benita-第6章
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who also stood up； looked； and nodded。
〃That will be the other Line's intermediate boat；〃 he said； and the
passengers； craning their heads round； saw far away to the right a
streak of smoke upon the horizon。 Orders were given； a little corner
of sail was hoisted； with a white cloth of some sort tied above it；
and the oars were got out。 Once more the cutter moved forward； bearing
to the left in the hope of intercepting the steamer。
She came on with terrible swiftness； and they who had miles of water
to cover； dared hoist no more sail in that breeze。 In half an hour she
was nearly opposite to them； and they were still far away。 A little
more sail was let out； driving them through the water at as quick a
rate as they could venture to go。 The steamer was passing three miles
or so away； and black despair took hold of them。 Now the resourceful
Thompson； without apologies； undressed； and removing the white shirt
that he had worn at the dance； bade a sailor to tie it to an oar and
wave it to and fro。
Still the steamer went on； until presently they heard her siren going；
and saw that she was putting about。
〃She has seen us；〃 said Thompson。 〃Thank God； all of you； for there is
wind coming up。 Pull down that sail； we shan't need it any more。〃
Half an hour later； with many precautions； for the wind he prophesied
was already troubling the sea and sending little splashes of water
over the stern of their deeply laden boat； they were fast to a line
thrown from the deck of the three thousand ton steamer /Castle/； bound
for Natal。 Then； with a rattle； down came the accommodation ladder；
and strong…armed men； standing on its grating； dragged them one by one
from the death to which they had been so near。 The last to be lifted
up； except Thompson； was Benita； round whom it was necessary to reeve
a rope。
〃Any use？〃 asked the officer on the grating as he glanced at her quiet
form。
〃Can't say； I hope so；〃 answered Thompson。 〃Call your doctor。〃 And
gently enough she was borne up the ship's side。
They wanted to cast off the boat； but Thompson remonstrated； and in
the end that also was dragged to deck。 Meanwhile the news had spread；
and the awakened passengers of the /Castle/； clad in pyjamas；
dressing…gowns； and even blankets； were crowding round the poor
castaways or helping them to their cabins。
〃I am a teetotaller；〃 said second officer Thompson when he had made a
brief report to the captain of the /Castle/； 〃but if anyone will stand
me a whiskey and soda I shall be obliged to him。〃
IV
MR。 CLIFFORD
Although the shock of the blow she had received upon her head was
sufficient to make her insensible for so many hours； Benita's injuries
were not of a really serious nature； for as it happened the falling
block； or whatever it may have been； had hit her forehead slantwise；
and not full； to which accident she owed it that； although the skin
was torn and the scalp bruised； her skull had escaped fracture。 Under
proper medical care her senses soon came back to her； but as she was
quite dazed and thought herself still on board the /Zanzibar/； the
doctor considered it wise to preserve her in that illusion for a
while。 So after she had swallowed some broth he gave her a sleeping
draught； the effects of which she did not shake off till the following
morning。
Then she came to herself completely； and was astonished to feel the
pain in her head； which had been bandaged； and to see a strange
stewardess sitting by her with a cup of beef…tea in her hand。
〃Where am I？ Is it a dream？〃 she asked。
〃Drink this and I will tell you；〃 answered the stewardess。
Benita obeyed； for she felt hungry； then repeated her question。
〃Your steamer was shipwrecked；〃 said the stewardess； 〃and a great many
poor people were drowned； but you were saved in a boat。 Look； there
are your clothes； they were never in the water。〃
〃Who carried me into the boat？〃 asked Benita in a low voice。
〃A gentleman； they say； Miss； who had wrapped you in a blanket and put
a lifebelt on you。〃
Now Benita remembered everything that happened before the darkness
fellthe question to which she had given no answer； the young couple
who stood flirting by herall came back to her。
〃Was Mr。 Seymour saved？〃 she whispered； her face grey with dread。
〃I dare say； Miss；〃 answered the stewardess evasively。 〃But there is
no gentleman of that name aboard this ship。〃
At that moment the doctor came in； and him； too； she plied with
questions。 But having learned the story of Robert's self…sacrifice
from Mr。 Thompson and the others； he would give her no answer； for he
guessed how matters had stood between them； and feared the effects of
the shock。 All he could say was that he hoped Mr。 Seymour had escaped
in some other boat。
It was not until the third morning that Benita was allowed to learn
the truth； which indeed it was impossible to conceal any longer。 Mr。
Thompson came to her cabin and told her everything； while she listened
silently； horrified； amazed。
〃Miss Clifford；〃 he said； 〃I think it was one of the bravest things
that a man ever did。 On the ship I always thought him rather a head…
in…air kind of swell； but he was a splendid fellow； and I pray God
that he has lived； as the lady and child for whom he offered himself
up have done； for they are both well again。〃
〃Yes；〃 she repeated after him mechanically； 〃splendid fellow indeed；
and；〃 she added； with a strange flash of conviction； 〃I believe that
he /is/ still alive。 If he were dead I should know it。〃
〃I am glad to hear you say so；〃 said Mr。 Thompson； who believed the
exact contrary。
〃Listen；〃 she went on。 〃I will tell you something。 When that dreadful
accident occurred Mr。 Seymour had just asked me to marry him； and I
was going to answer that I wouldbecause I love him。 I believe that I
shall still give him that answer。〃
Mr。 Thompson replied again that he hoped so； which； being as honest
and tender…hearted as he was brave and capable； he did most earnestly；
but in his heart he reflected that her answer would not be given this
side of the grave。 Then； as he had been deputed to do； he handed her
the note which had been found in the bosom of her dress； and； able to
bear no more of this painful scene； hurried from the cabin。 She read
it greedily twice； and pressed it to her lips； murmuring：
〃Yes； I will think kindly of you； Robert Seymour； kindly as woman can
of man； and now or afterwards you shall have your answer； if you still
wish for it。 Whenever you come or wherever I go； it shall be ready for
you。〃
That afternoon； when she was more composed； Mrs。 Jeffreys came to see
Benita； bringing her baby with her。 The poor woman was still pale and
shaken； but the child had taken no hurt at all from its immersion in
that warm water。
〃What can you think of me？〃 she said； falling on her knees by Benita。
〃But oh！ I did not know what I was doing。 It was terror and my child；〃
and she kissed the sleeping infant passionately。 〃Also I did not
understand at the timeI was too dazed。 Andthat herohe gave his
life for me when the others wished to beat me off with oars。 Yes； his
blood is upon my handshe who died that I and my child might live。〃
Benita looked at her and answered； very gently：
〃Perhaps he did not die after all。 Do not grieve； for if he did it was
a very glorious death； and I am prouder of him than I could have been
had he lived on like the otherswho wished to beat you off with oars。
Whatever is； is by God's Will； and doubtless for the best。 At the
least； you and your child will be restored to your husband； though it
cost me one who would have beenmy husband。〃
That evening Benita came upon the deck and spoke with the other ladies
who were saved； learning every detail that she could gather。 But to
none of the men； except to Mr。 Thompson； would she say a single word；
and soon； seeing how the matter stood； they hid themselves away from
her as they had already done from Mrs。 Jeffreys。
The /Castle/ had hung about the scene of the shipwreck for thirty
hours； and rescued one other boatload of survivors； also a stoker
clinging to a piece of wreckage。 But with the shore she had been
unable to communicate； for the dreaded wind had risen； and the
breakers were quite impassable to any boat。 To a passing steamer bound
for Port Elizabeth； however； she had reported the terrible disaster；
which by now was known all over the world； together with the names of
those whom she had picked up in the boats。
On the night of the day of Benita's interview with Mrs。 Jeffreys； the
/Castle/ arrived off Durban and anchored； since she was too big a
vessel to cross the bar as it was in those days。 At dawn the
stewardess awoke Benita from the uneasy sleep in which she lay； to
tell her that an old gentleman had come off in the tug and wished to
see her； for fear of exciting false hopes she was very careful to add
that word 〃old。〃 With her help Benita dressed herself； and as the sun
rose； flooding the Berea； the Point； the white town and fair Natal
beyond with light； she went on to the deck； and there； leaning over
the bulwark； saw a thin； grey…bearded man of whom after all these
years the aspect was still familiar。
A curious thrill went through her as she looked at him leaning there
lost in thought。 After all； he was her father； the man to whom she
owed her presence upon this bitter earth； this place of terrors and
delights； of devastation and hope supernal。 Perhaps； too； he had been
as much sinned against as sinning。 She stepped up to him and touched
him on the shoulder。
〃Father；〃 she said。
He turned round with all the quickness of a young man； for about him
there was a peculiar agility which his daughter had inherited。 Like
his mind； his body was still nimble。
〃My darling；〃 he said； 〃I should have known your voice anywhere。 It
has haunted my sleep for years。 My darling； thank you for coming back
to me； and thank God for preserving you when so many were lost。〃 Then
he threw his arms about her and kissed her。
She shrank from him a little； for by inadvertence he had pressed upon
the wound in her forehead。
〃Forgive me；〃 she said； 〃it is my head。 It was injured； you know。〃
Then he saw the bandage about her brow； and was very penitent。
〃They did not tell me that you had been hurt； Benita；〃 he exclaimed in
his light； refined voice； one of the stamps of that gentility of blood
and breeding whereof all his rough years and errors had been unable to
deprive him。 〃They only told me that you were saved。 It is part of my
ill…fortune that at our first moment of greeting I should give you
pain； who have caused you so much already。〃
Benita felt that the words were an apology for the past； and her heart
was touched。
〃It is nothing；〃 she answered。 〃You
