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. Every evening, for instance, I was more
and more preoccupied about our doubtful fare at tea. If it was
delicate my heart was much lightened; if it was but broken fish I
was proportionally downcast. The offer of a little jelly from a
fellow-passenger more provident than myself caused a marked
elevation in my spirits. And I would have gone to the ship's end
and back again for an oyster or a chipped fruit.
In other ways I was content with my position. It seemed no
disgrace to be confounded with my company; for I may as well
declare at once I found their manners as gentle and becoming as
those of any other class.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 78 of 262
Words from 20583 to 20836
of 70588
