As we stood there in silence, I reading over and over again the line upon the pedestal, I heard footsteps behind, and, turning, I saw a man approaching us, who, from his manner, though he was dressed in civilian's clothes, I guessed to be an officer of the navy.

He was of more than middle height, had black hair, dark blue eyes, straight, strongly-marked brows, and was clean-shaven.

He was a little ascetic-looking, and rather interesting and uncommon, and yet he was unmistakably a sea-going man.

It was a face that one would turn to look at again and again--a singular personality.
And yet my first glance told me that he was not one who had seen much happiness.

Perhaps that was not unattractive in itself, since people who are very happy, and show it, are often most selfish too, and repel where they should attract.