There was nothing unusual about it.

Indeed, it was customary for Farlingford men to come home again.

They always returned, at last, from wide wanderings, which a limited conversational capacity seemed to deprive of all interest.

Those that stayed at home learnt a few names, and that was all.
"Where are ye now from, Willum ?" the newly returned sailor would be kindly asked, with the sideward jerk of the head.
"A'm now from Valparaiso." And that was all that there was to be said about Valparaiso and the experiences of this circumnavigator.

Perhaps it was not considered good form to inquire further into that which was, after all, his own business.