Lady Victoria was not afraid of the sea. No indeed, and if her brother
would go with her she would like nothing better. And Miss Skeat, too,
would she like to come? Such a pity poor Margaret had a headache. She
had not even come to breakfast.
Yes, Miss Skeat would come, and the boatswain would provide them both
with tarpaulins and sou'-westers, and they would go on deck for a few
minutes. But Mr. Barker was so sorry he had a touch of neuralgia, and
besides he knew that Claudius was on deck and would be of more use to
the ladies than he could ever be. Mr. Barker had no idea of getting wet,
and the sudden headache of the Countess, combined with the absence of
Claudius from her side, interested him. He meant to stay below and watch
the events of the morning. Piloted by the Duke, the strong English girl
and the wiry old Scotch lady made their way up the companion, not
without difficulty, for the skipper's prediction was already fulfilled,
and the _Streak_ was ploughing her way through all sorts of weather at
once.
The deck was slippery and sloppy, and the sharp spray was blowing itself
in jets round every available corner. The sky was of an even lead
colour, but it was hard to tell at first whether it was raining or not.
The Duke's face gleamed like a wet red apple in the wind and water as
he helped his sister to the leeward and anchored her among the shrouds.
"Hullo, Claudius, you seem to like this!" he sang out, spying the tall
Swede near the gangway. Claudius came towards them, holding on by the
pins and cleats and benches. He looked so white that Lady Victoria was
frightened.
"You are not well, Dr. Claudius. Please don't mind me, my brother will
be back in a moment. Go below and get warm. You really look ill."
"Do I? I do not feel ill at all. I am very fond of this kind of weather."
And he put one arm through the shrouds and prepared for conversation
under difficulties. Meanwhile the Duke brought out Miss Skeat, who
rattled inside her tarpaulin, but did not exhibit the slightest
nervousness, though a bit of a sea broke over the weather-bow just as
she appeared.
"Keep your eye peeled there, will you?" the Duke shouted away to the men
at the wheel; whereat they grinned, and luffed a little, just enough to
let the lady get across.
"Steady!" bawled the Duke again when Miss Skeat was made fast; and the
men at the wheel held her off once more, so that the spray flew up in a
cloudy sheet.
Claudius was relieved. He had expected to see Margaret come up the
companion, and he had dreaded the meeting, when he would almost of
necessity be obliged to help her across and touch her hand; and he
inwardly blessed her wisdom in staying below. The others might have
stayed there too, he thought, instead of coming up to get wet and to
spoil his solitude, which was the only thing left to him to-day.
But Claudius was not the man to betray his ill-temper at being
disturbed; and after all there was something about these two women that
he liked--in different ways. The English girl was so solidly
enthusiastic, and the Scotch gentlewoman so severely courageous, that he
felt a sort of companionable sympathy after he had been with them a few
minutes.
Lady Victoria, as previously hinted, was married, and her husband, who
was in the diplomatic service, and who had prospects afterwards of
coming into money and a peerage, was now absent on a distant mission.
They had not been married very long, but his wife was always ready to
take things cheerfully, and, since she could not accompany him, she had
made up her mind to be happy without him; and the trip with her brother
was "just the very thing." Mr. Barker admired what he called her
exuberant vitality, and expressed his opinion that people with a
digestion like that were always having a good time. She was strong and
healthy, and destined to be the mother of many bold sons, and she had a
certain beauty born of a good complexion, bright eyes, and white teeth.
To look at her, you would have said she must be the daughter of some
robust and hardworking settler, accustomed from her youth to face rain
and snow and sunshine in ready reliance on her inborn strength. She did
not suggest dukes and duchesses in the least. Alas! the generation of
those ruddy English boys and girls is growing rarer day by day, and a
mealy-faced, over-cerebrated people are springing up, who with their
children again, in trying to rival the brain-work of foreigners with
larger skulls and more in them, forget that their English forefathers
have always done everything by sheer strength and bloodshed, and can as
easily hope to accomplish anything by skill as a whale can expect to
dance upon the tight rope. They would do better, thought Lady Victoria,
to give it up, to abandon the struggle for intellectual superiority of
that kind. They have produced greater minds when, the mass of their
countrymen were steeped in brutality, and Elizabethan surfeit of beef
and ale, than they will ever produce with a twopenny-halfpenny universal
education. What is the use? Progress. What is progress? Merely the
adequate arrangement of inequalities--in the words of one of their own
thinkers who knows most about it and troubles himself least about
theories. What is the use of your "universal" education, to which
nine-tenths of the population submit as to a hopeless evil, which takes
bread out of their mouths and puts bran into their heads; for might they
not be at work in the fields instead of scratching pothooks on a slate?
At least so Lady Victoria thought.
"You look just like a sailor," said she to Claudius.
"I feel like one," he answered, "and I think I shall adopt the sea as a
profession."
"It is such a pity," said Miss Skeat, sternly clutching the twisted wire
shroud. "I would like to see you turn pirate; it would be so
picturesque--you and Mr. Barker." The others laughed, not at the idea of
Claudius sporting the black flag--for he looked gloomy enough to do
murder in the first degree this morning--but the picture of the
exquisite and comfort-loving Mr. Barker, with his patent-leather shoes
and his elaborate travelling apparatus, leading a band of black-browed
ruffians to desperate deeds of daring and blood, was novel enough to be
exhilarating; and they laughed loudly. They did not understand Mr.
Barker; but perhaps Miss Skeat, who liked him with an old-maidenly
liking, had some instinct notion that the gentle American could be
dangerous.
"Mr. Barker would never do for a pirate," laughed Lady Victoria; "he
would be always getting his feet wet and having attacks of neuralgia."
"Take care, Vick," said her brother, "he might hear you."
"Well, if he did? I only said he would get his feet wet. There is no
harm in that, and it is clear he has neuralgia, because he says it
himself."
"Well, of course," said the Duke, "if that is what you mean. But he will
wet his feet fast enough when there is any good reason."
"If you make it 'worth his while,' of course," said Lady Victoria, "I
have no doubt of it." She turned up her nose, for she was not very fond
of Mr. Barker, and she thought poorly of the Duke's financial
enterprises in America. It was not a bit like a good old English
gentleman to be always buying and selling mines and stocks and all sorts
of things with queer names.
"Look here, Vick, we won't talk any more about Barker, if you please."
"Very well, then you can talk about the weather," said she.
"Yes," said Claudius, "you may well do that. There is a good deal of
weather to talk about."
"Oh, I like a storm at sea, of all things!" exclaimed Lady Victoria,
forgetting all about Mr. Barker in the delicious sense of saltness and
freedom one feels on the deck of a good ship running through a lively
sea. She put out her face to catch the fine salt spray on her cheek.
Just then a little water broke over the side abaft the gangway, and the
vessel rose and fell to the sweep of a big wave. The water ran along
over the flush deck, as if hunting for the scuppers, and came swashing
down to the lee where the party were standing, wetting the ladies' feet
to the ankle. The men merely pulled themselves up by the ropes they
held, and hung till the deck was clear again.
"I don't suppose it hurts you to get wet," said the Duke to his sister,
"but you would be much better under hatches while this sort of thing is
going on."
"I think, if you will help me, I will go down and see how the Countess
is," said Miss Skeat; and Claudius detached her from the rigging and got
her down the companion, but the Duke stayed with his sister, who begged
for a few minutes more. Once below, Claudius felt how near he was to
Margaret, who was doubtless in the ladies' cabin. He could reach his own
quarters without entering that sanctum, of course, but as he still held
Miss Skeat's arm to steady her to the door, he could not resist the
temptation of putting his head through, for he knew now that she must be
there. It was a large sitting-room, extending through the whole beam,
with big port-holes on each side. Miss Skeat entered, and Claudius
looked in.
There was Margaret, looking much as usual, her face turned a little from
him as she lay in a huge arm-chair. She could not see him as she was,
and his heart beat furiously as he looked at the face he loved best of
all others.
Margaret spoke to Miss Skeat without turning her head, for she was
working at some of her eternal needlework.
"Have you had a good time? How did you get down?"
"Such an airing," answered the lady-companion, who was divesting herself
of her wraps, "and Dr Claudius--"
The last was lost to the Doctor's ear, for he withdrew his head and beat
a hasty retreat. Miss Skeat also stopped speaking suddenly, for as she
mentioned his name she looked naturally towards the door, supposing him
to be standing there, and she just saw his head disappear from between
the curtains. Margaret turned her eyes and saw Miss Skeat's
astonishment.
"Well, what about Dr. Claudius?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing," said Miss Skeat, "you asked me how I got down, and I was
going to say Dr. Claudius gave me his arm, and I thought he had come in
here with me."
Neither Miss Skeat nor Claudius had noticed Mr. Barker, who was
ensconced on a corner transom, with his nails and a book to amuse
himself with. He saw the whole thing: how the Doctor put his white face
and dripping beard through the curtains, and suddenly withdrew it at the
mention of his name, and how Miss Skeat held her peace about having seen
it too. He reflected that something had happened, that Miss Skeat knew
all about it, and that she was a discreet woman. He wondered what it
could be. Claudius would not look like that unless something were wrong,
he thought, and he would certainly come back in five minutes if
everything were right. He had not seen him at breakfast. He took out his
watch softly and let it drop on his book, face upwards. Meanwhile he
talked to the two ladies about the weather, and listened to Miss Skeat's
rapturous account of the spray and the general slipperiness of the upper
regions. When five minutes were elapsed he put his watch back and said
he thought he would try it himself, as he fancied the fresh air would do
him good. So he departed, and obtained a pair of sea-boots and an
oilskin, which he contemplated with disgust, and put on with
resolution. He wanted to find the Duke, and he wanted to see Claudius;
but he wanted them separately.
Mr. Barker cautiously put his head out of the cuddy door and espied the
Duke and his sister. This was not exactly what he wanted, and he would
have retired, but at that moment Lady Victoria caught sight of him, and
immediately called out to him not to be afraid, as it was much smoother
now. But Mr. Barker's caution had proceeded from other causes, and being
detected, he put a bold face on it, stepped on the deck and slammed the
door behind him. Lady Victoria was somewhat surprised to see him tread
the slippery deck with perfect confidence and ease, for she thought he
was something of a "duffer." But Barker knew how to do most things more
or less, and he managed to bow and take off his sou'wester with
considerable grace in spite of the rolling. Having obtained permission
to smoke, he lighted a cigar, crooked one booted leg through the iron
rail, and seated himself on the bulwark, where, as the steamer lurched,
he seemed to be in a rather precarious position. But there was a sort of
cat-like agility in his wiry frame, that bespoke unlimited powers of
balancing and holding on.
"I thought there were more of you," he began, addressing Lady Victoria.
"You seem to be having quite a nice time here."
"Yes."
"I wish I had come up sooner; the atmosphere downstairs is very
oppressive."
"I thought you had neuralgia," said Lady Victoria.
"So I had. But that kind of neuralgia comes and goes very suddenly.
Where is the giant of the North?"
"Dr. Claudius? He went down with Miss Skeat, and when he came up again
he said he would go forward," answered she, giving the nautical
pronunciation to the latter word.
"Oh, I see him," cried Barker, "there he is, just going up the bridge.
By Jove! what a height he looks."
"Yes," put in the Duke, "he is rather oversparred for a nor'-easter, eh?
Rather be your size, Barker, for reefing tawpsels;" and the Englishman
laughed.
"Well," said Barker, "when I first knew him he used to wear a balustrade
round his neck to keep from being dizzy. I wouldn't care to have to do
that. I think I will go and have a look too." And leaving his companions
to laugh at his joke, Mr. Barker glided easily from the rail, and began
his journey to the bridge, which he accomplished without any apparent
difficulty. When he had climbed the little ladder he waved his hand to
the Duke and his sister, who screamed something complimentary in reply;
and then he spoke to Claudius who was standing by the skipper, his legs
far apart, and both his hands on the railing.
"Is that you, Barker?" asked Claudius; "you are well disguised this
morning."
"Claudius," said the other, "what on earth is the row?" The captain was
on the other side of the Doctor, and could not hear in the wind.
"What row?" asked Claudius. Barker knew enough of his friend by this
time to be aware that roundabout methods of extracting information were
less likely to be successful than a point-blank question.
"Don't pretend ignorance," said he. "You look like a ghost, you are so
pale, and when you put your head through the curtains a quarter of an
hour ago, I thought you were one. And you have not been near the
Countess this morning, though you have never been away from her before
since we weighed anchor. Now, something has happened, and if I can do
anything, tell me, and I will do it, right away." It is a good old plan,
that one of trying to satisfy one's curiosity under pretence of offering
assistance. But Claudius did not trouble himself about such things; he
wanted no help from any one, and never had; and if he meant to tell,
nothing would prevent him, and if he did not mean to tell, no power
would make him.
"Since you have found it out, Barker, something has happened, as you
say; and thanks for your offer of help, but I cannot tell you anything
more about it."
"I think you are unwise."
"Perhaps."
"I might help you a great deal, for I have some natural tact."
"Yes."
"Besides, you know I am as secret as the grave."
"Quite so."
"I introduced you to the Countess, too."
"I know it."
"And I should be very sorry indeed to think that my action should have
had any evil consequences."
"I am sure you would."
"Then, my dear fellow, you must really take me a little more into your
confidence, and let me help you," said Barker, in the tone of an injured
man.
"Perhaps I ought," said Claudius.
"Then why will you not tell me what has happened now?"
"Because I won't," said Claudius, turning sharply on Barker, and
speaking in a voice that seemed to make the railings shake. He was
evidently on the point of losing his temper, and Barker repented him
too late of his attempt to extract the required information. Now he
changed his tone.
"Excuse me, Claudius, I did not mean to offend you."
"You did not offend me at all, Barker. But please--do not ask me any
more questions about it." Claudius was perfectly calm again.
"No indeed, my dear fellow, I would not think of it;--and I don't seem
to think that I should advise anybody else to," he added mentally. He
made up his mind that it must be something very serious, or Claudius,
who was so rarely excited, would hardly have behaved as he had done. He
made a few remarks about the weather, which had certainly not improved
since morning; and then, resolving that he would find out what was the
matter before he was much older, he glided down the ladder and went aft.
Lady Victoria had disappeared, and her brother was trying to light a
short black pipe.
"Duke," Barker began, "what the deuce is the matter with Claudius this
morning?"
"Don't know, I'm sure. My sister thinks it is very odd."
"Well, if you don't know, I don't either, but I can make a pretty good
guess."
The Duke's vesuvian was sputtering in the spray and wind, and he got a
good light before he answered.
"I'll take six to four he marries her, at all events."
"I don't go in for playing it as low down as that on my friends," said
Barker virtuously, "or I would take you in hundreds. You must be crazy.
Can't you see he has shown up and is sold? Bah! it's all over, as sure
as you're born."
"Think that's it?" said the other, much interested. "You may be right.
Glad you would not bet, anyhow."
"Of course that's it. The idiot has proposed to her here, on board, and
she has refused him, and now he has to face the fury of the elements to
keep out of her way."
"Upon my soul, it looks like it," said the Duke. "He won't stay on the
bridge much longer if this lasts, though."
"You had best ask your sister," answered Barker. "Women always know
those things first. What do you say to a game? It is beastly dirty
weather to be on the deck watch." And so they pushed forward to the
smoking-room, just before the bridge, and settled themselves for the day
with a pack of cards and a box of cigars.
As Margaret had not put in an appearance at breakfast, which was a late
and solid meal on board, and as there was no other regular congregation
of the party until dinner, for each one lunched as he or she pleased, it
was clear that the Countess and Claudius would not be brought together
until the evening. Margaret was glad of this for various reasons, some
definable and others vague. She felt that she must have misjudged
Claudius a little, and she was glad to see that her exhibition of
displeasure on the previous night had been sufficient to keep him away.
Had he been as tactless as she had at first thought, he would surely
have sought an early opportunity of speaking to her alone, and the rest
of the party were so much used to seeing them spend their mornings
together that such an opportunity would not have been lacking, had he
wished it. And if he had misunderstood her words and manner--well, if
he had not thought they were meant as a decisive check, he would have
followed her there and then, last night, when she left him. She felt a
little nervous about his future conduct, but for the present she was
satisfied, and prepared herself for the inevitable meeting at dinner
with a certain feeling of assurance. "For," said she, "I do not love him
in the least, and why should I be embarrassed?"
Not so poor Claudius, who felt the blood leave his face and rush wildly
to his heart, as he entered the saloon where the party were sitting down
to dinner. The vessel was rolling heavily, for the sea was running high
under the north-easter, and dinner would be no easy matter. He knew he
must sit next to her and help her under all the difficulties that arise
under the circumstances. It would have been easy, too, for them both to
see that the eyes of the other four were upon them, had either of them
suspected it. Claudius held himself up to the full of his great height
and steadied every nerve of his body for the meeting. Margaret belonged
to the people who do not change colour easily, and when she spoke, even
the alert ear of Mr. Barker opposite could hardly detect the faintest
change of tone. And yet she bore the burden of it, for she spoke first.
"How do you do, Dr. Claudius?"
"Thank you, well. I was sorry to hear you had a headache to-day. I hope
you are better."
"Thanks, yes; much better." They all sat down, and it was over.
The conversation was at first very disjointed, and was inclined to turn
on small jokes about the difficulty of dining at an angle of forty-five
degrees. The weather was certainly much heavier than it had been in the
morning, and the Duke feared they would have a longer passage than they
had expected, but added that they would be better able to judge
to-morrow at twelve. Claudius and Margaret exchanged a few sentences,
with tolerable tact and indifference; but, for some occult reason, Mr.
Barker undertook to be especially lively and amusing, and after the
dinner was somewhat advanced he launched out into a series of stories
and anecdotes which served very well to pass the time and to attract
notice to himself. As Mr. Barker was generally not very talkative at
table, though frequently epigrammatic, his sudden eloquence was
calculated to engage the attention of the party. Claudius and Margaret
were glad of the rattling talk that delivered them from the burden of
saying anything especial, and they both laughed quite naturally at
Barker's odd wit. They were grateful to him for what he did, and
Claudius entertained some faint hope that he might go on in the same
strain for the rest of the voyage. But Margaret pondered these things.
She saw quickly that Barker had perceived that some embarrassment
existed, and was spending his best strength in trying to make the meal a
particularly gay one. But she could not understand how Barker could have
found out that there was any difficulty. Had Claudius been making
confidences? It would have been very foolish for him to do so, and
besides, Claudius was not the man to make confidences. He was reticent
and cold as a rule, and Barker had more than once confessed to the
Countess that he knew very little of Claudius's previous history,
because the latter "never talked," and would not always answer
questions. So she came to the conclusion that Barker only suspected
something, because the Doctor had not been with her during the day. And
so she laughed, and Claudius laughed, and they were well satisfied to
pay their social obolus in a little well-bred and well-assumed hilarity.
So the dinner progressed, in spite of the rolling and pitching; for
there was a good deal of both, as the sea ran diagonally to the course,
breaking on the starboard quarter. They had reached the dessert, and two
at least of the party were congratulating themselves on the happy
termination of the meal, when, just as the Duke was speaking, there was
a heavy lurch, and a tremendous sea broke over their heads. Then came a
fearful whirring sound that shook through every plate and timber and
bulkhead, like the sudden running down of mammoth clock-work, lasting
some twenty seconds; then everything was quiet again save the sea, and
the yacht rolled heavily to and fro.
Every one knew that there had been a serious accident, but no one moved
from the table. The Duke sat like a rock in his place and finished what
he was saying, though no one noticed it. Miss Skeat clutched her silver
fruit-knife till her knuckles shone again, and she set her teeth. Mr.
Barker, who had a glass of wine in the "fiddle" before him, took it out
when the sea struck and held it up steadily to save it from being
spilled; and Lady Victoria, who was not the least ashamed of being
startled, cried out--
"Goodness gracious!" and then sat holding to the table and looking at
her brother.
Margaret and Claudius were sitting next each other on one side of the
table. By one of those strange, sympathetic instincts, that only
manifest themselves in moments of great danger, they did the same thing
at the same moment. Claudius put out his left hand and Margaret her
right, and those two hands met just below the table and clasped each
other, and in that instant each turned round to the other and looked the
other in the face. What that look told man knoweth not, but for one
instant there was nothing in the world for Margaret but Claudius. As for
him, poor man, he had long known that she was the whole world to him,
his life and his death.
It was very short, and Margaret quickly withdrew her hand and looked
away. The Duke was the first to speak.
"I do not think it is anything very serious," said he. "If you will all
sit still, I will go and see what is the matter." He rose and left the
saloon.
"I don't fancy there is any cause for anxiety," said Barker. "There has
probably been some slight accident to the machinery, and we shall be off
again in an hour. I think we ought to compliment the ladies on the
courage they have shown; it is perfectly wonderful." And Mr. Barker
smiled gently round the table. Lady Victoria was palpably scared and
Miss Skeat was silent. As for Margaret, she was confused and troubled.
The accident of her seizing Claudius's hand, as she had done, was a
thousand times more serious than any accident to the ship. The Doctor
could not help stealing a glance at her, but he chimed in with Barker in
praising the coolness of all three ladies. Presently the Duke came back.
He had been forward by a passage that led between decks to the
engine-room, where he had met the captain. The party felt reassured as
the ruddy face of their host appeared in the doorway.
"There is nothing to fear," he said cheerfully. "But it is a horrid
nuisance, all the same."
"Tell us all about it," said Lady Victoria.
"Well--we have lost our means of locomotion. We have carried away our
propeller."
"What are you going to do about it?" asked Barker.
"Do? There is nothing to be done. We must sail for it. I am dreadfully
sorry."
"It is not your fault," said Claudius.
"Well, I suppose not. It happens even to big steamers."
"And shall we sail all the way to New York?" asked his sister, who was
completely reassured. "I think it will be lovely." Miss Skeat also
thought sailing much more poetic than steaming.
"I think we must hold a council of war," said the master. "Let us put it
to the vote. Shall we make for Bermuda, which is actually nearer, but
which is four or five days' from New York, or shall we go straight and
take our chance of a fair wind?"
"If you are equally willing to do both, why not let the ladies decide?"
suggested Barker.
"Oh no," broke in the Countess, "it will be much more amusing to vote.
We will write on slips of paper and put them in a bag."
"As there are five of you I will not vote," said the Duke, "for we might
be three on a side, you know."
So they voted, and there were three votes for New York and two for
Bermuda.
"New York has it," said the Duke, who counted, "and I am glad, on the
whole, for it is Sturleson's advice." Barker had voted for New York, and
he wondered who the two could have been who wanted to go to Bermuda.
Probably Miss Skeat and Lady Victoria. Had the Countess suspected that
those two would choose the longer journey and out-vote her, if the
decision were left to the ladies?
Meanwhile there had been heavy tramping of feet on the deck, as the men
trimmed the sails. She could only go under double-reefed trysails and
fore-staysail for the present, and it was no joke to keep her head up
while the reefs were taken in. It was blowing considerably more than
half a gale of wind, and the sea was very heavy. Soon, however, the
effect of the sails made itself felt; the yacht was a good sea-boat, and
when she fairly heeled over on the port-tack and began to cut the waves
again, the ladies downstairs agreed that sailing was much pleasanter and
steadier than steam, and that the next time they crossed in a yacht they
would like to sail all the way. But in spite of their courage, and
notwithstanding that they were greatly reassured by the explanations of
Mr. Barker, who made the nature of the accident quite clear to them,
they had been badly shaken, and soon retired to their respective
staterooms. In the small confusion of getting to their feet to leave the
cabin it chanced that Claudius found himself helping Margaret to the
door. The recollection of her touch and look when the accident happened
was strong in him yet and gave him courage.
"Good-night, Countess," he said; "shall I have the pleasure of reading
with you to-morrow?"
"Perhaps," she answered; "if it is very fine. Fate has decreed that we
should have plenty of time." He tried to catch a glance as she left his
arm, but she would not, and they were parted for the night. Barker had
gone into the engine-room, now quiet and strange; the useless machinery
stood still as it had been stopped when the loss of the propeller,
relieving the opposition to the motor-force, allowed it to make its
last frantic revolutions. The Duke and Claudius were left alone in the
main cabin.
"Well," said the Duke, "we are in for it this time, at all events."
"We are indeed," said Claudius; "I hope the delay will not cause you any
serious inconvenience, for I suppose we shall not reach New York for a
fortnight at least."
"It will not inconvenience me at all. But I am sorry for you--for you
all, I mean," he added, fearing he had been awkward in thus addressing
Claudius directly, "because it will be so very disagreeable, such an
awful bore for you to be at sea so long."
"I have no doubt we shall survive," said the other, with a smile. "What
do you say to going on deck and having a chat with Sturleson, now that
all is quiet?"
"And a pipe?" said the Duke, "I am with you." So on deck they went, and
clambered along the lee to the smoking-room, without getting very wet.
Sturleson was sent for, and they reviewed together the situation. The
result of the inquiry was that things looked much brighter to all three.
They were in a good sea-boat, well manned and provisioned, with nothing
to fear from the weather, and if they were lucky they might make Sandy
Hook in a week. On the other hand, they might not; but it is always well
to take a cheerful view of things. People who cross the Atlantic in
yachts are very different from the regular crowds that go backwards and
forwards in the great lines. They are seldom in a hurry, and have
generally made a good many voyages before. Perhaps the Duke himself, in
his quality of host, was the most uncomfortable man on board. He did
not see how the Countess and the Doctor could possibly survive being
shut up together in a small vessel, for he was convinced that Barker
knew all about their difficulty. If he had not liked Claudius so much,
he would have been angry at him for daring to propose to this beautiful
young friend of his. But then Claudius was Claudius, and even the Duke
saw something in him besides his wealth which gave him a right to aspire
to the highest.
"I can't make out," the Duke once said to Barker, "where Claudius got
his manners. He never does anything the least odd; and he always seems
at his ease."
"I only know he came to Heidelberg ten years ago, and that he is about
thirty. He got his manners somewhere when he was a boy."
"Of course, there are lots of good people in Sweden," said the Duke;
"but they all have titles, just as they do in Germany. And Claudius has
no title."
"No," said Barker pensively, "I never heard him say he had a title."
"I don't know anything about it," answered the Duke. "But I have been a
good deal about Sweden, and he is not in the least like a respectable
Swedish burgher. Did you not tell me that his uncle, who left him all
that money, was your father's partner in business?"
"Yes, I remember once or twice hearing the old gentleman say he had a
nephew. But he was a silent man, though he piled up the dollars."
"Claudius is a silent man too," said the Duke.
"And he has sailed into the dollars ready piled."
But this was before the eventful day just described; and the Duke had
forgotten the conversation, though he had repeated the reflections to
himself, and found them true. To tell the truth, Claudius looked more
like a duke than his host, for the sea air had blown away the
professorial cobwebs; and, after all, it did not seem so very
incongruous in the Englishman's eyes that his handsome guest should fall
in love with the Countess Margaret. Only, it was very uncomfortable; and
he did not know exactly what he should do with them for the next ten
days. Perhaps he ought to devote himself to the Countess, and thus
effectually prevent any approaches that Claudius might meditate.
Yes--that was probably his duty. He wished he might ask counsel of his
sister; but then she did not know, and it seemed unfair, and altogether
rather a betrayal of confidence or something--at all events, it was not
right, and he would not do it. Barker might be wrong too. And so the
poor Duke, muddle-headed and weary with this storm in his tea-cup, and
with having his tea-cup come to grief in a real storm into the bargain,
turned into his deck-cabin to "sleep on it," thinking the morning would
bring counsel.
Claudius had many things to think of too; but he was weary, for he had
slept little of late, and not at all the night before; so he lay down
and went over the scenes of the evening; but soon he fell asleep, and
dreamed of her all the night long.
But the good yacht _Streak_ held on her course bravely, quivering in the
joy of her new-spread wings. For what hulk is so dull and pitifully
modern as not to feel how much gladder a thing it is to bound along with
straining shrouds and singing sails and lifting keel to the fierce music
of the wind than to be ever conscious of a burning sullenly-thudding
power, put in her bosom by the unartistic beast, man, to make her grind
her breathless way whither he would, and whither she would not? Not the
meanest mud-scow or harbour tug but would rather have a little mast and
a bit of canvas in the fresh salt breeze than all the hundreds of
land-born horse-powers and fire-driven cranks and rods that a
haste-loving generation can cram into the belly of the poor craft. How
much more, then, must the beautiful clean-built _Streak_ have rejoiced
on that night when she felt the throbbing, gnashing pain of the engines
stop suddenly in her breast, and was allowed to spread her beautiful
wings out to be kissed and caressed all over by her old lover, the
north-east wind?
And the grand crested waves came creeping up, curling over their dark
heads till they bristled with phosphorescent foam; and some of them
broke angrily upward, jealous that the wind alone might touch those
gleaming sails. But the wind roared at them in his wrath and drove them
away, so that they sank back, afraid to fight with him; and he took the
ship in his strong arms, and bore her fast and far that night, through
many a heaving billow, and past many a breaking crest--far over the
untrodden paths, where footsteps are not, neither the defiling hand of
man.
But within were beating hearts and the breathings of life. The strong
man stretched to his full length on his couch, mighty to see in his
hard-earned sleep. And the beautiful woman, with parted lips and wild
tossing black hair; dark cheeks flushed with soft resting; hands laid
together lovingly, as though, in the quiet night, the left hand would
learn at last what good work the right hand has wrought; the fringe of
long eyelashes drooping with the lids, to fold and keep the glorious
light safe within, and--ah yes, it is there!--the single tear still
clinging to its birthplace--mortal impress of immortal suffering. Is it
not always there, the jewelled sign-manual of grief?
But the good yacht _Streak_ held on her course bravely; and the
north-easter laughed and sang as he buffeted the waves from the path of
his love.