Page:The ebb-tide - a trio and quartette (IA ebb00tidetrioquartstevrich).pdf/164

 Herrick. 'There is nothing wrong; all is above-board; Captain Brown is a good soul; he is a he is ' The phantom voice of Davis called in his ear: 'There's going to be a funeral' and the sweat burst forth and streamed on his brow. 'He is a family man,' he resumed again, swallowing; 'he has children at home—and a wife.'

'And a very nice man?' said Attwater. 'And so is Mr. Whish, no doubt?'

'I won't go so far as that,' said Herrick. 'I do not like Huish. And yet he has his merits too.'

'And, in short, take them for all in all, as good a ship's company as one would ask?' said Attwater.

'O yes,' said Herrick, 'quite.'

'So then we approach the other point of why you despise yourself?' said Attwater.

'Do we not all despise ourselves?' cried Herrick. 'Do not you?'

'Oh, I say I do. But do I?' said Attwater. 'One thing I know at least: I never gave a cry like yours. Hay! it came from a bad conscience! Ah, man, that poor diving dress of self-conceit is sadly tattered! To-day, now, while the sun sets, and here in this burying place of brown