for the term of his natural life-第53章

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〃Which　other　man？〃

〃The　man　who　was　with　us；　the　other　one；　you　know。〃

〃Poor　Bates？〃

〃No；　not　Bates。　　The　prisoner。　　What　was　his　name？〃

〃Oh；　ahthe　prisoner；〃　said　Frere；　as　if　he；　too；　had　forgotten。

〃Why；　you　know；　darling；　he　was　sent　to　Port　Arthur。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Sylvia；　with　a　shudder。　　〃And　is　he　there　still？〃

〃I　believe　so；〃　said　Frere；　with　a　frown。

〃By　the　by；〃　said　Vickers；　〃I　suppose　we　shall　have　to　get　that　fellow　up　for　the　trial。　　We　have　to　identify　the　villains。〃

〃Can't　you　and　I　do　that？〃　asked　Frere　uneasily。

〃I　am　afraid　not。　　I　wouldn't　like　to　swear　to　a　man　after　five　years。〃

〃By　George；〃　said　Frere；　〃I'd　swear　to　him！　　When　once　I　see　a　man's　face　that's　enough　for　me。〃

〃We　had　better　get　up　a　few　prisoners　who　were　at　the　Harbour　at　the　time；〃　said　Vickers；　as　if　wishing　to　terminate　the　discussion。　〃I　wouldn't　let　the　villains　slip　through　my　fingers　for　anything。〃

〃And　are　the　men　at　Port　Arthur　old　men？〃　asked　Meekin。

〃Old　convicts；〃　returned　Vickers。　　〃It's　our　place　for　'colonial　sentence'　men。　The　worst　we　have　are　there。　　It　has　taken　the　place　of　Macquarie　Harbour。　What　excitement　there　will　be　among　them　when　the　schooner　goes　down　on　Monday！〃

〃Excitement！　　Indeed？　　How　charming！　　Why？〃　asked　Meekin。

〃To　bring　up　the　witnesses；　my　dear　sir。　　Most　of　the　prisoners　are　Lifers；　you　see；　and　a　trip　to　Hobart　Town　is　like　a　holiday　for　them。〃

〃And　do　they　never　leave　the　place　when　sentenced　for　life？〃　said　Meekin；　nibbling　a　biscuit。　　〃How　distressing！〃

〃Never；　except　when　they　die；〃　answered　Frere；　with　a　laugh；　〃and　then　they　are　buried　on　an　island。　　Oh；　it's　a　fine　place！　You　should　come　down　with　me　and　have　a　look　at　it；　Mr。　Meekin。　Picturesque；　I　can　assure　you。〃

〃My　dear　Maurice；〃　says　Sylvia；　going　to　the　piano；　as　if　in　protest　to　the　turn　the　conversation　was　taking；　〃how　can　you　talk　like　that？〃

〃I　should　much　like　to　see　it；〃　said　Meekin；　still　nibbling；　〃for　Sir　John　was　saying　something　about　a　chaplaincy　there；　and　I　understand　that　the　climate　is　quite　endurable。〃

The　convict　servant；　who　had　entered　with　some　official　papers　for　the　Major；　stared　at　the　dainty　clergyman；　and　rough　Maurice　laughed　again。

〃Oh；　it's　a　stunning　climate；〃　he　said；　〃and　nothing　to　do。　Just　the　place　for　you。　　There's　a　regular　little　colony　there。　All　the　scandals　in　Van　Diemen's　Land　are　hatched　at　Port　Arthur。〃

This　agreeable　chatter　about　scandal　and　climate　seemed　a　strange　contrast　to　the　grave…yard　island　and　the　men　who　were　prisoners　for　life。　Perhaps　Sylvia　thought　so；　for　she　struck　a　few　chords；　which；　compelling　the　party；　out　of　sheer　politeness；　to　cease　talking　for　the　moment；　caused　the　conversation　to　flag；　and　hinted　to　Mr。　Meekin　that　it　was　time　for　him　to　depart。

〃Good　afternoon；　dear　Miss　Vickers；〃　he　said；　rising　with　his　sweetest　smile。　〃Thank　you　for　your　delightful　music。　　That　piece　is　an　old；　old　favourite　of　mine。　　It　was　quite　a　favourite　of　dear　Lady　Jane's；　and　the　Bishop's。　　Pray　excuse　me；　my　dear　Captain　Frere；　but　this　strange　occurrenceof　the　capture　of　the　wreckers；　you　know　must　be　my　apology　for　touching　on　a　delicate　subject。　　How　charming　to　contemplate！　　Yourself　and　your　dear　young　lady！　　The　preserved　and　preserver；　dear　Major。　　'None　but　the　brave；　you　know；　none　but　the　brave；　none　but　the　brave；　deserve　the　fair！'　You　remember　glorious　John；　of　course。　　Well；　good　afternoon。〃

〃It's　rather　a　long　invitation；〃　said　Vickers；　always　well　disposed　to　anyone　who　praised　his　daughter；　〃but　if　you've　nothing　better　to　do；　come　and　dine　with　us　on　Christmas　Day；　Mr。　Meekin。　　We　usually　have　a　little　gathering　then。〃

〃Charmed；〃　said　Meekin〃charmed；　I　am　sure。　　It　is　so　refreshing　to　meet　with　persons　of　one's　own　tastes　in　this　delightful　colony。　'Kindred　souls　together　knit；'　you　know；　dear　Miss　Vickers。　　Indeed　yes。　Once　moregood　afternoon。〃

Sylvia　burst　into　laughter　as　the　door　closed。　　〃What　a　ridiculous　creature！〃　said　she。　　〃Bless　the　man；　with　his　gloves　and　his　umbrella；　and　his　hair　and　his　scent！　　Fancy　that　mincing　noodle　showing　me　the　way　to　Heaven！　　I'd　rather　have　old　Mr。　Bowes；　papa；　though　he　is　as　blind　as　a　beetle；　and　makes　you　so　angry　by　bottling　up　his　trumps　as　you　call　it。〃

〃My　dear　Sylvia；〃　said　Vickers；　seriously；　〃Mr。　Meekin　is　a　clergyman；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　I　know；〃　said　Sylvia；　〃but　then；　a　clergyman　can　talk　like　a　man；　can't　he？　　Why　do　they　send　such　people　here？　　I　am　sure　they　could　do　much　better　at　home。　　Oh；　by　the　way；　papa　dear；　poor　old　Danny's　come　back　again。　　I　told　him　he　might　go　into　the　kitchen。　　May　he；　dear？〃

〃You'll　have　the　house　full　of　these　vagabonds；　you　little　puss；〃　said　Vickers；　kissing　her。　　〃I　suppose　I　must　let　him　stay。　What　has　he　been　doing　now？〃

〃His　wife；〃　said　Sylvia；　〃locked　him　up；　you　know；　for　being　drunk。　Wife！　　What　do　people　want　with　wives；　I　wonder？〃

〃Ask　Maurice；〃　said　her　father；　smiling。

Sylvia　moved　away；　and　tossed　her　head。

〃What　does　he　know　about　it？　　Maurice；　you　are　a　great　bear；　and　if　you　hadn't　saved　my　life；　you　know；　I　shouldn't　love　you　a　bit。　There；　you　may　kiss　me〃　（her　voice　grew　softer）。　　〃This　convict　business　has　brought　it　all　back；　and　I　should　be　ungrateful　if　I　didn't　love　you；　dear。〃

Maurice　Frere；　with　suddenly　crimsoned　face；　accepted　the　proffered　caress；　and　then　turned　to　the　window。　　A　grey…clothed　man　was　working　in　the　garden；　and　whistling　as　he　worked。　　〃They're　not　so　badly　off；〃　said　Frere；　under　his　breath。

〃What's　that；　sir？〃　asked　Sylvia。

〃That　I　am　not　half　good　enough　for　you；〃　cried　Frere；　with　sudden　vehemence。　〃I〃

〃It's　my　happiness　you've　got　to　think　of；　Captain　Bruin；〃　said　the　girl。　〃You've　saved　my　life；　haven't　you；　and　I　should　be　wicked　if　I　didn't　love　you！　　No；　no　more　kisses；〃　she　added；　putting　out　her　hand。　〃Come；　papa；　it's　cool　now；　let's　walk　in　the　garden；　and　leave　Maurice　to　think　of　his　own　unworthiness。〃

Maurice　watched　the　retreating　pair　with　a　puzzled　expression。　〃She　always　leaves　me　for　her　father；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃I　wonder　if　she　really　loves　me；　or　if　it's　only　gratitude；　after　all？〃

He　had　often　asked　himself　the　same　question　during　the　five　years　of　his　wooing；　but　he　had　never　satisfactorily　answered　it。




CHAPTER　II。

SARAH　PURFOY'S　REQUEST。



The　evening　passed　as　it　had　passed　a　hundred　times　before；　and　having　smoked　a　pipe　at　the　barracks；　Captain　Frere　returned　home。　His　home　was　a　cottage　on　the　New　Town　Roada　cottage　which　he　had　occupied　since　his　appointment　as　Assistant　Police　Magistrate；　an　appointment　given　to　him　as　a　reward　for　his　exertions　in　connection　with　the　Osprey　mutiny。　　Captain　Maurice　Frere　had　risen　in　life。　Quartered　in　Hobart　Town；　he　had　assumed　a　position　in　society；　and　had　held　several　of　those　excellent　appointments　which　in　the　year　1834　were　bestowed　upon　officers　of　garrison。　　He　had　been　Superintendent　of　Works　at　Bridgewater；　and　when　he　got　his　captaincy；　Assistant　Police　Magistrate　at　Bothwell。　　The　affair　of　the　Osprey　made　a　noise；　and　it　was　tacitly　resolved　that　the　first　〃good　thing〃　that　fell　vacant　should　be　given　to　the　gallant　preserver　of　Major　Vickers's　child。

Major　Vickers　also　prospered。　　He　had　always　been　a　careful　man；　and　having　saved　some　money；　had　purchased　land　on　favourable　terms。　The　〃assignment　system〃　enabled　him　to　cultivate　portions　of　it　at　a　small　expense；　and；　following　the　usual　custom；　he　stocked　his　run　with　cattle　and　sheep。　　He　had　sold　his　commission；　and　was　now　a　comparatively　wealthy　man。　　He　owned　a　fine　estate；　the　house　he　lived　in　was　purchased　property。　　He　was　in　good　odour　at　Government　House；　and　his　office　of　Superintendent　of　Convicts　caused　him　to　take　an　active　part　in　that　local　government　which　keeps　a　man　constantly　before　the　public。　Major　Vickers；　a　colonist　against　his　will；　had　become；　by　force　of　circumstances；　one　of　the　leading　men　in　Van　Diemen's　Land。　His　daughter　was　a　good　match　for　any　man；　and　many　ensigns　and　lieutenants；　cursing　their　hard　lot　in　〃country　quarters〃；　many　sons　of　settlers　living　on　their　father's　station　among　the　mountains；　and　many　dapper　clerks　on　the　civ