for the term of his natural life-第5章

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〃Captain　Vickers；　another　glass　of　wine？〃　cried　Blunt；　hastening　to　cut　the　anecdote　short。

〃Thank　you；　no　more。　　I　have　the　headache。〃

〃Headacheumdon't　wonder　at　it；　going　down　among　those　fellows。　It　is　infamous　the　way　they　crowd　these　ships。　　Here　we　have　over　two　hundred　souls　on　board；　and　not　boat　room　for　half　of　'em。〃

〃Two　hundred　souls！　　Surely　not；〃　says　Vickers。　　〃By　the　King's　Regulations〃

〃One　hundred　and　eighty　convicts；　fifty　soldiers；　thirty　in　ship's　crew；　all　told；　andhow　many？one；　two　threeseven　in　the　cuddy。　How　many　do　you　make　that？〃

〃We　are　just　a　little　crowded　this　time；〃　says　Best。

〃It　is　very　wrong；〃　says　Vickers；　pompously。　　〃Very　wrong。　By　the　King's　Regulations〃

But　the　subject　of　the　King's　Regulations　was　even　more　distasteful　to　the　cuddy　than　Pine's　interminable　anecdotes；　and　Mrs。　Vickers　hastened　to　change　the　subject。

〃Are　you　not　heartily　tired　of　this　dreadful　life；　Mr。　Frere？〃

〃Well；　it　is　not　exactly　the　life　I　had　hoped　to　lead；〃　said　Frere；　rubbing　a　freckled　hand　over　his　stubborn　red　hair；　〃but　I　must　make　the　best　of　it。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　the　lady；　in　that　subdued　manner　with　which　one　comments　upon　a　well…known　accident；　〃it　must　have　been　a　great　shock　to　you　to　be　so　suddenly　deprived　of　so　large　a　fortune。〃

〃Not　only　that；　but　to　find　that　the　black　sheep　who　got　it　all　sailed　for　India　within　a　week　of　my　uncle's　death！　　Lady　Devine　got　a　letter　from　him　on　the　day　of　the　funeral　to　say　that　he　had　taken　his　passage　in　the　Hydaspes　for　Calcutta；　and　never　meant　to　come　back　again！〃

〃Sir　Richard　Devine　left　no　other　children？〃

〃No；　only　this　mysterious　Dick；　whom　I　never　saw；　but　who　must　have　hated　me。〃

〃Dear；　dear！　　These　family　quarrels　are　dreadful　things。　Poor　Lady　Devine；　to　lose　in　one　day　a　husband　and　a　son！〃

〃And　the　next　morning　to　hear　of　the　murder　of　her　cousin！　You　know　that　we　are　connected　with　the　Bellasis　family。　My　aunt's　father　married　a　sister　of　the　second　Lord　Bellasis。〃

〃Indeed。　　That　was　a　horrible　murder。　　So　you　think　that　the　dreadful　man　you　pointed　out　the　other　day　did　it？〃

〃The　jury　seemed　to　think　not；〃　said　Mr。　Frere；　with　a　laugh；　〃but　I　don't　know　anybody　else　who　could　have　a　motive　for　it。　However；　I'll　go　on　deck　and　have　a　smoke。〃

〃I　wonder　what　induced　that　old　hunks　of　a　shipbuilder　to　try　to　cut　off　his　only　son　in　favour　of　a　cub　of　that　sort；〃　said　Surgeon　Pine　to　Captain　Vickers　as　the　broad　back　of　Mr。　Maurice　Frere　disappeared　up　the　companion。

〃Some　boyish　follies　abroad；　I　believe；　self…made　men　are　always　impatient　of　extravagance。　　But　it　is　hard　upon　Frere。　　He　is　not　a　bad　sort　of　fellow　for　all　his　roughness；　and　when　a　young　man　finds　that　an　accident　deprives　him　of　a　quarter　of　a　million　of　money　and　leaves　him　without　a　sixpence　beyond　his　commission　in　a　marching　regiment　under　orders　for　a　convict　settlement；　he　has　some　reason　to　rail　against　fate。〃

〃How　was　it　that　the　son　came　in　for　the　money　after　all；　then？〃

〃Why；　it　seems　that　when　old　Devine　returned　from　sending　for　his　lawyer　to　alter　his　will；　he　got　a　fit　of　apoplexy；　the　result　of　his　rage；　I　suppose；　and　when　they　opened　his　room　door　in　the　morning　they　found　him　dead。〃

〃And　the　son's　away　on　the　sea　somewhere；〃　said　Mr。　Vickers　〃and　knows　nothing　of　his　good　fortune。　　It　is　quite　a　romance。〃

〃I　am　glad　that　Frere　did　not　get　the　money；〃　said　Pine；　grimly　sticking　to　his　prejudice；　〃I　have　seldom　seen　a　face　I　liked　less；　even　among　my　yellow　jackets　yonder。〃

〃Oh　dear；　Dr。　　Pine！　　How　can　you？〃　interjected　Mrs。　Vickers。　〃'Pon　my　soul；　ma'am；　some　of　them　have　mixed　in　good　society；　I　can　tell　you。　　There's　pickpockets　and　swindlers　down　below　who　have　lived　in　the　best　company。〃

〃Dreadful　wretches！〃　cried　Mrs。　Vickers；　shaking　out　her　skirts。　〃John；　I　will　go　on　deck。〃

At　the　signal；　the　party　rose。

〃Ecod；　Pine；〃　says　Captain　Blunt；　as　the　two　were　left　alone　together；　〃you　and　I　are　always　putting　our　foot　into　it！〃

〃Women　are　always　in　the　way　aboard　ship；〃　returned　Pine。

〃Ah！　　Doctor；　you　don't　mean　that；　I　know；〃　said　a　rich　soft　voice　at　his　elbow。

It　was　Sarah　Purfoy　emerging　from　her　cabin。

〃Here　is　the　wench！〃　cries　Blunt。　　〃We　are　talking　of　your　eyes；　my　dear。〃　〃Well；　they'll　bear　talking　about；　captain；　won't　they？〃　asked　she；　turning　them　full　upon　him。

〃By　the　Lord；　they　will！〃　says　Blunt；　smacking　his　hand　on　the　table。　〃They're　the　finest　eyes　I've　seen　in　my　life；　and　they've　got　the　reddest　lips　under　'm　that〃

〃Let　me　pass；　Captain　Blunt；　if　you　please。　　Thank　you；　doctor。〃

And　before　the　admiring　commander　could　prevent　her；　she　modestly　swept　out　of　the　cuddy。

〃She's　a　fine　piece　of　goods；　eh？〃　asked　Blunt；　watching　her。　〃A　spice　o'　the　devil　in　her；　too。〃

Old　Pine　took　a　huge　pinch　of　snuff。

〃Devil！　　I　tell　you　what　it　is；　Blunt。　　I　don't　know　where　Vickers　picked　her　up；　but　I'd　rather　trust　my　life　with　the　worst　of　those　ruffians　'tween　decks；　than　in　her　keeping；　if　I'd　done　her　an　injury。〃

Blunt　laughed。　　

〃I　don't　believe　she'd　think　much　of　sticking　a　man；　either！〃　he　said；　rising。　　〃But　I　must　go　on　deck；　doctor。〃　Pine　followed　him　more　slowly。　　〃I　don't　pretend　to　know　much　about　women；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃but　that　girl's　got　a　story　of　her　own；　or　I'm　much　mistaken。　　What　brings　her　on　board　this　ship　as　lady's…maid　is　more　than　I　can　fathom。〃　And　as；　sticking　his　pipe　between　his　teeth；　he　walked　down　the　now　deserted　deck　to　the　main　hatchway；　and　turned　to　watch　the　white　figure　gliding　up　and　down　the　poop…deck；　he　saw　it　joined　by　another　and　a　darker　one；　he　muttered；　〃She's　after　no　good；　I'll　swear。〃

At　that　moment　his　arm　was　touched　by　a　soldier　in　undress　uniform；　who　had　come　up　the　hatchway。　　〃What　is　it？〃

The　man　drew　himself　up　and　saluted。

〃If　you　please；　doctor；　one　of　the　prisoners　is　taken　sick；　and　as　the　dinner's　over；　and　he's　pretty　bad；　I　ventured　to　disturb　your　honour。〃

〃You　ass！〃　says　Pinewho；　like　many　gruff　men；　had　a　good　heart　under　his　rough　shell〃why　didn't　you　tell　me　before？〃　and　knocking　the　ashes　out　of　his　barely…lighted　pipe；　he　stopped　that　implement　with　a　twist　of　paper　and　followed　his　summoner　down　the　hatchway。

In　the　meantime　the　woman　who　was　the　object　of　the　grim　old　fellow's　suspicions　was　enjoying　the　comparative　coolness　of　the　night　air。　Her　mistress　and　her　mistress's　daughter　had　not　yet　come　out　of　their　cabin；　and　the　men　had　not　yet　finished　their　evening's　tobacco。　The　awning　had　been　removed；　the　stars　were　shining　in　the　moonless　sky；　the　poop　guard　had　shifted　itself　to　the　quarter…deck；　and　Miss　Sarah　Purfoy　was　walking　up　and　down　the　deserted　poop；　in　close　t阾e…？t阾e　with　no　less　a　person　than　Captain　Blunt　himself。　She　had　passed　and　repassed　him　twice　silently；　and　at　the　third　turn　the　big　fellow；　peering　into　the　twilight　ahead　somewhat　uneasily；　obeyed　the　glitter　of　her　great　eyes；　and　joined　her。

〃You　weren't　put　out；　my　wench；〃　he　asked；　〃at　what　I　said　to　you　below？〃

She　affected　surprise。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　at　myat　what　Iat　my　rudeness；　there！　　For　I　was　a　bit　rude；　I　admit。〃

〃I？　　Oh　dear；　no。　　You　were　not　rude。〃

〃Glad　you　think　so！〃　returned　Phineas　Blunt；　a　little　ashamed　at　what　looked　like　a　confession　of　weakness　on　his　part。

〃You　would　have　beenif　I　had　let　you。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃I　saw　it　in　your　face。　　Do　you　think　a　woman　can't　see　in　a　man's　face　when　he's　going　to　insult　her？〃

〃Insult　you；　hey！　　Upon　my　word！〃

〃Yes；　insult　me。　　You're　old　enough　to　be　my　father；　Captain　Blunt；　but　you've　no　right　to　kiss　me；　unless　I　ask　you。〃

〃Haw；　haw！〃　laughed　Blunt。　　〃I　like　that。　　Ask　me！　　Egad；　I　wish　you　would；　you　black…eyed　minx！〃

〃So　would　other　people；　I　have　no　doubt。〃　〃That　soldier　officer；　for　instance。　　Hey；　Miss　Modesty？　　I've　seen　him　looking　at　you　as　though　he'd　like　to　try。〃

The　girl　flashed　at　him　with　a　quick　side　glance。

〃You　mean　Lieutenant　Frere；　I　suppose。　　Are　you　jealous　of　him？〃

〃Jealous！　　Why；　damme；　the　lad　was　only　breeched　the　other　day。　　Jealous！〃

〃I　think　you　areand　you've　no　need　to　be。　　He　is　a　stupid　booby；　though　he　is　Lieutenant　Frere。〃

〃So　he　is。　　You　are　right　there；　by　the　Lord。〃

Sarah　Purfoy　laughed　a　low；　full…toned　laugh；　whose　sound　made　Blunt's　pulse　take　a　jump　forward；　and　sent　the　blood　tingling　down　to　his　fingers　ends。

〃Captain　Blunt；〃　said　she；　〃you're　going　to　do　a　very　silly　thing。〃

He　came　close　to　her　and　tried　to　take　her　hand。

〃What？〃

She　answered　by　another　question。

〃How　old　are　you？〃

〃Forty…two；　if　you　must　know。〃

〃Oh！　　And　you　are　going　to　fall　in　love　with　a　girl　of　nineteen。〃

〃Who　is　that？〃

〃Myself！〃　she　said；　giving　him　her　hand　and　smiling　at　him　with　her　rich　red　lips。

The　mizen　hid　them　from　the　man　at　the　wheel；　and　the　twilight　of　tropical　stars　held　the　main…deck。　　Blunt　felt　the　breath　of　this　strange　woman　warm　on　his　cheek；　her　eyes　seemed　to　wax　and　wane；　and　the　hard；　small　hand　he　held　burnt　like　fire。

〃I　believe　you　are　right；〃　he　cried。　　〃I　am　half　in　love　with　you　already。〃

She　gazed　at　him　with　a　contemptuous　sinking　of　her　heavily　fringed　eyelids；　and　withdrew　her　hand。

〃Then　don't　get　to　the　other　half；　or　you'll　regret　it。〃

〃Shall　I？〃　asked　Blunt。　　〃That's　my　affair。　　Come；　you　little　vixen；　give　me　that　kiss　you　said　I　was　going　to　ask　you　for　below；〃　and　he　caught　her　in　his　arms。

In　an　instant　she　had　twisted　herself　free；　and　confronted　him　with　flashing　eyes。

〃You　dare！〃　she　cried。　　〃Kiss　me　by　force！　　Pooh！　　you　make　love　like　a　schoolboy。　　If　you　can　make　me　like　you；　I'll　kiss　you　as　often　as　you　will。　　If　you　can't；　keep　your　distance；　please。〃

Blunt　did　not　know　whether　to　laugh　or　be　angry　at　this　rebuff。　He　was　conscious　that　he　was　in　rather　a　ridiculous　position；　and　so　decided　to　laugh。　　

〃You're　a　spitfire；　too。　　What　must　I　do　to　make　you　like　me？〃　

She　made　him　a　curtsy。　　

〃That　is　your　affair；〃　she　said；　and　as　the　head　of　Mr。　Frere　appeared　above　the　companion；　Blunt　walked　aft；　feeling　considerably　bewildered；　and　yet　not　displeased。　　

〃She's　a　fine　girl；　by　jingo；〃　he　said；　cocking　his　cap；　〃and　I'm　hanged　if　she　ain't　sweet　upon　me。〃　

And　then　the　old　fellow　began　to　whistle　softly　to　himself　as　he　paced　the　deck；　and　to　glance　towards　the　man　who　had　taken　his　place　with　no　friendly　eyes。　　But　a　sort　of　shame　held　him　as　yet；　and　he　kept　aloof。

Maurice　Frere's　greeting　was　short　enough。　　

〃Well；　Sarah；〃　he　said；　〃have　you　got　out　of　your　temper？〃　

She　frowned。　　

〃What　did　you　strike　the　man　for？　　He　did　you　no　harm。〃　

〃He　was　out　of　his　place。　　What　business　had　he　to　come　aft？　One　must　keep　these　wretches　down；　my　girl。〃　

〃Or　they　will　be　too　much　for　you；　eh？　　Do　you　think　one　man　could　capture　a　ship；　Mr。　Maurice？〃　

〃No；　but　one　hundred　might。〃　

〃Nonsense！　　What　could　they　do　against　the　soldiers？　　There　are　fifty　soldiers。〃　

〃So　there　are；　but〃

〃But　what？〃　

〃Well；　never　mind。　　It's　against　the　rules；　and　I　won't　have　it。〃

〃'Not　according　to　the　King's　Regulations；'　as　Captain　Vickers　would　say。〃

Frere　laughed　at　her　imitation　of　his　pompous　captain。　　

〃