for the term of his natural life-第39章

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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　civil　establishment　envied　Maurice　Frere　his　good　fortune。　Some　went　so　far　as　to　say　that　the　beautiful　daughter　of　〃Regulation　Vickers〃　was　too　good　for　the　coarse　red…faced　Frere；　who　was　noted　for　his　fondness　for　low　society；　and　overbearing；　almost　brutal　demeanour。　No　one　denied；　however；　that　Captain　Frere　was　a　valuable　officer。　It　was　said　that；　in　consequence　of　his　tastes；　he　knew　more　about　the　tricks　of　convicts　than　any　man　on　the　island。　　It　was　said；　even；　that　he　was　wont　to　disguise　himself；　and　mix　with　the　pass…holders　and　convict　servants；　in　order　to　learn　their　signs　and　mysteries。　When　in　charge　at　Bridgewater　it　had　been　his　delight　to　rate　the　chain…gangs　in　their　own　hideous　jargon；　and　to　astound　a　new…comer　by　his　knowledge　of　his　previous　history。　　The　convict　population　hated　and　cringed　to　him；　for；　with　his　brutality；　and　violence；　he　mingled　a　ferocious　good　humour；　that　resulted　sometimes　in　tacit　permission　to　go　without　the　letter　of　the　law。　　Yet；　as　the　convicts　themselves　said；　〃a　man　was　never　safe　with　the　Captain〃；　for；　after　drinking　and　joking　with　them；　as　the　Sir　Oracle　of　some　public…house　whose　hostess　he　delighted　to　honour；　he　would　disappear　through　a　side　door　just　as　the　constables　burst　in　at　the　back；　and　show　himself　as　remorseless；　in　his　next　morning's　sentence　of　the　captured；　as　if　he　had　never　entered　a　tap…room　in　all　his　life。　His　superiors　called　this　〃zeal〃；　his　inferiors　〃treachery〃。　　For　himself；　he　laughed。　　〃Everything　is　fair　to　those　wretches；〃　he　was　accustomed　to　say。

As　the　time　for　his　marriage　approached；　however；　he　had　in　a　measure　given　up　these　exploits；　and　strove；　by　his　demeanour；　to　make　his　acquaintances　forget　several　remarkable　scandals　concerning　his　private　life；　for　the　promulgation　of　which　he　once　cared　little。　When　Commandant　at　the　Maria　Island；　and　for　the　first　two　years　after　his　return　from　the　unlucky　expedition　to　Macquarie　Harbour；　he　had　not　suffered　any　fear　of　society's　opinion　to　restrain　his　vices；　but；　as　the　affection　for　the　pure　young　girl；　who　looked　upon　him　as　her　saviour　from　a　dreadful　death；　increased　in　honest　strength；　he　had　resolved　to　shut　up　those　dark　pages　in　his　colonial　experience；　and　to　read　therein　no　more。　　He　was　not　remorseful；　he　was　not　even　disgusted。　He　merely　came　to　the　conclusion　that；　when　a　man　married；　he　was　to　consider　certain　extravagances　common　to　all　bachelors　as　at　an　end。　He　had　〃had　his　fling；　like　all　young　men〃；　perhaps　he　had　been　foolish　like　most　young　men；　but　no　reproachful　ghost　of　past　misdeeds　haunted　him。　His　nature　was　too　prosaic　to　admit　the　existence　of　such　phantoms。　Sylvia；　in　her　purity　and　excellence；　was　so　far　above　him；　that　in　raising　his　eyes　to　her；　he　lost　sight　of　all　the　sordid　creatures　to　whose　level　he　had　once　debased　himself；　and　had　come　in　part　to　regard　the　sins　he　had　committed；　before　his　redemption　by　the　love　of　this　bright　young　creature；　as　evil　done　by　him　under　a　past　condition　of　existence；　and　for　the　consequences　of　which　he　was　not　responsible。　One　of　the　consequences；　however；　was　very　close　to　him　at　this　moment。　His　convict　servant　had；　according　to　his　instructions；　sat　up　for　him；　and　as　he　entered；　the　man　handed　him　a　letter；　bearing　a　superscription　in　a　female　hand。

〃Who　brought　this？〃　asked　Frere；　hastily　tearing　it　open　to　read。　〃The　groom；　sir。　　He　said　that　there　was　a　gentleman　at　the　'George　the　Fourth'　who　wished　to　see　you。〃

Frere　smiled；　in　admiration　of　the　intelligence　which　had　dictated　such　a　message；　and　then　frowned　in　anger　at　the　contents　of　the　letter。　〃You　needn't　wait；〃　he　said　to　the　man。　　〃I　shall　have　to　go　back　again；　I　suppose。〃

Changing　his　forage　cap　for　a　soft　hat；　and　selecting　a　stick　from　a　miscellaneous　collection　in　a　corner；　he　prepared　to　retrace　his　steps。　〃What　does　she　want　now？〃　he　asked　himself　fiercely；　as　he　strode　down　the　moonlit　road；　but　beneath　the　fierceness　there　was　an　under…current　of　petulance；　which　implied　that；　whatever　〃she〃　did　want；　she　had　a　right　to　expect。

The　〃George　the　Fourth〃　was　a　long　low　house；　situated　in　Elizabeth　Street。　Its　front　was　painted　a　dull　red；　and　the　narrow　panes　of　glass　in　its　windows；　and　the　ostentatious　affectation　of　red　curtains　and　homely　comfort；　gave　to　it　a　spurious　appearance　of　old　English　jollity。　　A　knot　of　men　round　the　door　melted　into　air　as　Captain　Frere　approached；　for　it　was　now　past　eleven　o'clock；　and　all　persons　found　in　the　streets　after　eight　could　be　compelled　to　〃show　their　pass〃　or　explain　their　business。　The　convict　constables　were　not　scrupulous　in　the　exercise　of　their　duty；　and　the　bluff　figure　of　Frere；　clad　in　the　blue　serge　which　he　affected　as　a　summer　costume；　looked　not　unlike　that　of　a　convict　constable。

Pushing　open　the　side　door　with　the　confident　manner　of　one　well　acquainted　with　the　house；　Frere　entered；　and　made　his　way　along　a　narrow　passage　to　a　glass　door　at　the　further　end。　　A　tap　upon　this　door　brought　a　white…faced；　pock…pitted　Irish　girl；　who　curtsied　with　servile　recognition　of　the　visitor；　and　ushered　him　up