it was natural that a man’s messmates should be low after burying him, and even his whole watch (for Tom Simmons had been well liked – would never have had so deadly a birthday present otherwise); but this solemnity affected the whole ship’s company and there was none of those odd bursts of song on the fo’c’sle, none of those ritual jokes called out. There was a quiet, brooding atmosphere, not at all angry or sullen, but – Stephen, lying in his cot (he had been up all night with poor Simmons) tried to hit upon the definition – oppressive? – fearful? – vaticinatory?
