a simpleton-第43章

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breakwater；　and　she　stood　out　to　sea　under　swiftly…swelling　canvas
and　a　light　north…westerly　breeze。

Staines　only　felt　the　motion：　his　body　was　in　the　ship；　his　soul
with　his　Rosa。　　He　gazed；　he　strained　his　eyes　to　see　her　eyes；　as
the　ship　glided　from　England　and　her。　　While　he　was　thus　gazing　and
trembling　all　over；　up　came　to　him　a　smart　second　lieutenant；　with
a　brilliant　voice　that　struck　him　like　a　sword。　　〃Captain's　orders
to　show　you　berths；　please　choose　for　Lord　Tadcaster　and　yourself。〃

The　man's　wild　answer　made　the　young　officer　stare。　　〃Oh；　sir！　not
nowtry　and　do　my　duty　when　I　have　quite　lost　hermy　poor　wifea
childa　mothertheresiron　the　stepsthere！there！〃

Now　this　officer　always　went　to　sea　singing　〃Oh　be　joyful。〃　　But　a
strong　man's　agony；　who　can　make　light　of　it？　　It　was　a　revelation
to　him；　but　he　took　it　quickly。　　The　first　thing　he　did；　being　a
man　of　action；　was　to　dash　into　his　cabin；　and　come　back　with　a
short；　powerful　double　glass。　　〃There！〃　said　he　roughly；　but
kindly；　and　shoved　it　into　Staines's　hand。　　He　took　it；　stared　at
it　stupidly；　then　used　it；　without　a　word　of　thanks；　so　wrapped　was
he　in　his　anguish。

This　glass　prolonged　the　misery　of　that　bitter　hour。　　When　Rosa
could　no　longer　tell　her　husband　from　another；　she　felt　he　was
really　gone；　and　she　threw　her　hands　aloft；　and　clasped　them　above
her　head；　with　the　wild　abandon　of　a　woman　who　could　never　again　be
a　child；　and　Staines　saw　it；　and　a　sharp　sigh　burst　from　him；　and
he　saw　her　maid　and　others　gather　round　her。　　He　saw　the　poor　young
thing　led　away；　with　her　head　all　down；　as　he　had　never　seen　her
before；　and　supported　to　the　inn；　and　then　he　saw　her　no　more。

His　heart　seemed　to　go　out　of　his　bosom　in　search　of　her；　and　leave
nothing　but　a　stone　behind：　he　hung　over　the　taffrail　like　a　dead
thing。　　A　steady　foot…fall　slapped　his　ear。　　He　raised　his　white
face　and　filmy　eyes；　and　saw　Lieutenant　Fitzroy　marching　to　and　fro
like　a　sentinel；　keeping　everybody　away　from　the　mourner；　with　the
steady；　resolute；　business…like　face　of　a　man　in　whom　sentiment　is
confined　to　action；　its　phrases　and　its　flourishes　being　literally
terra　incognita　to　the　honest　fellow。

Staines　staggered　towards　him；　holding　out　both　hands；　and　gasped
out；　〃God　bless　you。　　Hide　me　somewheremust　not　be　seen　SOgot
duty　to　doPatientcan't　do　it　yetone　hour　to　draw　my　breath
oh；　my　God；　my　God！one　hour；　sir。　　Then　do　my　duty；　if　I　dieas
you　would。〃

Fitzroy　tore　him　down　into　his　own　cabin；　shut　him　in　and　ran　to
the　first　lieutenant；　with　a　tear　in　his　eye。　　〃Can　I　have　a
sentry；　sir？〃

〃Sentry！　　What　for？〃

〃The　doctorawfully　cut　up　at　leaving　his　wife：　got　him　in　my
cabin。　　Wants　to　have　his　cry　to　himself。〃

〃Fancy　a　fellow　crying　at　going　to　sea！〃

〃It　is　not　that；　sir；　it　is　leaving　his　wife。〃

〃Well；　is　he　the　only　man　on　board　that　has　got　a　wife？〃

〃Why；　no；　sir。　　It　is　odd；　now　I　think　of　it。　　Perhaps　he　has　only
got　that　ONE。〃

〃Curious　creatures；　landsmen；〃　said　the　first　lieutenant。
〃However；　you　can　stick　a　marine　there。〃

〃And　I　say；　show　the　YOUNGSTER　the　berths；　and　let　him　choose；　as
the　doctor's　aground。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

So　Fitzoy　planted　his　marine；　and　then　went　after　Lord　Tadcaster：
he　had　drawn　up　alongside　his　cousin；　Captain　Hamilton。　　The
captain；　being　an　admirer　of　Lady　Cicely；　was　mighty　civil　to　his
little　lordship；　and　talked　to　him　more　than　was　his　wont　on　the
quarterdeck；　for　though　he　had　a　good　flow　of　conversation；　and
dispensed　with　ceremony　in　his　cabin；　he　was　apt　to　be　rather　short
on　deck。　　However；　he　told　little　Tadcaster　he　was　fortunate；　they
had　a　good　start；　and；　if　the　wind　held；　might　hope　to　be　clear　of
the　Channel　in　twenty…four　hours。　　〃You　will　see　Eddystone
lighthouse　about　four　bells；〃　said　he。

〃Shall　we　go　out　of　sight　of　land　altogether？〃　inquired　his
lordship。

〃Of　course　we　shall；　and　the　sooner　the　better。〃　　He　then　explained
to　the　novice　that　the　only　danger　to　a　good　ship　was　from　the
land。

While　Tadcaster　was　digesting　this　paradox；　Captain　Hamilton
proceeded　to　descant　on　the　beauties　of　blue　water　and　its　fine
medicinal　qualities；　which；　he　said；　were　particularly　suited　to
young　gentlemen　with　bilious　stomachs；　but　presently；　catching
sight　of　Lieutenant　Fitzroy　standing　apart；　but　with　the　manner　of
a　lieutenant　not　there　by　accident；　he　stopped；　and　said；　civilly
but　smartly；　〃Well；　sir？〃

Fitzroy　came　forward　directly；　saluted；　and　said　he　had　orders　from
the　first　lieutenant　to　show　Lord　Tadcaster　the　berths。　　His
lordship　must　be　good　enough　to　choose；　because　the　doctor
couldn't。

〃Why　not？〃

〃Brought　to；　sirfor　the　presentbywell；　by　grief。〃

〃Brought　to　by　grief！　　Who　the　deuce　is　grief？　　No　riddles　on　the
quarter…deck；　if　you　please；　sir。〃

〃Oh　no；　sir。　　I　assure　you　he　is　awfully　cut　up；　and　he　is　having
his　cry　out　in　my　cabin。〃

〃Having　his　cry　out！　why；　what　for？〃

〃Leaving　his　wife；　sir。〃

〃Oh；　is　that　all？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　wonder；〃　cried　little　Tadcaster　warmly。　　〃She　is；
oh；　so　beautiful！〃　and　a　sudden　blush　o'erspread　his　pasty　cheeks。
〃Why　on　earth　didn't　we　bring　her　along　with　us　here？〃　said　he；
suddenly　opening　his　eyes　with　astonishment　at　the　childish
omission。

〃Why；　indeed？〃　said　the　captain　comically；　and　dived　below；
attended　by　the　well…disciplined　laughter　of　Lieutenant　Fitzroy；
who　was　too　good　an　officer　not　to　be　amused　at　his　captain's
jokes。　　Having　acquitted　himself　of　that　dutyand　it　is　a　very
difficult　one　sometimeshe　took　Lord　Tadcaster　to　the　main…deck；
and　showed　him　two　comfortable　sleeping…berths　that　had　been
screened　off　for　him　and　Dr。　Staines；　one　of　these　was　fitted　with
a　standing　bed…place；　the　other　had　a　cot　swung　in　it。　　Fitzroy
offered　him　the　choice；　but　hinted　that　he　himself　preferred　a　cot。

〃No；　thank　you；〃　says　my　lord　mighty　dryly。

〃All　right；〃　said　Fitzroy　cheerfully。　　〃Take　the　other；　then；　my
lord。〃

His　little　lordship　cocked　his　eye　like　a　jackdaw；　and　looked
almost　as　cunning。　　〃You　see；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　been　reading　up　for
this　voyage。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！　　Logarithms？〃

〃Of　course　not。〃

〃What　then？〃

〃Why；　'Peter　Simple'to　be　sure。〃

〃Ah；　ha！〃　said　Fitzroy；　with　a　chuckle　that　showed　plainly　he　had
some　delicious　reminiscences　of　youthful　study　in　the　same　quarter。

The　little　lord　chuckled　too；　and　put　one　finger　on　Fitzroy's
shoulder；　and　pointed　at　the　cot　with　another。　　〃Tumble　out　the
other　side；　you　knowslippery　hitchescords　cutdown　you　come
flop　in　the　middle　of　the　night。〃

Fitzroy's　eye　flashed　merriment：　but　only　for　a　moment。　　His
countenance　fell　the　next。　　〃Lord　bless　you；〃　said　he　sorrowfully；
〃all　that　game　is　over　now。　　Her　Majesty's　ship！it　is　a　church
afloat。　　The　service　is　going　to　the　devil；　as　the　old　fogies　say。〃

〃Ain't　you　sorry？〃　says　the　little　lord；　cocking　his　eye　again　like
the　bird　hereinbefore　mentioned。

〃Of　course　I　am。〃

〃Then　I'll　take　the　standing　bed。〃

〃All　right。　　I　say；　you　don't　mind　the　doctor　coming　down　with　a
run；　eh？〃

〃He　is　not　ill：　I　am。　　He　is　paid　to　take　care　of　me：　I　am　not　paid
to　take　care　of　him；〃　said　the　young　lord　sententiously。

〃I　understand；〃　replied　Fitzroy；　dryly。　　〃Well；　every　one　for
himself；　and　Providence　for　us　allas　the　elephant　said　when　he
danced　among　the　chickens。〃

Here　my　lord　was　summoned　to　dine　with　the　captain。　　Staines　was
not　there；　but　he　had　not　forgotten　his　duty；　in　the　midst　of　his
grief　he　had　written　a　note　to　the　captain；　hoping　that　a　bereaved
husband　might　not　seem　to　desert　his　post　if　he　hid　for　a　few　hours
the　sorrow　he　felt　himself　unable　to　control。　　Meantime　he　would　be
grateful　if　Captain　Hamilton　would　give　orders　that　Lord　Tadcaster
should　eat　no　pastry；　and　drink　only　six　ounces　of　claret；
otherwise　he　should　feel　that　he　was　indeed　betraying　his　trust。

The　captain　was　pleased　and　touched　with　this　letter。　　It　recalled
to　him　how　his　mother　sobbed　when　she　launched　her　little　middy；
swelling　with　his　first　cocked　hat　and　dirk。

There　was　champagne　at　dinner；　and　little　Tadcaster　began　to　pour
out　a　tumbler。　　〃Hold　on！〃　said　Captain　Hamilton；　〃you