for the term of his natural life-第87章

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g　him；　made　for　a　by…path　in　curious　haste。　　〃Halloo！〃　roared　Frere。　　〃Hi！　　Mr。　North！〃　Mr。　North　paused；　and　the　Commandant　made　at　him　abruptly。　　〃Look　here；　sir；　I　was　rude　to　you　just　nowdevilish　rude。　　Most　ungentlemanly　of　me。　　I　must　apologize。〃　North　bowed；　without　speaking；　and　tried　to　pass。

〃You　must　excuse　my　violence；〃　Frere　went　on。　　〃I'm　bad…tempered；　and　I　didn't　like　my　wife　interfering。　　Women；　don't　you　know；　don't　see　these　things　don't　understand　these　scoundrels。〃　　North　again　bowed。　　〃Why；　dn　it；　how　savage　you　look！　　Quite　ghastly；　bigod！　　I　must　have　said　most　outrageous　things。　　Forget　and　forgive；　you　know。　　Come　home　and　have　some　dinner。〃

〃I　cannot　enter　your　house　again；　sir；〃　said　North；　in　tones　more　agitated　than　the　occasion　would　seem　to　warrant。

Frere　shrugged　his　great　shoulders　with　a　clumsy　affectation　of　good　humour；　and　held　out　his　hand。　　〃Well；　shake　hands；　parson。　　You'll　have　to　take　care　of　Mrs。　Frere　on　the　voyage；　and　we　may　as　well　make　up　our　differences　before　you　start。　　Shake　hands。〃

〃Let　me　pass；　sir！〃　cried　North；　with　heightened　colour；　and　ignoring　the　proffered　hand；　strode　savagely　on。

〃You've　a　dd　fine　temper　for　a　parson；〃　said　Frere　to　himself。　〃However；　if　you　won't；　you　won't。　　Hang　me　if　I'll　ask　you　again。〃　Nor；　when　he　reached　home；　did　he　fare　better　in　his　efforts　at　reconciliation　with　his　wife。　　Sylvia　met　him　with　the　icy　front　of　a　woman　whose　pride　has　been　wounded　too　deeply　for　tears。

〃Say　no　more　about　it；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　going　to　my　father。　　If　you　want　to　explain　your　conduct；　explain　it　to　him。〃

〃Come；　Sylvia；〃　he　urged；　〃I　was　a　brute；　I　know。　　Forgive　me。〃

〃It　is　useless　to　ask　me；〃　she　said；　〃I　cannot。　　I　have　forgiven　you　so　much　during　the　last　seven　years。〃

He　attempted　to　embrace　her；　but　she　withdrew　herself　loathingly　from　his　arms。　He　swore　a　great　oath　at　her；　and；　too　obstinate　to　argue　farther；　sulked。　　Blunt；　coming　in　about　some　ship　matters；　the　pair　drank　rum。　Sylvia　went　to　her　　room　and　occupied　herself　with　some　minor　details　of　clothes…packing　（it　is　wonderful　how　women　find　relief　from　thoughts　in　household　care）；　while　North；　poor　fool；　seeing　from　his　window　the　light　in　hers；　sat　staring　at　it；　alternately　cursing　and　praying。　　In　the　meantime；　the　unconscious　cause　of　all　of　thisRufus　Dawessat　in　his　new　cell；　wondering　at　the　chance　which　had　procured　him　comfort；　and　blessing　the　fair　hands　that　had　brought　it　to　him。　　He　doubted　not　but　that　Sylvia　had　interceded　with　his　tormentor；　and　by　gentle　pleading　brought　him　ease。　〃God　bless　her；〃　he　murmured。　　〃I　have　wronged　her　all　these　years。　She　did　not　know　that　I　suffered。〃　He　waited　anxiously　for　North　to　visit　him；　that　he　might　have　his　belief　confirmed。　　〃I　will　get　him　to　thank　her　for　me；〃　he　thought。　　But　North　did　not　come　for　two　whole　days。　　No　one　came　but　his　gaolers；　and；　gazing　from　his　prison　window　upon　the　sea　that　almost　washed　its　walls；　he　saw　the　schooner　at　anchor；　mocking　him　with　a　liberty　he　could　not　achieve。　　On　the　third　day；　however；　North　came。　His　manner　was　constrained　and　abrupt。　　His　eyes　wandered　uneasily；　and　he　seemed　burdened　with　thoughts　which　he　dared　not　utter。

〃I　want　you　to　thank　her　for　me；　Mr。　North；〃　said　Dawes。

〃Thank　whom？〃

〃Mrs。　Frere。〃

The　unhappy　priest　shuddered　at　hearing　the　name。

〃I　do　not　think　you　owe　any　thanks　to　her。　　Your　irons　were　removed　by　the　Commandant's　order。〃

〃But　by　her　persuasion。　　I　feel　sure　of　it。　　Ah；　I　was　wrong　to　think　she　had　forgotten　me。　　Ask　her　for　her　forgiveness。〃

〃Forgiveness！〃　said　North；　recalling　the　scene　in　the　prison。　　〃What　have　you　done　to　need　her　forgiveness？〃

〃I　doubted　her；〃　said　Rufus　Dawes。　　〃I　thought　her　ungrateful　and　treacherous。　I　thought　she　delivered　me　again　into　the　bondage　from　whence　I　had　escaped。　I　thought　she　had　betrayed　mebetrayed　me　to　the　villain　whose　base　life　I　saved　for　her　sweet　sake。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　North。　　〃You　never　spoke　to　me　of　this。〃

〃No；　I　had　vowed　to　bury　the　knowledge　of　it　in　my　own　breastit　was　too　bitter　to　speak。〃

　〃Saved　his　life！〃

〃Ay；　and　hers！　I　made　the　boat　that　carried　her　to　freedom。　　I　held　her　in　my　arms；　and　took　the　bread　from　my　own　lips　to　feed　her！〃

〃She　cannot　know　this；〃　said　North　in　an　undertone。

〃She　has　forgotten　it；　perhaps；　for　she　was　but　a　child。　　But　you　will　remind　her；　will　you　not？　　You　will　do　me　justice　in　her　eyes　before　I　die？　You　will　get　her　forgiveness　for　me？〃

North　could　not　explain　why　such　an　interview　as　the　convict　desired　was　impossible；　and　so　he　promised。

〃She　is　going　away　in　the　schooner；〃　said　he；　concealing　the　fact　of　his　own　departure。　　〃I　will　see　her　before　she　goes；　and　tell　her。〃

〃God　bless　you；　sir；〃　said　poor　Dawes。　　〃Now　pray　with　me〃；　and　the　wretched　priest　mechanically　repeated　one　of　the　formulae　his　Church　prescribes。

The　next　day　he　told　his　penitent　that　Mrs。　Frere　had　forgiven　him。　This　was　a　lie。　　He　had　not　seen　her；　but　what　should　a　lie　be　to　him　now？　Lies　were　needful　in　the　tortuous　path　he　had　undertaken　to　tread。　Yet　the　deceit　he　was　forced　to　practise　cost　him　many　a　pang。　　He　had　succumbed　to　his　passion；　and　to　win　the　love　for　which　he　yearned　had　voluntarily　abandoned　truth　and　honour；　but　standing　thus　alone　with　his　sin；　he　despised　and　hated　himself。　　To　deaden　remorse　and　drown　reflection；　he　had　recourse　to　brandy；　and　though　the　fierce　excitement　of　his　hopes　and　fears　steeled　him　against　the　stupefying　action　of　the　liquor；　he　was　rendered　by　it　incapable　of　calm　reflection。　　In　certain　nervous　conditions　our　mere　physical　powers　are　proof　against　the　action　of　alcohol；　and　though　ten　times　more　drunk　than　the　toper；　who；　incoherently　stammering；　reels　into　the　gutter；　we　can　walk　erect　and　talk　with　fluency。　　Indeed；　in　this　artificial　exaltation　of　the　sensibilities；　men　often　display　a　brilliant　wit；　and　an　acuteness　of　comprehension；　calculated　to　delight　their　friends；　and　terrify　their　physicians。　　North　had　reached　this　condition　of　brain…drunkenness。　　In　plain　terms；　he　was　trembling　on　the　verge　of　madness。

The　days　passed　swiftly；　and　Blunt's　preparations　for　sea　were　completed。　There　were　two　stern　cabins　in　the　schooner；　one　of　which　was　appropriated　to　Mrs。　Frere；　while　the　other　was　set　apart　for　North。　　Maurice　had　not　attempted　to　renew　　his　overtures　of　friendship；　and　the　chaplain　had　not　spoken。　　Mindful　of　Sylvia's　last　words；　he　had　resolved　not　to　meet　her　until　fairly　embarked　upon　the　voyage　which　he　intended　should　link　their　fortunes　together。　　On　the　morning　of　the　19th　December；　Blunt　declared　himself　ready　to　set　sail；　and　in　the　afternoon　the　two　passengers　came　on　board。

Rufus　Dawes；　gazing　from　his　window　upon　the　schooner　that　lay　outside　the　reef；　thought　nothing　of　the　fact　that；　after　the　Commandant's　boat　had　taken　away　the　Commandant's　wife　another　boat　should　put　off　with　the　chaplain。　　It　was　quite　natural　that　Mr。　North　should　desire　to　bid　his　friends　farewell；　and　through　the　hot；　still　afternoon　he　watched　for　the　returning　boat；　hoping　that　the　chaplain　would　bring　him　some　message　from　the　woman　whom　he　was　never　to　see　more　on　earth。　The　hours　wore　on；　however；　and　no　breath　of　wind　ruffled　the　surface　of　the　sea。　　The　day　was　exceedingly　close　and　sultry；　heavy　dun　clouds　hung　on　the　horizon；　and　it　seemed　probable　that　unless　a　thunder…storm　should　clear　the　air　before　night；　the　calm　would　continue。　　Blunt；　however；　with　a　true　sailor's　obstinacy　in　regard　to　weather；　swore　there　would　be　a　breeze；　and　held　to　his　purpose　of　sailing。　　The　hot　afternoon　passed　away　in　a　sultry　sunset；　and　it　was　not　until　the　shades　of　evening　had　begun　to　fall　that　Rufus　Dawes　distinguished　a　boat　detach　itself　from　the　sides　of　the　schooner；　and　glide　through　the　oily　water　to　the　jetty。　The　chaplain　was　returning；　and　in　a　few　hours　perhaps　would　be　with　him；　to　bring　him　the　message　of　comfort　for　which　his　soul　thirsted。　He　stretched　out　his　unshackled　limbs；　and　throwing　himself　upon　his　stretcher；　fell　to　recalling　the　pasthis　boat…building；　the　news　of　his　fortune；　his　love；　and　his　self…sacrifice。

North；　however；　was　not　returning　to　bring　to　the　prisoner　a　message　of　comfort；　but　he　was　returning　on　purpose　to　see　him；　nevertheless。　The　unhappy　man；　torn　by　remorse　and　passion；　had　resolved　upon　a　course　of　action　which　seemed　to　him　a　penance　for　his　crime　of　deceit。　He　determined　to　confess　to　Dawes　that　the　message　he　had　brought　was　wholly　fictitious；　that　he　himself　loved　the　wife　of　the　Commandant；　and　that　with　her　he　was　about　to　leave　the　island　for　ever。　〃I　am　no　hypocrite；〃　he　thought；　in　his　exaltation。　　〃If　I　choose　to　sin；　I　will　sin　boldly；　and　this　poor　wretch；　who　looks　up　to　me　as　an　angel；　shall　know　me　for　my　true　self。〃

The　notion　of　thus　destroying　his　own　fame　in　the　eyes　of　the　man　whom　he　had　taught　to　love　him；　was　pleasant　to　his　diseased　imagination。　It　was　the　natural　outcome　of　the　morbid　condition　of　mind　into　which　he　had　drifted；　and　he　provided　for　the　complete　execution　of　his　scheme　with　cunning　born　of　the　mischief　working　in　his　brain。　　It　was　desirable　that　the　fatal　stroke　should　be　dealt　at　the　last　possible　instant；　that　he　should　suddenly　unveil　his　own　infamy；　and　then　depart；　never　to　be　seen　again。　　To　this　end　he　had　invented　an　excuse　for　returning　to　the　shore　at　the　latest　possible　moment。　　He　had　purposely　left　in　his　room　a　dressing…bagthe　sort　of　article　one　is　likely　to　forget　in　the　hurry　of　departure　from　one's　house；　and　so　certain　to　remember　when　the　time　comes　to　finally　prepare　for　settling　in　another。　He　had　ingeniously　extracted　from　Blunt　the　fact　that　〃he　didn't　expect　a　wind　before　dark；　but　wanted　all　ship…shape　and　aboard〃；　and　then；　just　as　darkness　fell；　discovered　that　it　was　imperative　for　him　to　go　ashore。　Blunt　cursed；　but；　if　the　chaplain　insisted　upon　going；　there　was　no　help　for　it。

〃There'll　be　a　breeze　in　less　than　two　hours；〃　said　he。　　〃You've　plenty　of　time；　but　if　you're　not　back　before　the　first　puff；　I'll　sail　without　you；　as　sure　as　you're　born。〃　North　assured　him　of　his　punctuality。　　〃Don't　wait　for　me；　Captain；　if　I'm　not　here；〃　said　he　with　the　lightness　of　tone　which　men　use　to　mask　anxiety。　　〃I'd　take　him　at　his　word；　Blunt；〃　said　the　Commandant；　who　was　affably　waiting　to　take　final　farewell　of　his　wife。　　〃Give　way　there；　men；〃　he　shouted　to　the　crew；　〃and　wait　at　the　jetty。　　If　Mr。　North　misses　his　ship　through　your　laziness；　you'll　pay　for　it。〃　　So　the　boat　set　off；　North　laughing　uproariously　at　the　thought　of　being　late。　　Frere　observed　with　some　astonishment　that　the　chaplain　wrapped　himself　in　a　boat　cloak　that　lay　in　the　stern　sheets。　〃Does　the　fellow　want　to　smother　himself　in　a　night　like　this！〃　was　his　remark。　　The　truth　was　that；　though　his　hands　and　head　were　burning；　North's　teeth　chattered　with　cold。　　Perhaps　this　was　the　reason　why；　when　landed　and　out　of　eyeshot　of　the　crew；　he　produced　a　pocket…flask　of　rum　and　eagerly　drank。　　The　spirit　gave　him　courage　for　the　ordeal　to　which　he　had　condemned　himself；　and　with　steadied　step；　he　reached　the　door　of　the　old　prison。　　To　his　surprise；　Gimblett　refused　him　admission