the frozen deep-第3节

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〃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
pointedly　at　Francis　Aldersley　as　she　pronounced　them。　〃I　won't
keep　you　from　your　partner　any　longer；　Clara；〃　she　resumed；　and
led　the　way　back　to　the　ball…room。



Chapter　3。


The　burden　on　Clara's　mind　weighs　on　it　more　heavily　than　ever；
after　what　Mrs。　Crayford　has　said　to　her。　She　is　too　unhappy　to
feel　the　inspiriting　influence　of　the　dance。　After　a　turn　round
the　room；　she　complains　of　fatigue。　Mr。　Francis　Aldersley　looks
at　the　conservatory　（still　as　invitingly　cool　and　empty　as　ever）；
leads　her　back　to　it；　and　places　her　on　a　seat　among　the　shrubs。
She　triesvery　feeblyto　dismiss　him。

〃Don't　let　me　keep　you　from　dancing；　Mr。　Aldersley。〃

He　seats　himself　by　her　side；　and　feasts　his　eyes　on　the　lovely
downcast　face　that　dares　not　turn　toward　him。　He　whispers　to　her：

〃Call　me　Frank。〃

She　longs　to　call　him　Frankshe　loves　him　with　all　her　heart。
But　Mrs。　Crayford's　warning　words　are　still　in　her　mind。　She
never　opens　her　lips。　Her　lover　moves　a　little　closer；　and　asks
another　favor。　Men　are　all　alike　on　these　occasions。　Silence
invariably　encourages　them　to　try　again。

〃Clara！　have　you　forgotten　what　I　said　at　the　concert　yesterday？
May　I　say　it　again？〃

〃No！〃

〃We　sail　to…morrow　for　the　Arctic　seas。　I　may　not　return　for
years。　Don't　send　me　away　without　hope！　Think　of　the　long；　lonely
time　in　the　dark　North！　Make　it　a　happy　time　for　_me_。〃

Though　he　speaks　with　the　fervor　of　a　man；　he　is　little　more　than
a　lad：　he　is　only　twenty　years　old；　and　he　is　going　to　risk　his
young　life　on　the　frozen　deep！　Clara　pities　him　as　she　never
pitied　any　human　creature　before。　He　gently　takes　her　hand。　She
tries　to　release　it。

〃What！　not　even　that　little　favor　on　the　last　night？〃

Her　faithful　heart　takes　his　part；　in　spite　of　her。　Her　hand
remains　in　his；　and　feels　its　soft　persuasive　pressure。　She　is　a
lost　woman。　It　is　only　a　question　of　time　now！

〃Clara！　do　you　love　me？〃

There　is　a　pause。　She　shrinks　from　looking　at　himshe　trembles
with　strange　contradictory　sensations　of　pleasure　and　pain。　His
arm　steals　round　her；　he　repeats　his　question　in　a　whisper；　his
lips　almost　touch　her　little　rosy　ear　as　he　says　it　again：

〃Do　you　love　me？〃

She　closes　her　eyes　faintlyshe　hears　nothing　but　those
wordsfeels　nothing　but　his　arm　round　her　forgets　Mrs。
Crayford's　warningforgets　Richard　Wardour　himselfturns
suddenly；　with　a　loving　woman's　desperate　disregard　of　everything
but　her　lovenestles　her　head　on　his　bosom；　and　answers　him　in
that　way；　at　last！

He　lifts　the　beautiful　drooping　headtheir　lips　meet　in　their
first　kissthey　are　both　in　heaven：　it　is　Clara　who　brings　them
back　to　earth　again　with　a　startit　is　Clara　who　says；　〃Oh！　what
have　I　done？〃as　usual；　when　it　is　too　late。

Frank　answers　the　question。

〃You　have　made　me　happy；　my　angel。　Now；　when　I　come　back；　I　come
back　to　make　you　my　wife。〃

She　shudders。　She　remembers　Richard　Wardour　again　at　those　words。

〃Mind！〃　she　says；　〃nobody　is　to　know　we　are　engaged　till　I　permit
you　to　mention　it。　Remember　that！〃

He　promises　to　remember　it。　His　arm　tries　to　wind　round　her　once
more。　No！　She　is　mistress　of　herself；　she　can　positively　dismiss
him　nowafter　she　has　let　him　kiss　her！

〃Go！〃　she　says。　〃I　want　to　see　Mrs。　Crayford。　Find　her！　Say　I　am
here；　waiting　to　speak　to　her。　Go　at　once；　Frankfor　my　sake！〃

There　is　no　alternative　but　to　obey　her。　His　eyes　drink　a　last
draught　of　her　beauty。　He　hurries　away　on　his　errandthe
happiest　man　in　the　room。　Five　minutes　since　she　was　only　his
partner　in　the　dance。　He　has　spokenand　she　has　pledged　herself
to　be　his　partner　for　life！



Chapter　4。


It　was　not　easy　to　find　Mrs。　Crayford　in　the　crowd。　Searching
here；　and　searching　there；　Frank　became　conscious　of　a　stranger；
who　appeared　to　be　looking　for　somebody；　on　his　side。　He　was　a
dark；　heavy…browed；　strongly…built　man；　dressed　in　a　shabby　old
naval　officer's　uniform。　His　mannerstrikingly　resolute　and
self…containedwas　unmistakably　the　manner　of　a　gentleman。　He
wound　his　way　slowly　through　the　crowd；　stopping　to　look　at　every
lady　whom　he　passed；　and　then　looking　away　again　with　a　frown。
Little　by　little　he　approached　the　conservatoryentered　it；
after　a　moment's　reflectiondetected　the　glimmer　of　a　white
dress　in　the　distance；　through　the　shrubs　and　flowersadvanced
to　get　a　nearer　view　of　the　ladyand　burst　into　Clara's　presence
with　a　cry　of　delight。

She　sprang　to　her　feet。　She　stood　before　him　speechless；
motionless；　struck　to　stone。　All　her　life　was　in　her　eyesthe
eyes　which　told　her　she　was　looking　at　Richard　Wardour。

He　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃I　am　sorry　I　startled　you；　my　darling。　I　forgot　everything　but
the　happiness　of　seeing　you　again。　We　only　reached　our　moorings
two　hours　since。　I　was　some　time　inquiring　after　you；　and　some
time　getting　my　ticket　when　they　told　me　you　were　at　the　ball。
Wish　me　joy；　Clara！　I　am　promoted。　I　have　come　back　to　make　you
my　wife。〃

A　momentary　change　passed　over　the　blank　terror　of　her　face。　Her
color　rose　faintly；　her