the frozen deep(冰渊)-第15章
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a fishy place as this。 It was very clean and snowy at the North Poleand
it's very damp and sandy here。 Do you never miss your bone…soup； sir？ _I_
do。 It mightn't have been strong； but it was very hot； and the cold seemed
to give it a kind of a meaty flavor as it went down。 Was it you that was a…
coughing so long last night； sir？ I don't presume to say anything against
the air of these latitudes； but I should be glad to know it wasn't you that
was a…coughing so hollow。 Would you be so obliging as just to feel the
state of these ropes with the ends of your fingers； sir？ You can dry them
afterward on the back of my jacket。〃
〃You ought to have a stick laid on the back of your jacket。 Take that
box down to the boat directly。 You croaking vagabond！ You would have
grumbled in the Garden of Eden。〃
The philosopher of the Expedition was not a man to be silenced by
referring him to the Garden of Eden。 Paradise itself was not perfect to
John Want。
〃I hope I could be cheerful anywhere； sir；〃 said the ship's cook。 〃But
you mark my wordsthere must have been a deal of troublesome work
with the flower…beds in the Garden of Eden。〃
Having entered that unanswerable protest； John Want shouldered the
box； and drifted drearily out of the boat…house。
Left by himself； Crayford looked at his watch； and called to a sailor
outside。
〃Where are the ladies？〃 he asked。
〃Mrs。 Crayford is coming this way； sir。 She was just behind you when
you came in。〃
〃Is Miss Burnham with her？〃
〃No； sir； Miss Burnham is down on the beach with the passengers。 I
heard the young lady asking after you； sir。〃
〃Asking after me？〃 Crayford considered with himself as he repeated
the words。 He added； in lower and graver tones； 〃You had better tell Miss
Burnham you have seen me here。〃
The man made his salute and went out。 Crayford took a turn in the
boat…house。
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Rescued from death in the Arctic wastes； and reunited to a beautiful
wife； the lieutenant looked； nevertheless； unaccountably anxious and
depressed。 What could he be thinking of？ He was thinking of Clara。
On the first day when the rescued men were received on board the
_Amazon_； Clara had embarrassed and distressed； not Crayford only； but
the other officers of the Expedition as well； by the manner in which she
questioned them on the subject of Francis Aldersley and Richard Wardour。
She had shown no signs of dismay or despair when she heard that no news
had been received of the two missing men。 She had even smiled sadly to
herself； when Crayford （out of compassionate regard for her） declared that
he and his comrades had not given up the hope of seeing Frank and
Wardour yet。 It was only when the lieutenant had expressed himself in
those terms and when it was hoped that the painful subject had been
dismissedthat Clara had startled every one present by announcing that
she had something still to say in relation to Frank and Wardour； which had
not been said yet。 Though she spoke guardedly； her next words revealed
suspicions of foul play lurking in her mindexactly reflecting similar
suspicions lurking in Crayford's mindwhich so distressed the lieutenant；
and so surprised his comrades； as to render them quite incapable of
answering her。 The warnings of the storm which shortly afterward broke
over the vessel were then visible in sea and sky。 Crayford made them his
excuse for abruptly leaving the cabin in which the conversation had taken
place。 His brother officers； profiting by his example； pleaded their duties
on deck； and followed him out。
On the next day； and the next； the tempest still ragedand the
passengers were not able to leave their state…rooms。 But now； when the
weather had moderated and the ship had anchorednow； when officers and
passengers alike were on shore； with leisure time at their disposalClara
had opportunities of returning to the subject of the lost men； and of asking
questions in relation to them which would make it impossible for Crayford
to plead an excuse for not answering her。 How was he to meet those
questions？ How could he still keep her in ignorance of the truth？
These were the reflections which now troubled Crayford； and which
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presented him； after his rescue； in the strangely inappropriate character of
a depressed and anxious man。 His brother officers； as he well knew；
looked to him to take the chief responsibility。 If he declined to accept it； he
would instantly confirm the horrible suspicion in Clara's mind。 The
emergency must be met； but how to meet itat once honorably and
mercifullywas more than Crayford could tell。 He was still lost in his own
gloomy thoughts when his wife entered the boat…house。 Turning to look at
her； he saw his own perturbations and anxieties plainly reflected in Mrs。
Crayford's face。
〃Have you seen anything of Clara？〃 he asked。 〃Is she still on the
beach？〃
〃She is following me to this place；〃 Mrs。 Crayford replied。 〃I have
been speaking to her this morning。 She is just as resolute as ever to insist
on your telling her of the circumstances under which Frank is missing。 As
things are； you have no alternative but to answer her。〃
〃Help me to answer her； Lucy。 Tell me； before she comes in； how this
dreadful suspicion first took possession of her。 All she could possibly have
known when we left England was that the two men were appointed to
separate ships。 What could have led her to suspect that they had come
together？〃
〃She was firmly persuaded； William； that they _would_ come together
when the Expedition left England。 And she had read in books of Arctic
travel； of men left behind by their comrades on the march； and of men
adrift on ice…bergs。 With her mind full of these images and forebodings；
she saw Frank and Wardour （or dreamed of them） in one of her attacks of
trance。 I was by her side； I heard what she said at the time。 She warned
Frank that Wardour had discovered the truth。 She called out to him； 'While
you can stand； keep with the other men； Frank！〃
〃Good God！〃 cried Crayford； 〃I warned him myself； almost in those
very words； the last time I saw him！〃
〃Don't acknowledge it； William！ Keep her in ignorance of what you
have just told me。 She will not take it for what it isa startling coincidence；
and nothing more。 She will accept it as positive confirmation of the faith；
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the miserable superstitious faith； that is in her。 So long as you don't
actually know that Frank is dead； and that he has died by Wardour's hand；
deny what she saysmislead her for her own sakedispute all her
conclusions as I dispute them。 Help me to raise her to the better and nobler
belief in the mercy of God！〃 She stopped； and looked round nervously at
the doorway。 〃Hush！〃 she whispered。 〃Do as I have told you。 Clara is
here。〃
Chapter 17。
Clara stopped at the doorway； looking backward and forward
distrustfully between the husband and wife。 Entering the boat…house； and
approaching Crayford； she took his arm； and led him away a few steps
from the place in which Mrs。 Crayford was standing。
〃There is no storm now； and there are no duties to be done on board
the ship；〃 she said； with the faint； sad smile which it wrung Crayford's
heart to see。 〃You are Lucy's husband； and you have an interest in me for
Lucy's sake。 Don't shrink on that account from giving me pain： I can bear
pain。 Friend and brother！ will you believe that I have courage enough to
hear the worst？ Will you promise not to deceive me about Frank？〃
The gentle resignation in her voice； the sad pleading in her look； shook
Crayford's self…possession at the outset。 He answered her in the worst
possible manner； he answered evasively。
〃My dear Clara；〃 he said； 〃what have I done that you should suspect
me of deceiving you？〃
She looked him searchingly in the face； then glanced with renewed
distrust at Mrs。 Crayford。 There was a moment of silence。 Before any of
the three could speak again； they were interrupted by the appearance of
one of Crayford's brother officers； followed by two sailors carrying a
hamper between them。 Crayford instantly dropped Clara's arm； and seized
the welcome opportunity of speaking of other things。
〃Any instructions from the ship； Steventon？〃 he asked； approaching
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the officer。
〃Verbal instructions only；〃 Steventon replied。 〃The ship will sail with
the flood…tide。 We shall fire a gun to collect the people； and send another
boat ashore。 In the meantime here are some refreshments for the
passengers。 The ship is in a state of confusion； the ladies will eat their
luncheon more comfortably here。〃
Hearing this； Mrs。 Crayford took _her_ opportunity of silencing Clara
next。
〃Come； my dear；〃 she said。 〃Let us lay the cloth before the gentlemen
come in。〃
Clara was too seriously bent on attaining the object which she had in
view to be silenced in that way。 〃I will help you directly；〃 she answered
then crossed the room and addressed herself to the officer； whose name
was Steventon。
〃Can you spare me a few minutes？〃 she asked。 〃I have something to
say to you。〃
〃I am entir
