the frozen deep(冰渊)-第15节
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herself： 〃Is Clara present； in the spirit； with our loved and lost ones in the
lonely North？ Can mortal vision see the dead and living in the solitudes of
the Frozen Deep？〃
Chapter 14。
The night had passed。
Far and near the garden view looked its gayest and brightest in the
light of the noonday sun。 The cheering sounds which tell of life and action
were audible all round the villa。 From the garden of the nearest house rose
the voices of children at play。 Along the road at the back sounded the roll
of wheels； as carts and carriages passed at intervals。 Out on the blue sea；
the distant splash of the paddles； the distant thump of the engines； told
from time to time of the passage of steamers； entering or leaving the strait
between the island and the mainland。 In the trees； the birds sang gayly
among the rustling leaves。 In the house； the women…servants were
laughing over some jest or story that cheered them at their work。 It was a
lively and pleasant timea bright； enjoyable day。
The two ladies were out together； resting on a garden seat； after a walk
round the grounds。
They exchanged a few trivial words relating to the beauty of the day；
and then said no more。 Possessing the same consciousness of what she had
seen in the trance which persons in general possess of what they have seen
in a dreambelieving in the vision as a supernatural revelationClara's
worst forebodings were now； to her mind； realized as truths。 Her last faint
hope of ever seeing Frank again was now at an end。 Intimate experience of
her told Mrs。 Crayford what was passing in Clara's mind； and warned her
that the attempt to reason and remonstrate would be little better than a
voluntary waste of words and time。 The disposition which she had herself
felt on the previous night； to attach a superstitious importance to the words
that Clara had spoken in the trance； had vanished with the return of the
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morning。 Rest and reflection had quieted her mind； and had restored the
composing influence of her sober sense。 Sympathizing with Clara in all
besides； she had no sympathy； as they sat together in the pleasant sunshine；
with Clara's gloomy despair of the future。 She； who could still hope； had
nothing to say to the sad companion who had done with hope。 So the quiet
minutes succeeded each other； and the two friends sat side by side in
silence。
An hour passed； and the gate…bell of the villa rang。
They both startedthey both knew the ring。 It was the hour when the
postman brought their newspapers from London。 In past days； what
hundreds on hundreds of times they had torn off the cover which inclosed
the newspaper； and looked at the same column with the same weary
mingling of hope and despair！ There to…dayas it was yesterday； as it
would be； if they lived； to…morrowthere was the servant with Lucy's
newspaper and Clara's newspaper in his hand！
Would both of them do again to…day what both had done so often in
the days that were gone？
No！ Mrs。 Crayford removed the cover from her newspaper as usual。
Clara laid _her_ newspaper aside； unopened； on the garden seat。
In silence； Mrs。 Crayford looked； where she always looked； at the
column devoted to the Latest Intelligence from foreign parts。 The instant
her eye fell on the page she started with a loud cry of joy。 The newspaper
fell from her trembling hand。 She caught Clara in her arms。 〃Oh； my
darling！ my darling！ news of them at last。〃
Without answering； without the slightest change in look or manner；
Clara took the newspaper from the ground； and read the top line in the
column； printed in capital letters：
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION。
She waited； and looked at Mrs。 Crayford。
〃Can you bear to hear it； Lucy；〃 she asked； 〃if I read it aloud？〃
Mrs。 Crayford was too agitated to answer in words。 She signed
impatiently to Clara to go on。
Clara read the news which followed the heading in capital letters。 Thus
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it ran：
〃The following intelligence； from St。 Johns； Newfoundland； has
reached us for publication。 The whaling…vessel _Blythew ood_ is reported
to have met with the surviving officers and men of the Expedition in Davis
Strait。 Many are stated to be dead； and some are supposed to be missing。
The list of the saved； as collected by the people of the whaler； is not
vouched for as being absolutely correct； the circumstances having been
adverse to investigation。 The vessel was pressed for time； and the
members of the Expedition； all more or less suffering from exhaustion；
were not in a position to give the necessary assistance to inquiry。 Further
particulars may be looked for by the next mail。〃
The list of the survivors followed； beginning with the officers in the
order of their rank。 They both read the list together。 The first name was
Captain Helding； the second was Lieutenant Crayford。
There the wife's joy overpowered her。 After a pause； she put her arm
around Clara's waist； and spoke to her。
〃Oh； my love！〃 she murmured； 〃are you as happy as I am？ Is Frank's
name there too？ The tears are in my eyes。 Read for meI can't read for
myself。〃
The answer came； in still； sad tones：
〃I have read as far as your husband's name。 I have no need to read
further。〃
Mrs。 Crayford dashed the tears from her eyessteadied herselfand
looked at the newspaper。
On the list of the survivors； the search was vain。 Frank's name was not
among them。 On a second list； headed 〃Dead or Missing；〃 the first two
names that appeared were：
FRANCIS ALDERSLEY。 RICHARD WARDOUR。
In speechless distress and dismay； Mrs。 Crayford looked at Clara。 Had
she force enough in her feeble health to sustain the shock that had fallen
on her？ Yes！ she bore it with a strange unnatural resignationshe looked；
she spoke； with the sad self…possession of despair。
〃I was prepared for it；〃 she said。 〃I saw them in the spirit last night。
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Richard Wardour has discovered the truth； and Frank has paid the penalty
with his lifeand I； I alone； am to blame。〃 She shuddered； and put her
hand on her heart。 〃We shall not be long parted； Lucy。 I shall go to him。
He will not return to me。〃
Those words were spoken with a calm certainty of conviction that was
terrible to hear。 〃I have no more to say；〃 she added； after a moment； and
rose to return to the house。 Mrs。 Crayford caught her by the hand； and
forced her to take her seat again。
〃Don't look at me； don't speak to me； in that horrible manner！〃 she
exclaimed。 〃Clara！ it is unworthy of a reasonable being； it is doubting the
mercy of God； to say what you have just said。 Look at the newspaper
again。 See！ They tell you plainly that their information is not to be
depended onthey warn you to wait for further particulars。 The very
words at the top of the list show how little they knew of the truth 'Dead
_or_ Missing！' On their own showing； it is quite as likely that Frank is
missing as that Frank is dead。 For all you know； the next mail may bring a
letter from him。 Are you listening to me？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Can you deny what I say？〃
〃No。〃
〃'Yes！' 'No！' Is that the way to answer me when I am so distressed and
so anxious about you？〃
〃I am sorry I spoke as I did； Lucy。 We look at some subjects in very
different ways。 I don't dispute； dear； that yours is the reasonable view。〃
〃You don't dispute？〃 retorted Mrs。 Crayford； warmly。 〃No！ you do
what is worseyou believe in your own opinion； you persist in your own
conclusionwith the newspaper before you！ Do
