vigorously, doggedly45, obstinately46, hour after hour, one is impressed, to say the least; and when one thinks of the said thing, or things, going on thus, night and day without rest, one is solemnised; but when one meditates47 on these motions being continued for many weeks together, one has a tendency to feel mentally overwhelmed.
The great crank that grinds the screw, and is itself ground by the piston—not to mention the cylinder48 and boiler—works in a dark place deep down in the engine-room, like a giant hand constantly engaged on deeds of violence and evil.
Here Edgar Berrington, clothed in white canvas and oil, finds genial49 companionship. He dotes on the great crank. It is a sympathetic thing. It represents his feelings wonderfully. Returning from the deck after inhaling50 a little fresh air, he leans against the iron bulkhead in these clanking depths and gazes gloomily and for prolonged periods at the crank while it grinds with a sort of vicious energy that seems in strange harmony with his soul. Sometimes he grinds his teeth as a sort of obbligato accompaniment—especially if he has while on deck, during a wistful gaze at the distant perspective of the aft-regions, beheld, (or fancied he has beheld) a familiar and adored form.
At first the passengers were sick—very sick, most of them—insomuch that there were some who would gladly, if possible, have surrendered their lives with their dinners; but by degrees they began to improve, and to regard meals with anticipation51 instead of loathing52. When the sunny and calm latitudes53 near the line were reached, every one grew well and hearty54, and at last there was not a sad soul on board except the poor sick lad who studied the screw and measured the ever-increasing distance from home. One of the first evidences of the return of health was the sound of song. When the nights were clear and calm, and naught55 was audible save the grinding of the screw, the passengers crystallised naturally into groups in the same way that ice-particles arrange themselves in sympathetic stars; and from several such constellations56 the music of the spheres was naturally evolved.
One of these crystals was formed, usually in a tent on deck, by the attractive influence of smoke. It was consequently not a bright crystal, and included particles both refined and otherwise. Its music was gruff for the most part, sometimes growly. There was another crystal which varied57 its position occasionally—according to the position of the moon, for it was a crystal formed of romantic elements. One of its parts was a Scottish maiden58 whose voice was melodious59, flexible, and very sweet. Her face and spirit had been made to match. She had many admirers, and a bosom-friend of kindly60 heart and aspect, with wealth of golden hair, in some respects like herself.
Our heroine Aileen, being passionately61 fond of music, and herself a sweet singer, attached herself to this crystal, and became as it were another bosom-friend.
Two bearded men were also much given to seek attachment62 to this crystal. They also seemed knit to each other in bosom-friendship—if we may venture to use such a term with reference to bearded men. One was amateurly musical, the other powerfully sympathetic. A pastor63, of unusually stalwart proportions, with a gentle pretty wife and lovable family, also had a decided64 leaning to this crystal.
One evening the group, finding its favourite part of the deck occupied, was driven to a position near the tent of the smoky crystal, and, sitting down not far from the engineer’s quarters, began to indulge in song. Grave and gay alternated. Duets followed; trios ensued, and miscellaneous new forms of harmony sometimes intervened.
“Do sing a solo, Miss Hazlit,” said the Scottish maiden. “I like your voice so much, and want to hear it alone. Will you sing?”
Aileen had an obliging spirit. She at once began, in a low contralto voice, “I cannot sing the old songs.”
Sometimes in private life one hears a voice so sweet, so thrilling, with a “something” so powerful in it, that one feels, amid other sensations of pleasure, great satisfaction to think that none of the public singers in the world could “bat that” if they were to try their best, and that few of them could equal it!
Such a voice was that of our heroine. It drew towards her the soul, body, and spirit of the music-lovers who listened. Of course we do not deny that there were some who could not be drawn65 thus. There were a few, among the smoky crystals, for whom a draw of the pipe or a mildly drawn pot of bitter beer had greater charms than sweet sounds, however melting. With the exceptions of these, nearly all who chanced to be within hearing drew near to the musical group, and listened while that most, beautiful of songs was being warbled in tones not loud but inexpressibly pathetic.
Among the listeners was our friend Edgar Berrington. Seated, as usual, in front of the great crank, with bare muscular arms folded on his broad chest and a dark frown on his forehead, he riveted66 his eyes on the crank as if it were the author of all his anxieties. Suddenly the terminating lines, “I cannot sing the old songs, they are too dear to me,” rising above the din1 of machinery67, floated gently down through iron lattice-work, beams, rods, cranks, and bars, and smote68 upon his ear.
Like a galvanised man he sprang on his legs and stood erect69. Then, if we may say so, like a human rocket, he shot upwards70 and stood on the margin71 of the crowd. Being head and shoulders over most of them he observed a clear space beside the singer. The night was dark, features could not be discerned, even forms were not easily recognisable. He glided72 into the open space, and silently but promptly73 sat down on the deck beside Aileen. His elbow even touched one of the folds of her garment. He went straight into paradise and remained there!
As for Aileen, if she observed the action at all, she probably set it down to the enthusiasm of a more than usually musical member of the ship’s crew.
While she was still dwelling74 on the last note, a grinding sound was heard and a slight tremor75 felt that not only stopped the song abruptly76 but checked the applause that was ready to burst from every lip and hand. Edgar vanished from the spot where he sat quite as quickly as he had appeared, and in a moment was at his station. The captain’s voice was heard on the bridge. The signal was given to stop the engines—to back them—to stop again. Eager inquiries77 followed—“What’s that? Did you feel it? Hear it? Could it be a rock? Impossible, surely?” No one could answer with knowledge or authority, save those who were too busy to be spoken to. Accustomed as they all were for many weeks past to the ceaseless motion of the engines, the sudden stoppage had a strange and solemnising effect on most of the passengers. Presently the order was given to steam ahead, and once more they breathed more freely on hearing again the familiar grinding of the screw.
To the anxious inquiries afterwards made of him, the captain only smiled and said he could not tell what it was—perhaps it might have been a piece of wreck78. “But it did not feel like that, captain,” objected one of the passengers, who, having frequently been to sea before, was regarded as being semi-nautical; “it was too like a touch on something solid. You’ve heard, I suppose, of coral reefs growing in places where none are marked on our charts?”
“I have,” answered the captain drily.
“Might it not be something of the kind?”
“It might,” replied the captain.
“We are not far from the coast of China, are we?” asked the semi-nautical passenger.
“Not very far.”
Seeing that the captain was not disposed to be communicative, the semi-nautical passenger retired79 to persecute80 and terrify some of the ladies with his surmises81. Meanwhile the well was sounded and a slight increase of water ascertained82, but nothing worth speaking of, and the pumps were set to work.
The anxiety of the passengers was soon allayed83, everything going on as smoothly84 as before. The evening merged85 into night. The moon rose slowly and spread a path of rippling86 silver from the ship to the horizon. The various groups began to un-crystallise. Sleepy ones went below and melted away somehow. Sleepless87 ones went to their great panacea88, smoke. Lights were put out everywhere save where the duties of the ship required them to burn continually. At last the latest of the sleepless turned in, and none were wakeful through the iron palace except the poor youth who mentally measured the distance from home, and the officers and men on duty. Among the latter was Edgar Berrington, who, standing89 at his accustomed post down in his own iron depths, pondered the events of the evening while he watched the motions of the great crank and listened to the grinding of the screw.
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1
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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necessitates
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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precludes
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| v.阻止( preclude的第三人称单数 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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cleaving
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| v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的现在分词 ) | |
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irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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sedately
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| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
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aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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meditates
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的第三人称单数 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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cylinder
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| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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inhaling
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| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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constellations
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| n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人） | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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71
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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persecute
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| vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰 | |
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81
surmises
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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panacea
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| n.万灵药；治百病的灵药 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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