the frozen deep-第17章

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officers；　profiting　by　his　example；　pleaded　their　duties　on　deck；
and　followed　him　out。

On　the　next　day；　and　the　next；　the　tempest　still　ragedand　the
passengers　were　not　able　to　leave　their　state…rooms。　But　now；
when　the　weather　had　moderated　and　the　ship　had　anchorednow；
when　officers　and　passengers　alike　were　on　shore；　with　leisure
time　at　their　disposalClara　had　opportunities　of　returning　to
the　subject　of　the　lost　men；　and　of　asking　questions　in　relation
to　them　which　would　make　it　impossible　for　Crayford　to　plead　an
excuse　for　not　answering　her。　How　was　he　to　meet　those　questions？
How　could　he　still　keep　her　in　ignorance　of　the　truth？

These　were　the　reflections　which　now　troubled　Crayford；　and　which
presented　him；　after　his　rescue；　in　the　strangely　inappropriate
character　of　a　depressed　and　anxious　man。　His　brother　officers；
as　he　well　knew；　looked　to　him　to　take　the　chief　responsibility。
If　he　declined　to　accept　it；　he　would　instantly　confirm　the
horrible　suspicion　in　Clara's　mind。　The　emergency　must　be　met；
but　how　to　meet　itat　once　honorably　and　mercifullywas　more
than　Crayford　could　tell。　He　was　still　lost　in　his　own　gloomy
thoughts　when　his　wife　entered　the　boat…house。　Turning　to　look　at
her；　he　saw　his　own　perturbations　and　anxieties　plainly　reflected
in　Mrs。　Crayford's　face。

〃Have　you　seen　anything　of　Clara？〃　he　asked。　〃Is　she　still　on　the
beach？〃

〃She　is　following　me　to　this　place；〃　Mrs。　Crayford　replied。　〃I
have　been　speaking　to　her　this　morning。　She　is　just　as　resolute
as　ever　to　insist　on　your　telling　her　of　the　circumstances　under
which　Frank　is　missing。　As　things　are；　you　have　no　alternative
but　to　answer　her。〃

〃Help　me　to　answer　her；　Lucy。　Tell　me；　before　she　comes　in；　how
this　dreadful　suspicion　first　took　possession　of　her。　All　she
could　possibly　have　known　when　we　left　England　was　that　the　two
men　were　appointed　to　separate　ships。　What　could　have　led　her　to
suspect　that　they　had　come　together？〃

〃She　was　firmly　persuaded；　William；　that　they　_would_　come
together　when　the　Expedition　left　England。　And　she　had　read　in
books　of　Arctic　travel；　of　men　left　behind　by　their　comrades　on
the　march；　and　of　men　adrift　on　ice…bergs。　With　her　mind　full　of
these　images　and　forebodings；　she　saw　Frank　and　Wardour　（or
dreamed　of　them）　in　one　of　her　attacks　of　trance。　I　was　by　her
side；　I　heard　what　she　said　at　the　time。　She　warned　Frank　that
Wardour　had　discovered　the　truth。　She　called　out　to　him；　'While
you　can　stand；　keep　with　the　other　men；　Frank！〃

〃Good　God！〃　cried　Crayford；　〃I　warned　him　myself；　almost　in　those
very　words；　the　last　time　I　saw　him！〃

〃Don't　acknowledge　it；　William！　Keep　her　in　ignorance　of　what　you
have　just　told　me。　She　will　not　take　it　for　what　it　isa
startling　coincidence；　and　nothing　more。　She　will　accept　it　as
positive　confirmation　of　the　faith；　the　miserable　superstitious
faith；　that　is　in　her。　So　long　as　you　don't　actually　know　that
Frank　is　dead；　and　that　he　has　died　by　Wardour's　hand；　deny　what
she　saysmislead　her　for　her　own　sakedispute　all　her
conclusions　as　I　dispute　them。　Help　me　to　raise　her　to　the　better
and　nobler　belief　in　the　mercy　of　God！〃　She　stopped；　and　looked
round　nervously　at　the　doorway。　〃Hush！〃　she　whispered。　〃Do　as　I
have　told　you。　Clara　is　here。〃



Chapter　17。


Clara　stopped　at　the　doorway；　looking　backward　and　forward
distrustfully　between　the　husband　and　wife。　Entering　the
boat…house；　and　approaching　Crayford；　she　took　his　arm；　and　led
him　away　a　few　steps　from　the　place　in　which　Mrs。　Crayford　was
standing。

〃There　is　no　storm　now；　and　there　are　no　duties　to　be　done　on
board　the　ship；〃　she　said；　with　the　faint；　sad　smile　which　it
wrung　Crayford's　heart　to　see。　〃You　are　Lucy's　husband；　and　you
have　an　interest　in　me　for　Lucy's　sake。　Don't　shrink　on　that
account　from　giving　me　pain：　I　can　bear　pain。　Friend　and　brother！
will　you　believe　that　I　have　courage　enough　to　hear　the　worst？
Will　you　promise　not　to　deceive　me　about　Frank？〃

The　gentle　resignation　in　her　voice；　the　sad　pleading　in　her
look；　shook　Crayford's　self…possession　at　the　outset。　He　answered
her　in　the　worst　possible　manner；　he　answered　evasively。

〃My　dear　Clara；〃　he　said；　〃what　have　I　done　that　you　should
suspect　me　of　deceiving　you？〃

She　looked　him　searchingly　in　the　face；　then　glanced　with　renewed
distrust　at　Mrs。　Crayford。　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　Before
any　of　the　three　could　speak　again；　they　were　interrupted　by　the
appearance　of　one　of　Crayford's　brother　officers；　followed　by　two
sailors　carrying　a　hamper　between　them。　Crayford　instantly
dropped　Clara's　arm；　and　seized　the　welcome　opportunity　of
speaking　of　other　things。

〃Any　instructions　from　the　ship；　Steventon？〃　he　asked；
approaching　the　officer。

〃Verbal　instructions　only；〃　Steventon　replied。　〃The　ship　will
sail　with　the　flood…tide。　We　shall　fire　a　gun　to　collect　the
people；　and　send　another　boat　ashore。　In　the　meantime　here　are
some　refreshments　for　the　passengers。　The　ship　is　in　a　state　of
confusion；　the　ladies　will　eat　their　luncheon　more　comfortably
here。〃

Hearing　this；　Mrs。　Crayford　took　_her_　opportunity　of　silencing
Clara　next。

〃Come；　my　dear；〃　she　said。　〃Let　us　lay　the　cloth　before　the
gentlemen　come　in。〃

Clara　was　too　seriously　bent　on　attaining　the　object　which　she
had　in　view　to　be　silenced　in　that　way。　〃I　will　help　you
directly；〃　she　answeredthen　crossed　the　room　and　addressed
herself　to　the　officer；　whose　name　was　Steventon。

〃Can　you　spare　me　a　few　minutes？〃　she　asked。　〃I　have　something　to
say　to　you。〃

〃I　am　entirely　at　your　service；　Miss　Burnham。〃

Answering　in　those　words；　Steventon　dismissed　the　two　sailors。
Mrs。　Crayford　looked　anxiously　at　her　husband。　Crayford　whispered
to　her；　〃Don't　be　alarmed　about　Steventon。　I　have　cautioned　him；
his　discretion　is　to　be　depended　on。〃

Clara　beckoned　to　Crayford　to　return　to　her。

〃I　will　not　keep　you　long；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　promise　not　to
distress　Mr。　Steventon。　Young　as　I　am；　you　shall　both　find　that　I
am　capable　of　self…control。　I　won't　ask　you　to　go　back　to　the
story　of　your　past　sufferings；　I　only　want　to　be　sure　that　I　am
right　about　one　thingI　mean　about　what　happened　at　the　time
when　the　exploring　party　was　dispatched　in　search　of　help。　As　I
understand　it；　you　cast　lots　among　yourselves　who　was　to　go　with
the　party；　and　who　was　to　remain　behind。　Frank　cast　the　lot　to
go。〃　She　paused；　shuddering。　〃And　Richard　Wardour；〃　she　went　on；
〃cast　the　lot　to　remain　behind。　On　your　honor；　as　officers　and
gentlemen；　is　this　the　truth？〃

〃On　my　honor；〃　Crayford　answered；　〃it　is　the　truth。〃

〃On　my　honor；〃　Steventon　repeated；　〃it　is　the　truth。〃

She　looked　at　them；　carefully　considering　her　next　words；　before
she　spoke　again。

〃You　both　drew　the　lot　to　stay　in　the　huts；〃　she　said；　addressing
Crayford　and　Steventon。　〃And　you　are　both　here。　Richard　Wardour
drew　the　lot　to　stay；　and　Richard　Wardour　is　not　here。　How　does
his　name　come　to　be　with　Frank's　on　the　list　of　the　missing？〃

The　question　was　a　dangerous　one　to　answer。　Steventon　left　it　to
Crayford　to　reply。　Once　again　he　answered　evasively。

〃It　doesn't　follow；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　two　men　were
missing　together　because　their　names　happen　to　come　together　on
the　list。〃

Clara　instantly　drew　the　inevitable　conclusion　from　that
ill…considered　reply。

〃Frank　is　missing　from　the　party　of　relief；〃　she　said。　〃Am　I　to
understand　that　Wardour　is　missing　from　the　huts？〃

Both　Crayford　and　Steventon　hesitated。　Mrs。　Crayford　cast　one
indignant　look　at　them；　and　told　the　necessary　lie；　without　a
moment's　hesitation！

〃Yes！〃　she　said。　〃Wardour　is　missing　from　the　huts。〃

Quickly　as　she　had　spoken；　she　had　still　spoken　too　late。　Clara
had　noticed　the　momentary　hesitation　on　the　part　of　the　two
officers。　She　turned　to　Steventon。

〃I　trust　to　your　honor；〃　she　said；　quietly。　〃Am　I　right；　or
wrong；　in　believing　that　Mrs。　Crayford　is　mistaken？〃

She　had　addressed　herself　to　the　right　man　of　the　two。　Steventon
had　no　wife　present　to　exercise　authority　over　him。　Steventon；
put　on　his　honor；　and　fairly　forced　to　say　something；　owned　the
truth。　Wardour　had　replaced　an