the frozen deep-第2章

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an　irresistible　kindness　in　his　brave　blue　eyes。　In　one　word；　a
man　whom　everybody　lovedincluding　his　wife。

〃Don't　be　alarmed；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　〃The　heat　has　overcome
herthat's　all。〃

Mrs。　Crayford　shook　her　head；　and　looked　at　her　husband；　half
satirically；　half　fondly。

〃You　dear　old　innocent！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃that　excuse　may　do　for
_you_。　For　my　part；　I　don't　believe　a　word　of　it。　Go　and　get
another　partner；　and　leave　Clara　to　me。〃

She　entered　the　conservatory　and　seated　herself　by　Clara's　side。



Chapter　2。


〃Now；　my　dear！〃　Mrs。　Crayford　began；　〃what　does　this　mean？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃That　won't　do；　Clara。　Try　again。〃

〃The　heat　of　the　room〃

〃That　won't　do；　either。　Say　that　you　choose　to　keep　your　own
secrets；　and　I　shall　understand　what　you　mean。〃

Clara's　sad；　clear　gray　eyes　looked　up　for　the　first　time　in　Mrs。
Crayford's　face；　and　suddenly　became　dimmed　with　tears。

〃If　I　only　dared　tell　you！〃　she　murmured。　〃I　hold　so　to　your　good
opinion　of　me；　Lucyand　I　am　so　afraid　of　losing　it。〃

Mrs。　Crayford's　manner　changed。　Her　eyes　rested　gravely　and
anxiously　on　Clara's　face。

〃You　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　nothing　can　shake　my　affection　for
you；〃　she　said。　〃Do　justice；　my　child；　to　your　old　friend。　There
is　nobody　here　to　listen　to　what　we　say。　Open　your　heart；　Clara。
I　see　you　are　in　trouble；　and　I　want　to　comfort　you。〃

Clara　began　to　yield。　In　other　words；　she　began　to　make
conditions。

〃Will　you　promise　to　keep　what　I　tell　you　a　secret　from　every
living　creature？〃　she　began。

Mrs。　Crayford　met　that　question；　by　putting　a　question　on　her
side。

〃Does　'every　living　creature'　include　my　husband？〃

〃Your　husband　more　than　anybody！　I　love　him；　I　revere　him。　He　is
so　noble；　he　is　so　good！　If　I　told　him　what　I　am　going　to　tell
you；　he　would　despise　me。　Own　it　plainly；　Lucy；　if　I　am　asking
too　much　in　asking　you　to　keep　a　secret　from　your　husband。〃

〃Nonsense；　child！　When　you　are　married；　you　will　know　that　the
easiest　of　all　secrets　to　keep　is　a　secret　from　your　husband。　I
give　you　my　promise。　Now　begin！〃

Clara　hesitated　painfully。

〃I　don't　know　how　to　begin！〃　she　exclaimed；　with　a　burst　of
despair。　〃The　words　won't　come　to　me。〃

〃Then　I　must　help　you。　Do　you　feel　ill　tonight？　Do　you　feel　as
you　felt　that　day　when　you　were　with　my　sister　and　me　in　the
garden？〃

〃Oh　no。〃

〃You　are　not　ill；　you　are　not　really　affected　by　the　heatand
yet　you　turn　as　pale　as　ashes；　and　you　are　obliged　to　leave　the
quadrille！　There　must　be　some　reason　for　this。〃

〃There　is　a　reason。　Captain　Helding〃

〃Captain　Helding！　What　in　the　name　of　wonder　has　the　captain　to
do　with　it？〃

〃He　told　you　something　about　the　_Atalanta_。　He　said　the
_Atalanta_　was　expected　back　from　Africa　immediately。〃

〃Well；　and　what　of　that？　Is　there　anybody　in　whom　you　are
interested　coming　home　in　the　ship？〃

〃Somebody　whom　I　am　afraid　of　is　coming　home　in　the　ship。〃

Mrs。　Crayford's　magnificent　black　eyes　opened　wide　in　amazement。

〃My　dear　Clara！　do　you　really　mean　what　you　say？〃

〃Wait　a　little；　Lucy；　and　you　shall　judge　for　yourself。　We　must
go　backif　I　am　to　make　you　understand　meto　the　year　before　we
knew　each　otherto　the　last　year　of　my　father's　life。　Did　I　ever
tell　you　that　my　father　moved　southward；　for　the　sake　of　his
health；　to　a　house　in　Kent　that　was　lent　to　him　by　a　friend？〃

〃No；　my　dear；　I　don't　remember　ever　hearing　of　the　house　in　Kent。
Tell　me　about　it。〃

〃There　is　nothing　to　tell；　except　this：　the　new　house　was　near　a
fine　country…seat　standing　in　its　own　park。　The　owner　of　the
place　was　a　gentleman　named　Wardour。　He；　too；　was　one　of　my
father's　Kentish　friends。　He　had　an　only　son。〃

She　paused；　and　played　nervously　with　her　fan。　Mrs。　Crayford
looked　at　her　attentively。　Clara's　eyes　remained　fixed　on　her
fanClara　said　no　more。　〃What　was　the　son's　name？〃　asked　Mrs。
Crayford；　quietly。

〃Richard。〃

〃Am　I　right；　Clara；　in　suspecting　that　Mr。　Richard　Wardour
admired　you？〃

The　question　produced　its　intended　effect。　The　question　helped
Clara　to　go　on。

〃I　hardly　knew　at　first；〃　she　said；　〃whether　he　admired　me　or
not。　He　was　very　strange　in　his　waysheadstrong；　terribly
headstrong　and　passionate；　but　generous　and　affectionate　in　spite
of　his　faults　of　temper。　Can　you　understand　such　a　character？〃

〃Such　characters　exist　by　thousands。　I　have　my　faults　of　temper。
I　begin　to　like　Richard　already。　Go　on。〃

〃The　days　went　by；　Lucy；　and　the　weeks　went　by。　We　were　thrown
very　much　together。　I　began；　little　by　little；　to　have　some
suspicion　of　the　truth。〃

〃And　Richard　helped　to　confirm　your　suspicions；　of　course？

〃No。　He　was　notunhappily　for　mehe　was　not　that　sort　of　man。
He　never　spoke　of　the　feeling　with　which　he　regarded　me。　It　was　I
who　saw　it。　I　couldn't　help　seeing　it。　I　did　all　I　could　to　show
that　I　was　willing　to　be　a　sister　to　him；　and　that　I　could　never
be　anything　else。　He　did　not　understand　me；　or　he　would　not；　I
can't　say　which。〃

〃'Would　not；'　is　the　most　likely；　my　dear。　Go　on。〃

〃It　might　have　been　as　you　say。　There　was　a　strange；　rough
bashfulness　about　him。　He　confused　and　puzzled　me。　He　never　spoke
out。　He　seemed　to　treat　me　as　if　our　future　lives　had　been
provided　for　while　we　were
　children。　What　could　I　do；　Lucy？〃

〃Do？　You　could　have　asked　your　father　to　end　the　difficulty　for
you。〃

〃Impossible！　You　forget　what　I　have　just　told　you。　My　father　was
suffering　at　that　time　under　the　illness　which　afterward　caused
his　death。　He　was　quite　unfit　to　interfere。〃

〃Was　there　no　one　else　who　could　help　you？〃

〃No　one。〃

〃No　lady　in　whom　you　could　confide？〃

〃I　had　acquaintances　among　the　ladies　in　the　neighborhood。　I　had
no　friends。〃

〃What　did　you　do；　then？〃

〃Nothing。　I　hesitated；　I　put　off　coming　to　an　explanation　with
him；　unfortunately；　until　it　was　too　late。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　too　late？〃

〃You　shall　hear。　I　ought　to　have　told　you　that　Richard　Wardour　is
in　the　navy〃

〃Indeed！　I　am　more　interested　in　him　than　ever。　Well？〃

〃One　spring　day　Richard　came　to　our　house　to　take　leave　of　us
before　he　joined　his　ship。　I　thought　he　was　gone；　and　I　went　into
the　next　room。　It　was　my　own　sitting…room；　and　it　opened　on　to
the　garden。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃Richard　must　have　been　watching　me。　He　suddenly　appeared　in　the
garden。　Without　waiting　for　me　to　invite　him；　he　walked　into　the
room。　I　was　a　little　startled　as　well　as　surprised；　but　I　managed
to　hide　it。　I　said；　'What　is　it；　Mr。　Wardour？'　He　stepped　close
up　to　me；　he　said；　in　his　quick；　rough　way：　'Clara！　I　am　going　to
the　African　coast。　If　I　live；　I　shall　come　back　promoted；　and　we
both　know　what　will　happen　then。'　He　kissed　me。　I　was　half
frightened；　half　angry。　Before　I　could　compose　myself　to　say　a
word；　he　was　out　in　the　garden　againhe　was　gone！　I　ought　to
have　spoken；　I　know。　It　was　not　honorable；　not　kind　toward　him。
You　can't　reproach　me　for　my　want　of　courage　and　frankness　more
bitterly　than　I　reproach　myself！〃

〃My　dear　child；　I　don't　reproach　you。　I　only　think　you　might　have
written　to　him。〃

〃I　did　write。〃

〃Plainly？〃

〃Yes。　I　told　him　in　so　many　words　that　he　was　deceiving　himself；
and　that　I　could　never　marry　him。〃

〃Plain　enough；　in　all　conscience！　Having　said　that；　surely　you
are　not　to　blame。　What　are　you　fretting　about　now？〃

〃Suppose　my　letter　has　never　reached　him？〃

〃Why　should　you　suppose　anything　of　the　sort？〃

〃What　I　wrote　required　an　answer；　Lucy_asked_　for　an　answer。
The　answer　has　never　come。　What　is　the　plain　conclusion？　My
letter　has　never　reached　him。　And　the　_Atalanta_　is　expected
back！　Richard　Wardour　is　returning　to　EnglandRichard　Wardour
will　claim　me　as　his　wife！　You　wondered　just　now　if　I　really
meant　what　I　said。　Do　you　doubt　it　still？〃

Mrs。　Crayford　leaned　back　absently　in　her　chair。　For　the　first
time　since　the　conversation　had　begun；　she　let　a　question　pass
without　making　a　reply。　The　truth　is；　Mrs。　Crayford　was　thinking。

She　saw　Clara's　position　plainly；　she　understood　the　disturbing
effect　of　it　on　the　mind　of　a　young　girl。　Still；　making　all
allowances；　she　felt　quite　at　a　loss；　so　far；　to　account　for
Clara's　excessive　agitation。　Her　quick　observing　faculty　had　just
detected　that　Clara's　face　showed　no　signs　of　relief；　now　that
she　had　unburdened　herself　of　her　secret。　There　was　something
clearly　under　the　surface　heresomething　of　importance　that
still　remained　to　be　discovered。　A　shrewd　doubt　crossed　Mrs。
Crayford's　mind；　and　inspired　the　next　words　which　she　addressed
to　her　young　friend。

〃My　dear；〃　she　said　abruptly；　〃have　you　told　me　all？〃

Clara　started　as　if　the　question　terrified　her。　Feeling　sure　that
she　now　had　the　clew　in　her　hand；　Mrs。　Crayford　deliberately
repeated　her　question；　in　another　form　of　words。　Instead　of
answering；　Clara　suddenly　looked　up。　At　the　same　moment　a　faint
flush　of　color　appeared　in　her　face　for　the　first　time。

Looking　up　instinctively　on　her　side；　Mrs。　Crayford　became　aware
of　the　presence；　in　the　conservatory；　of　a　young　gentleman　who
was　claiming　Clara　as　his　partner　in　the　coming　waltz。　Mrs。
Crayford　fell　into　thinking　once　more。　Had　this　young　gentleman
（she　asked　herself）　anything　to　do　with　the　untold　end　of　the
story？　Was　this　the　true　secret　of　Clara　Burnham's　terror　at　the
impending　return　of　Richard　Wardour？　Mrs。　Crayford　decided　on
putting　her　doubts　to　the　test。

〃A　friend　of　yours；　my　dear？〃　she　asked；　innocently。　〃Suppose　you
introduce　us　to　each　other。〃

Clara　confusedly　introduced　the　young　gentleman。

〃Mr。　Francis　Aldersley；　Lucy。　Mr。　Aldersley　belongs　to　the　Arctic
expedition。〃

〃Attached　to　the　expedition？〃　Mrs。　Crayford　repeated。　〃I　am
attached　to　the　expedition　tooin　my　way。　I　had　better　introduce
myself；　Mr。　Aldersley；　as　Clara　seems　to　have　forgotten　to　do　it
for　me。　I　am　Mrs。　Crayford。　My　husband　is　Lieutenant　Crayford；　of
the　_Wanderer_。　Do　you　belong　to　that　ship？〃

〃I　have　not　the　honor；　Mrs。　Crayford。　I　belong　to　the　_Sea…mew_。〃

Mrs。　Crayford's　superb　eyes　looked　shrewdly　backward　and　forward
between　Clara　and　Francis　Aldersley；　and　saw　the　untold　sequel　to
Clara's　story。　The　young　officer　was　a　bright；　handsome；
gentleman…like　lad。　Just　the　person　to　seriously　complicate　the
difficulty　with　Richard　Wardour！　There　was　no　time　for　making　any
further　inquiries。　The　band　had　begun　the　prelude　to　the　waltz；
and　Francis　Aldersley　was　waiting　for　his　partner。　With　a　word　of
apology　to　the　young　man；　Mrs。　Crayford　drew　Clara　aside　for　a
moment；　and　spoke　to　her　in　a　whisper。

〃One　word；　my　dear；　before　you　return　to　the　ball…room。　It　may
sound　conceited；　after　the　little　you　have　told　me；　but　I　think　I
understand　your　position　_now_；　better　than　you　do　yourself。　Do
you　want　to　hear　my　opinion？〃

〃I　am　longing　to　hear　it；　Lucy！　I　want　your　opinion；　I　want　your
advice。〃

〃You　shall　have　both　in　the　plainest　and　fewest　words。　First；　my
opinion：　You　have　no　choice　but　to　come　to　an　explanation　with
Mr。　Wardour　as　soon　as　he　returns。　Second；　my　advice：　If　you　wish
to　make　the　explanation　easy　to　both　sides；　take　care　that　you
make　it　in　the　character　of　a　free　woman。〃

She　laid　a　strong　emphasis　on　the　last　three　words；　and　looked
poin