the sailors do not mind the arrangement , for they know that this way there will , at the least , be one person who , at the last , will notice when they do not come back from the sea , and will mourn their loss ; and their wives content themselves with the certain knowledge that their husbands are also unfaithful , for there is no competing with the sea in a man 's affections , since she is both mother and mistress , and she will wash his corpse also , in time to come , wash it to coral and ivory and pearls .