So, in like manner, affection may arise between man and man.
It was so on this occasion with Nigel Roy.

As he stood abstractedly gazing at the boatman he fell in love with him--at least he took a powerful fancy to him, and this was all the more surprising that the man was a negro,--a woolly-headed, flat-nosed, thick-lipped nigger! We would not for a moment have it supposed that it is unnatural to love such a man.

Quite the reverse.

But when such a man is a perfect stranger, has never uttered a word in one's presence, or vouchsafed so much as a glance, and is gravely, stolidly engaged in the unsavoury work of greasing some of the tackling of a boat, it does seem unaccountable that he should be unwittingly capable of stirring up in another man's bosom feelings of ardent goodwill, to put it mildly.
After watching him for some time, Nigel under an almost involuntary impulse shouted "Hullo!" "Hullo!" replied the negro, looking up with a somewhat stern frown and a pout of his thick lips, as much as to say--"Who are _you_ ?" Nigel smiled, and made that suggestive motion with his forefinger which signifies "Come here." The frown fled and the pout became a smile as the negro approached, wiping his hands on a piece of cotton-waste.
"What you want wi' _me_, sar ?" he asked.
"Well, upon my word," said Nigel, somewhat perplexed, "I can't very well say.

I suppose something must have been in my mind, but--anyhow, I felt a desire to have a talk with you; that is, if you can spare the time." The first part of this reply induced a slight recurrence of the frown and pout, but at its conclusion the black brow cleared and the mouth expanded to such a gum-and-teeth-exposing extent that Nigel fairly burst into a laugh.
"You's bery good, sar," said the man, "an' I's hab much pleasure to make your acquaintance .-- Der an't no grease on 'em now." The last remark had reference to the enormous black paw which he held out.
Nigel at once grasped it and shook it heartily.
"I's bery fond ob a talk, sar," continued the negro, "so as you wants one, heabe ahead." Thus encouraged, our hero began by remarking that he seemed to be preparing for a trip.
"Dat's zackly what I's a-doin', sar." "A long one ?" "Well, dat depends on what you call short.