a simpleton-第35章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


struck　the　water　within　ten　yards　of　Staines。

The　officer　of　the　watch；　without　the　interval　of　half　a　moment；
gave　the　right　orders；　in　the　voice　of　a　stentor；

〃Let　go　life…buoy。

〃Life…boat's　crew　away。

〃Hands　shorten　sail。

〃Mainsel　up。

〃Main　topsel　to　mast。〃

These　orders　were　executed　with　admirable　swiftness。　　Meantime
there　was　a　mighty　rush　of　feet　throughout　the　frigate；　every
hatchway　was　crammed　with　men　eager　to　force　their　way　on　deck。

In　five　seconds　the　middy　of　the　watch　and　half　her　crew　were　in
the　lee　cutter；　fitted　with　Clifford's　apparatus。

〃Lower　away！〃　cried　the　excited　officer；　〃the　others　will　come　down
by　the　pendants。〃

The　man　stationed；　sitting　on　the　bottom　boards；　eased　away
roundly；　when　suddenly　there　was　a　hitchthe　boat　would　go　no
farther。

〃Lower　away　there　in　the　cutter！　　Why　don't　you　lower？〃　screamed
the　captain；　who　had　come　over　to　leeward　expecting　to　see　the　boat
in　the　water。

〃The　rope　has　swollen；　sir；　and　the　pendants　won't　unreeve；〃　cried
the　middy　in　agony。

〃Volunteers　for　the　weather…boat！〃　shouted　the　first　lieutenant；
but　the　order　was　unnecessary；　for　more　than　the　proper　number　were
in　her　already。

〃Plug　inlower　away。〃

But　mishaps　never　come　singly。　　Scarcely　had　this　boat　gone　a　foot
from　the　davit；　than　the　volunteer　who　was　acting　as　coxswain；　in
reaching　out　for　something；　inadvertently　let　go　the　line；　which；
in　Kynaston's　apparatus；　keeps　the　tackles　hooked；　consequently；
down　went　the　boat　and　crew　twenty　feet；　with　a　terrific　crash；　the
men　were　struggling　for　their　lives；　and　the　boat　was　stove。

But；　meantime；　more　men　having　been　sent　into　the　lee　cutter；　their
weight　caused　the　pendants　to　render；　and　the　boat　got　afloat；　and
was　soon　employed　picking　up　the　struggling　crew。

Seeing　this；　Lieutenant　Fitzroy　collected　some　hands；　and　lowered
the　life…boat　gig；　which　was　fitted　with　common　tackles；　got　down
into　her　himself　by　the　falls；　and　pulling　round　to　windward；
shouted　to　the　signalman　for　directions。

The　signalman　was　at　his　post；　and　had　fixed　his　eye　on　the　man
overboard；　as　his　duty　was；　but　his　mess…mate　was　in　the　stove
boat；　and　he　had　cast　one　anxious　look　down　to　see　if　he　was　saved；
and；　sad　to　relate；　in　that　one　moment　he　had　lost　sight　of
Staines；　the　sudden　darknessthere　was　no　twilightconfused　him
more；　and　the　ship　had　increased　her　drift。

Fitzroy；　however；　made　a　rapid　calculation；　and　pulled　to　windward
with　all　his　might。　　He　was　followed　in　about　a　minute　by　the　other
sound　boat　powerfully　manned；　and　both　boats　melted　away　into　the
night。

There　was　a　long　and　anxious　suspense；　during　which　it　became　pitch
dark；　and　the　ship　burned　blue　lights　to　mark　her　position　more
plainly　to　the　crews　that　were　groping　the　sea　for　that　beloved
passenger。

Captain　Hamilton　had　no　doubt　that　the　fate　of　Staines　was　decided；
one　way　or　other；　long　before　this；　but　he　kept　quiet　until　he　saw
the　plain　signs　of　a　squall　at　hand。　　Then；　as　he　was　responsible
for　the　safety　of　boats　and　ship；　he　sent　up　rockets　to　recall
them。

The　cutter　came　alongside　first。　　Lights　were　poured　on　her；　and
quavering　voices　asked；　〃Have　you　got　him？〃

The　answer　was　dead　silence；　and　sorrowful；　drooping　heads。

Sadly　and　reluctantly　was　the　order　given　to　hoist　the　boat　in。

Then　the　gig　came　alongside。　　Fitzroy　seated　in　her；　with　his　hands
before　his　face；　the　men　gloomy　and　sad。

〃GONE！　　GONE！〃

Soon　the　ship　was　battling　a　heavy　squall。

At　midnight　all　quiet　again；　and　hove　to。　　Then；　at　the　request　of
many；　the　bell　was　tolled；　and　the　ship's　company　mustered
bareheaded；　and　many　a　stout　seaman　in　tears；　as　the　last　service
was　read　for　Christopher　Staines。


CHAPTER　XIV。


Rosa　fell　ill　with　grief　at　the　hotel；　and　could　not　move　for　some
days；　but　the　moment　she　was　strong　enough；　she　insisted　on　leaving
Plymouth：　like　all　wounded　things；　she　must　drag　herself　home。

But　what　a　home！　　How　empty　it　struck；　and　she　heart…sick　and
desolate。　　Now　all　the　familiar　places　wore　a　new　aspect：　the
little　yard；　where　he　had　so　walked　and　waited；　became　a　temple　to
her；　and　she　came　out　and　sat　in　it；　and　now　first　felt　to　the　full
how　much　he　had　suffered　therewith　what　fortitude。　　She　crept
about　the　house；　and　kissed　the　chair　he　had　sat　in；　and　every
much…used　place　and　thing　of　the　departed。

Her　shallow　nature　deepened　and　deepened　under　this　bereavement；　of
which；　she　said　to　herself；　with　a　shudder；　she　was　the　cause。　　And
this　is　the　course　of　nature；　there　is　nothing　like　suffering　to
enlighten　the　giddy　brain；　widen　the　narrow　mind；　improve　the
trivial　heart。

As　her　regrets　were　tender　and　deep；　so　her　vows　of　repentance　were
sincere。　　Oh；　what　a　wife　she　would　make　when　he　came　back！　how
thoughtful！　how　prudent！　how　loyal！　and　never　have　a　secret。　　She
who　had　once　said；　〃What　is　the　use　of　your　writing？　nobody　will
publish　it；〃　now　collected　and　perused　every　written　scrap。　　With
simple　affection　she　even　locked　up　his　very　waste…paper　basket；
full　of　fragments　he　had　torn；　or　useless　papers　he　had　thrown
there；　before　he　went　to　Plymouth。

In　the　drawer　of　his　writing…table　she　found　his　diary。　　It　was　a
thick　quarto：　it　began　with　their　marriage；　and　ended　with　his
leaving　homefor　then　he　took　another　volume。　　This　diary　became
her　Bible；　she　studied　it　daily；　till　her　tears　hid　his　lines。　　The
entries　were　very　miscellaneous；　very　exact；　it　was　a　map　of　their
married　life。　　But　what　she　studied　most　was　his　observations　on
her　own　character；　so　scientific；　yet　so　kindly；　and　his　scholar…
like　and　wise　reflections。　　The　book　was　an　unconscious　picture　of
a　great　mind　she　had　hitherto　but　glanced　at：　now　she　saw　it　all
plain　before　her；　saw　it；　understood　it；　adored　it；　mourned　it。
Such　women　are　shallow；　not　for　want　of　a　head　upon　their
shoulders；　but　of　ATTENTION。　　They　do　not　really　study　anything：
they　have　been　taught　at　their　schools　the　bad　art　of　skimming；　but
let　their　hearts　compel　their　brains　to　think　and　think；　the　result
is　considerable。　　The　deepest　philosopher　never　fathomed　a
character　more　thoroughly　than　this　poor　child　fathomed　her
philosopher；　when　she　had　read　his　journal　ten　or　eleven　times；　and
bedewed　it　with　a　thousand　tears。

One　passage　almost　cut　her　more　intelligent　heart　in　twain：

〃This　dark　day　I　have　done　a　thing　incredible。　　I　have　spoken　with
brutal　harshness　to　the　innocent　creature　I　have　sworn　to　protect。
She　had　run　in　debt；　through　inexperience；　and　that　unhappy
timidity　which　makes　women　conceal　an　error　till　it　ramifies；　by
concealment；　into　a　fault；　and　I　must　storm　and　rave　at　her；　till
she　actually　fainted　away。　　Brute！　　Ruffian！　　Monster！　　And　she；
how　did　she　punish　me；　poor　lamb？　　By　soft　and　tender　wordslike　a
lady；　as　she　is。　　Oh；　my　sweet　Rosa；　I　wish　you　could　know　how　you
are　avenged。　　Talk　of　the　scourgethe　cat！　　I　would　be　thankful
for　two　dozen　lashes。　　Ah！　there　is　no　need；　I　think；　to　punish　a
man　who　has　been　cruel　to　a　woman。　　Let　him　alone。　　He　will　punish
himself　more　than　you　can；　if　he　is　really　a　man。〃

From　the　date　of　that　entry；　this　self…reproach　and　self…torture
kept　cropping　up　every　now　and　then　in　the　diary；　and　it　appeared
to　have　been　not　entirely　without　its　influence　in　sending　Staines
to　sea；　though　the　main　reason　he　gave　was　that　his　Rosa　might　have
the　comforts　and　luxuries　she　had　enjoyed　before　she　married　him。

One　day；　while　she　was　crying　over　this　diary；　Uncle　Philip　called；
but　not　to　comfort　her；　I　promise　you。　　He　burst　on　her；　irate；　to
take　her　to　task。　　He　had　returned；　learned　Christopher's
departure；　and　settled　the　reason　in　his　own　mind：　that　uxorious
fool　was　gone　to　sea　by　a　natural　reaction；　his　eyes　were　open　to
his　wife　at　last；　and　he　was　sick　of　her　folly；　so　he　had　fled　to
distant　climes；　as　who　would　not；　that　could？

〃SO；　ma'am；〃　said　he；　〃my　nephew　is　gone　to　sea；　I　findall　in　a
hurry。　　Pray　may　I　ask　what　he　has　done　that　for？〃

It　was　a　very　simple　question；　yet　it　did　not　elicit　a　very　plain
answer。　　She　only　stared　at　this　abrupt　inquisitor；　and　then　cried；
piteously；　〃Oh；　Uncle　Philip！〃　and　burst　out　sobbing。

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter？〃

〃You　WILL　hate　me　now。　　He　is　gone　to　make　money　for　ME；　and　I
would　rather　have　lived　on　a　crust。　　Uncledon't　hate　me。　　I'm　a
poor；　bereaved；　heart…broken　creature；　that　repents。〃

〃Repents！　heigho！　why；　what　have　you　been　up　to　now；　ma'am？　　No
great　harm；　I'll　be　bound。　　Flirting　a　little　with　some　FOOLeh？〃

〃Flirting！　　Me！　a　married　woman。〃

〃Oh；　to　be　sure；　I　forgot。　　Why；　surely　he　has　not　deserted　you。〃

〃My　Christopher　desert　me！　　He　loves　me　too　well；　far　more　than　I
deserve；　but　not　more　than　I　will。　　Uncle　Philip；　I　am　too　confused
and　wretched　to　tell　you　all　that　has　happened；　but　I　know　you　love
him；　though　you　had　a　tiff：　uncle；　he　called　on　you；　to　shake　hands
and　ask　your　forgiveness；　poor　fellow！　　He　was　so　sorry　you　were
away。　　Please　read　his　dear　diary：　it　will　tell　you　all；　better
than　his　poor　foolish　wife　can。　　I　know　it　by　heart。　　I'll　show　you
where　you　and　he　quarrelled　about　me。　　There；　see。〃　　And　she　showed
him　the　passage　with　her　finger。　　〃He　never　told　me　it　was　that；　or
I　would　have　come　and　begged　your　pardon　on　my　knees。　　But　see　how
sorry　he　was。　　There；　see。　　And　now　I'll　show　you　another　place；
where　my　Christopher　speaks　of　your　many；　many　acts　of　kindness。
There；　see。　　And　now　please　let　me　show　you　how　he　longed　for
reconciliation。　　There；　see。　　And　it　is　the　same　through　the　book。
And　now　I'll　show　you　how　grieved　he　was　to　go　without　your
blessing。　　I　told　him　I　was　sure　you　would　give　him　that；　and　him
going　away。　　Ah；　me！　will　he　ever　return？　　Uncle　dear；　don't　hate
me。　　What　shall　I　do；　now　he　is　gone；　if　you　disown　me？　　Why；　you
are　the　only　Staines　left　me　to　love。〃

〃Disown　you；　ma'am！　that　I'll　never　do。　　You　are　a　good…hearted
young　woman；　I　find。　　There；　run　and　dry　your　eyes；　and　let　me　read
Christopher's　diary　all　through。　　Then　I　shall　see　how　the　land
lies。〃

Rosa　complied　with　his　proposal；　and　left　him　alone　while　she
bathed　her　eyes；　and　tried　to　compose　herself；　for　she　was　all
trembling　at　this　sudden　irruption。

When　she　returned　to　the　drawing…room；　he　was　walking　about；
looking　grave　and　thoughtful。

〃It　is　the　old　story；〃　said　he；　rather　gently：　〃a　MISUNDERSTANDING。
How　wise　our　ancestors　were　that　first　used　that　word　to　mean　a
quarrel！　for；　look　into　twenty　quarrels；　and　you　shall　detect　a
score　of　mis…under…standings。　　Yet　our　American　cousins　must　go　and
substitute　the　un…ideaed　word　'difficulty'；　that　is　wonderful。　　I
had　no　quarrel　with　him：　delighted　to　see　either　of　you。　　But　I　had
called　twice　on　him；　so　I　thought　he　ought　to　get　over　his　temper；
and　call　on　a　tried　friend　like　me。　　A　misunderstanding！　　Now；　my
dear；　let　us　have　no　more　of　these　misunderstandings。　　You　will
always　be　welcome　at　my　house；　and　I　shall　often　come　here　and　look
after　you　and　your　interests。　　What　do　you　mean　to　do；　I　wonder？〃

〃Sir；　I　am　to　go　home　to　my　father；　if　he　will　be　troubled　with　me。
I　have　written　to　him。〃

〃And　what　i