"
"But my poor wife, she will never be able to go - she cannot move - she
is so ill!"
"I'm afraid, Mr. Seagrave, that they have no idea of taking either you,
or your wife, or your children, with them."
"What! leave us here to perish I Merciful Heaven! how cruel - how
barbarous!"
"It is not kind, Mr. Seagrave, but still you see it is the law of
nature. When it is a question of life, it is every one for himself, for
life is sweet: they are not more unkind than they would be to each
other, if there were too many for the boat to hold. I've seen all this
before in my time," replied Ready, gravely.
"My wife! my children!" cried Mr. Seagrave, covering his face with his
hands. "But I will speak to them," continued he after a pause; "surely
they will listen to the dictates of humanity; at all events Mr.
Mackintosh will have some power over them. Don't you think so, Ready?"
"Well, Mr. Seagrave, if I must speak, I confess to you that there is
not a harder heart among them than that of Mr. Mackintosh, and it's
useless speaking to him or any one of them; and you must not be too
severe upon them neither: the boat is small, and could not hold more
people with the provisions which they take with them - that is the
fact.
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