There was not only a large crowd immediately around us,
but a considerable knot of saloon passengers leaning over our heads
from the hurricane-deck. One of these, an elderly managing woman,
hailed me with counsels. Of course I had to reply; and as the talk
went on, I began to discover that the whole group took me for the
husband. I looked upon my new wife, poor creature, with mingled
feelings; and I must own she had not even the appearance of the
poorest class of city servant-maids, but looked more like a country
wench who should have been employed at a roadside inn. Now was the
time for me to go and study the brass plate.
To such of the officers as knew about me - the doctor, the purser,
and the stewards - I appeared in the light of a broad joke. The
fact that I spent the better part of my day in writing had gone
abroad over the ship and tickled them all prodigiously. Whenever
they met me they referred to my absurd occupation with familiarity
and breadth of humorous intention. Their manner was well
calculated to remind me of my fallen fortunes. You may be
sincerely amused by the amateur literary efforts of a gentleman,
but you scarce publish the feeling to his face. 'Well!' they would
say: 'still writing?' And the smile would widen into a laugh.
The purser came one day into the cabin, and, touched to the heart
by my misguided industry, offered me some other kind of writing,
'for which,' he added pointedly, 'you will be paid.' This was
nothing else than to copy out the list of passengers.
Another trick of mine which told against my reputation was my
choice of roosting-place in an active draught upon the cabin floor.
I was openly jeered and flouted for this eccentricity; and a
considerable knot would sometimes gather at the door to see my last
dispositions for the night. This was embarrassing, but I learned
to support the trial with equanimity.
Indeed I may say that, upon the whole, my new position sat lightly
and naturally upon my spirits. I accepted the consequences with
readiness, and found them far from difficult to bear. The steerage
conquered me; I conformed more and more to the type of the place,
not only in manner but at heart, growing hostile to the officers
and cabin passengers who looked down upon me, and day by day
greedier for small delicacies. Such was the result, as I fancy, of
a diet of bread and butter, soup and porridge. We think we have no
sweet tooth as long as we are full to the brim of molasses; but a
man must have sojourned in the workhouse before he boasts himself
indifferent to dainties.
