the frozen deep(冰渊)-第17节
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Admiralty？〃
〃Certainly。 My father is in the Secretary's office； and two of the Lords
of the Admiralty are friends of his。〃
〃Excellent！ Now I can speak out plainly with little fear of
disappointing you。 After what I have said； you will agree with me； that the
only change in Miss Burnham's life which will be of any use to her is a
change that will alter the present tone of her mind on the subject of Mr。
Aldersley。 Place her in a position to discovernot by reference to her own
distempered fancies and visions； but by reference to actual evidence and
actual factwhether Mr。 Aldersley is； or is not； a living man； and there will
be an end of the hysterical delusions which now threaten to fatally
undermine her health。 Even taking matters at their worsteven assuming
that Mr。 Aldersley has died in the Arctic seasit will be less injurious to
her to discover this positively； than to leave her mind to feed on its own
morbid superstitions and speculations； for weeks and weeks together；
while the next news from the Expedition is on its way to England。 In one
word； I want you to be in a position； before the week is out； to put Miss
Burnham's present conviction to a practical test。 Suppose you could say to
her； 'We differ； my dear； about Mr。 Francis Aldersley。 You declare； without
the shadow of a reason for it； that he is certainly dead； and； worse still； that
he has died by the act of one of his brother officers。 I assert； on the
authority of the newspaper； that nothing of the sort has happened； and that
the chances are all in favor of his being still a living man。 What do you say
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to crossing the Atlantic； and deciding which of us is rightyou or I？' Do
you think Miss Burnham will say No to that； Mrs。 Crayford？ If I know
anything of human nature； she will seize the opportunity as a means of
converting you to a belief in the Second Sight。〃
〃Good Heavens； doctor！ do you mean to tell me that we are to go to
sea and meet the Arctic Expedition on its way home？〃
〃Admirably guessed； Mrs。 Crayford！ That is exactly what I mean。〃
〃But how is it to be done？〃
〃I will tell you immediately。 I mentioneddidn't I？that I had heard
something on my road to this house。〃
〃Yes 〃
〃Well； I met an old friend at my own gate； who walked with me a part
of the way here。 Last night my friend dined with the admiral at Portsmouth。
Among the guests there was a member of the Ministry who had brought
the news about the Expedition with him from London。 This gentleman told
the company there was very little doubt that the Admiralty would
immediately send out a steam…vessel； to meet the rescued men on the
shores of America； and bring them home。 Wait a little； Mrs。 Crayford！
Nobody knows； as yet； under what rules and regulations the vessel will
sail。 Under somewhat similar circumstances； privileged people have been
received as passengers； or rather as guests； in her majesty's shipsand
what has been conceded on former occasions may； by bare possibility； be
conceded now。 I can say no more。 If you are not afraid of the voyage for
yourself； I am not afraid of it （nay； I am all in favor of it on medical
grounds） for my patient。 What do you say？ Will you write to your father；
and ask him to try what his interest will do with his friends at the
Admiralty？〃
Mrs。 Crayford rose excitedly to her feet。
〃Write！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I will do better than write。 The journey to
London is no great matterand my housekeeper here is to be trusted to
take care of Clara in my absence。 I will see my father to…night！ He shall
make good use of his interest at the Admiraltyyou may rely on that。 Oh；
my dear doctor； what a prospect it is！ My husband！ Clara！ What a
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discovery you have madewhat a treasure you are！ How can I thank you？〃
〃Compose yourself； my dear madam。 Don't make too sure of success。
We may consider Miss Burnham's objections as disposed of beforehand。
But suppose the Lords of the Admiralty say No？〃
〃In that case； I shall be in London； doctor； and I shall go to them
myself。 Lords are only men； and men are not in the habit of saying No to
me。〃
So they parted。
In a week from that day； her majesty's ship _Amazon_ sailed for North
America。 Certain privileged persons； specially interested in the Arctic
voyagers； were permitted to occupy the empty state…rooms on board。 On
the list of these favored guests of the ship were the names of two ladies
Mrs。 Crayford and Miss Burnham。
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Fourth Scene
The Boat…House。
Chapter 16。
Once more the open seathe sea whose waters break on the shores of
Newfoundland！ An English steamship lies at anchor in the offing。 The
vessel is plainly visible through the open doorway of a large boat…house on
the shoreone of the buildings attached to a fishing…station on the coast of
the island。
The only person in the boat…house at this moment is a man in the dress
of a sailor。 He is seated on a chest； with a piece of cord in his hand；
looking out idly at the sea。 On the rough carpenter's table near him lies a
strange object to be left in such a placea woman's veil。
What is the vessel lying at anchor in the offing？
The vessel is the _Amazon_dispatched from England to receive the
surviving officers and men of the Arctic Expedition。 The meeting has been
successfully effected； on the shores of North America； three days since。
But the homeward voyage has been delayed by a storm which has driven
the ship out of her course。 Taking advantage； on the third day； of the first
returning calm； the commander of the _Amazon_ has anchored off the
coast of Newfoundland； and has sent ashore to increase his supplies of
water before he sails for England。 The weary passengers have landed for a
few hours； to refresh themselves after the discomforts of the tempest。
Among them are the two ladies。 The veil left on the table in the boat…house
is Clara's veil。
And who is the man si tting on the chest； with the cord in his hand；
looking out idly at the sea？ The man is the only cheerful person in the
ship's company。 In other wordsJohn Want。
Still reposing on the chest； our friend； who never grumbles； is
surprised by the sudden appearance of a sailor at the boat…house door。
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〃Look sharp with your work there； John Want！〃 says the sailor。
〃Lieutenant Crayford is just coming in to look after you。〃
With this warning the messenger disappears again。 John Want rises
with a groan； turns the chest up on one end； and begins to fasten the cord
round it。 The ship's cook is not a man to look back on his rescue with the
feeling of unmitigated satisfaction which animates his companions in
trouble。 On the contrary； he is ungratefully disposed to regret the North
Pole。
〃If I had only known〃thus runs the train of thought in the mind of
John Want〃if I had only known； before I was rescued； that I was to be
brought to this place； I believe I should have preferred staying at the North
Pole。 I was very happy keeping up everybody's spirits at the North Pole。
Taking one thing with another； I think I must have been very comfortable
at the North Poleif I had only known it。 Another man in my place might
be inclined to say that this Newfoundland boat…house was rather a sloppy；
slimy； draughty； fishy sort of a habitation to take shelter in。 Another man
might object to perpetual Newfoundland fogs； perpetual Newfoundland
cod…fish； and perpetual Newfoundland dogs。 We had some very nice bears
at the North Pol
