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once a fortnight the family washing was exhibited
in force。 It covered the poop entirely。 The after…
noon breeze would incite to a weird and flabby activ…
ity all that crowded mass of clothing； with its vague
suggestions of drowned； mutilated and flattened hu…
manity。 Trunks without heads waved at you arms
without hands； legs without feet kicked fantasti…
cally with collapsible flourishes； and there were long
white garments that； taking the wind fairly
through their neck openings edged with lace； be…
came for a moment violently distended as by the
passage of obese and invisible bodies。 On these days
you could make out that ship at a great distance
by the multi…coloured grotesque riot going on abaft
her mizzen mast。
She had her berth just ahead of me； and her
name was Diana；Diana not of Ephesus but of
Bremen。 This was proclaimed in white letters a
foot long spaced widely across the stern （somewhat
like the lettering of a shop…sign） under the cottage
windows。 This ridiculously unsuitable name struck
one as an impertinence towards the memory of the
most charming of goddesses； for； apart from the
fact that the old craft was physically incapable of
engaging in any sort of chase； there was a gang of
four children belonging to her。 They peeped over
the rail at passing boats and occasionally dropped
various objects into them。 Thus； sometime before
I knew Hermann to speak to； I received on my hat
a horrid rag…doll belonging to Hermann's eldest
daughter。 However； these youngsters were upon
the whole well behaved。 They had fair heads； round
eyes； round little knobby noses； and they resembled
their father a good deal。
This Diana of Bremen was a most innocent old
ship； and seemed to know nothing of the wicked sea；
as there are on shore households that know nothing
of the corrupt world。 And the sentiments she sug…
gested were unexceptionable and mainly of a do…
mestic order。 She was a home。 All these dear chil…
dren had learned to walk on her roomy quarter…deck。
In such thoughts there is something pretty； even
touching。 Their teeth； I should judge； they had
cut on the ends of her running gear。 I have many
times observed the baby Hermann （Nicholas） en…
gaged in gnawing the whipping of the fore…royal
brace。 Nicholas' favourite place of residence was
under the main fife…rail。 Directly he was let loose
he would crawl off there； and the first seaman who
came along would bring him； carefully held aloft
in tarry hands； back to the cabin door。 I fancy
there must have been a standing order to that effect。
In the course of these transportations the baby；
who was the only peppery person in the ship； tried
to smite these stalwart young German sailors on the
face。
Mrs。 Hermann； an engaging； stout housewife；
wore on board baggy blue dresses with white dots。
When； as happened once or twice I caught her at an
elegant little wash…tub rubbing hard on white col…
lars； baby's socks； and Hermann's summer neck…
ties； she would blush in girlish confusion； and rais…
ing her wet hands greet me from afar with many
friendly nods。 Her sleeves would be rolled up to
the elbows； and the gold hoop of her wedding ring
glittered among the soapsuds。 Her voice was
pleasant； she had a serene brow； smooth bands of
very fair hair； and a good…humoured expression of
the eyes。 She was motherly and moderately talka…
tive。 When this simple matron smiled； youthful
dimples broke out on her fresh broad cheeks。 Her…
mann's niece on the other hand； an orphan and very
silent； I never saw attempt a smile。 This； however；
was not gloom on her part but the restraint of
youthful gravity。
They had carried her about with them for the
last three years； to help with the children and be
company for Mrs。 Hermann； as Hermann men…
tioned once to me。 It had been very necessary while
they were all little； he had added in a vexed manner。
It was her arm and her sleek head that I had
glimpsed one morning； through the stern…windows
of the cabin； hovering over the pots of fuchsias and
mignonette； but the first time I beheld her full
length I surrendered to her proportions。 They fix
her in my mind； as great beauty； great intelligence；
quickness of wit or kindness of heart might have
made some her other woman equally memorable。
With her it was form and size。 It was her physi…
cal personality that had this imposing charm。 She
might have been witty； intelligent； and kind to an
exceptional degree。 I don't know； and this is not to
the point。 All I know is that she was built on a
magnificent scale。 Built is the only word。 She was
constructed； she was erected； as it were； with a regal
lavishness。 It staggered you to see this reckless ex…
penditure of material upon a chit of a girl。 She
was youthful and also perfectly mature； as though
she had been some fortunate immortal。 She was
heavy too； perhaps； but that's nothing。 It only
added to that notion of permanence。 She was bare…
ly nineteen。 But such shoulders！ Such round
arms！ Such a shadowing forth of mighty limbs
when with three long strides she pounced across the
deck upon the overturned Nicholasit's perfectly
indescribable！ She seemed a good； quiet girl； vigi…
lant as to Lena's needs； Gustav's tumbles； the state
of Carl's dear little noseconscientious； hardwork…
ing； and all that。 But what magnificent hair she
had！ Abundant； long； thick； of a tawny colour。
It had the sheen of precious metals。 She wore it
plaited tightly into one single tress hanging girl…
ishly down her back and its end reached down to
her waist。 The massiveness of it surprised you。
On my word it reminded one of a club。 Her face
was big； comely； of an unruffled expression。 She
had a good complexion； and her blue eyes were so
pale that she appeared to look at the world with
the empty white candour of a statue。 You could
not call her good…looking。 It was something much
more impressive。 The simplicity of her apparel；
the opulence of her form； her imposing stature；
and the extraordinary sense of vigorous life that
seemed to emanate from her like a perfume exhaled
by a flower； made her beautiful with a beauty of a
rustic and olympian order。 To watch her reaching
up to the clothes…line with both arms raised high
above her head； caused you to fall a musing in a
strain of pagan piety。 Excellent Mrs。 Hermann's
baggy cotton gowns had some sort of rudimentary
frills at neck and bottom； but this girl's print frocks
hadn't even a wrinkle； nothing but a few straight
folds in the skirt falling to her feet； and these； when
she stood still； had a severe and statuesque quality。
She was inclined naturally to be still whether sit…
ting or standing。 However； I don't mean to say
she was statuesque。 She was too generously alive；
but she could have stood for an allegoric statue of
the Earth。 I don't mean the worn…out earth of our
possession；