"Alick Stapleton is my nephew's name. He is the first lieutenant of
the ship, so naturally you must have met him. What did you think of
him? Isn't he a dear fellow?"
"Oh, was that your nephew, Mrs. Shaw, the first lieutenant? Yes, I
did meet him. He was very kind to me--to all of us. Indeed, I don't
know what I should have done if it had not been for him!"
This is not quite strictly true. Norah does know very well what she
would have done if it had not been for Alick Stapleton: and even as
she utters these words of gratitude she is fully aware of the
sinister inner meaning which they conceal.
"I can quite imagine it!" answers Mrs. Shaw briskly. "I daresay he
was good to you, the wicked scamp! In my opinion, it is a very good
thing that the _Marathon_ will be away for some little time. I'm
quite certain that if Alick were only to see you as you are looking
now he would fall in love with you at once, with those eyes of yours!
Well, well, I'm a garrulous old woman, am I not? Gossiping here like
this when I ought to be working. Though you know, my dear, I look
upon you as an out-and-out fraud!--Cushion slipping again? How you
do start! Nerves, I suppose. You must be in a weaker state than I
imagined; I was just going to say that I didn't think there was
really very much the matter with you. You're one of the strong kind,
not like your--your cousin, didn't you say she is? Poor girl, in a
perfect state of collapse ever since she was carried on board that
destroyer last night--and I'm sure I don't wonder at it!"
"But she is better now, Mrs. Shaw, isn't she? Thanks to your
kindness. May I not see her presently? Or isn't she well enough for
that yet?"
"Yes, yes, my dear, certainly you shall see her. That's really the
reason why I've brought you out here, more for her sake than yours.
As soon as I can get her dressed I'm going to fetch her out here and
fix her up in this chair by your side, and you can have a good talk
to each other. I thought it best to keep her in bed all the morning,
and she has been sleeping all the time till an hour ago, which proves
I was right in keeping her there."
"Will she be ready soon? I should so like to see her!"
"Very soon now. Fortunate, wasn't it, that the girls who are helping
me were able to rig you out with some of their clothes? You would
have looked funny if you had had to get into some of mine!"
"You have all been awfully kind. And there is just one thing more I
should like--couldn't you give me something to do while I'm sitting
out here? I am quite strong and well, really I am. There is nothing
the matter with me--except that I cannot bear to sit still, alone,
with my thoughts; it is quite unendurable! Couldn't I do something?"
"Nonsense, my dear, you must really try and be more cheerful. I
declare, you're looking utterly miserable! You simply must make an
effort to calm yourself, you know! And, if you want something to do,
you might go on with these sea-boot stockings for me. Can you knit?"
With a woman like the indefatigable Mrs. Shaw one outlet for her
energies is not enough; so even while she is busying herself about
the thousand and one things connected with the management of the
sailors' hut she generally carries about with her a piece of knitting
to occupy her tireless fingers.
She has just such a piece now, and pulls it out from one of her ample
pockets and offers it to her patient, who grasps it eagerly,
exclaiming:
"Oh, yes, I can knit. Let me have the stockings, do!"
"They are for our poor sailors," says Mrs. Shaw, beaming with
motherly kindness as she hands over the work; "I am sure you can
sympathise with them in all they have to go through, now that you
have experienced a little of it yourself. I always feel that we can
never do enough for them. Remember, what would be the fate of us
women if it were not for our sailors--_and_ our soldiers, God bless
them! And so many of them have given up their lives for us, poor
gallant lads. Killed, maimed, blown up, burnt, drowned----"
Norah springs to her feet, trembling all over, thrusting out her
hands as if to ward off some unseen evil.
"Oh, don't, don't!" she cries wildly. "Can I not forget such horrors
for one single moment? Why must you remind me of them?" Then she
sinks back into her chair again, and seems to be ashamed of having
given way to such emotion; for she adds in a quieter voice, "Oh,
forgive me, Mrs. Shaw. I did not mean to be rude to you, really I
didn't. But I am--my nerves are----"
"Of course, of course, poor lamb! You are not so strong as you think
you are. I am a foolish old woman, and ought to have had more sense!
Hallo, there's someone coming!"
Norah follows with her eyes the direction in which Mrs. Shaw has
turned her head. From the landing-place, out of sight beneath the
slope of the hill two men are approaching, two naval officers. At
first, only their heads and shoulders are visible; but as they mount
the hill and come more into view they are recognised by Mrs. Shaw as
the admiral in charge of the base and his secretary.
"Oh, can't I get away somewhere? I don't want to meet anybody!"
cried Norah in distress at the prospect of having to talk to
strangers--especially strangers who may ask awkward questions!
But Mrs. Shaw will not listen to anything of the sort.
"Why, child," she reassures her, "you need not mind these two. In
fact, I think you really ought to see them, they have evidently come
to enquire for you. It's only Admiral Darlington, such a _nice_ man!
And his secretary too, Mr. Dimsdale, a charming fellow and a most
able man--but a thorough woman hater. It even makes him nervous to
talk to an old woman like myself; and I think he would run a mile
sooner than talk to a pretty girl like you!"
"Not like most _naval_ men, then, is he?" smiles Norah, endeavouring
to act a cheerful part, though her own sinking heart knows well
enough that it is only acting.
"Ha! Mrs. Shaw, good afternoon, good afternoon," the admiral hails
her as soon as he gets within earshot. "So I see you've got one of
your patients out in the sunshine. That's good--nothing like
sunshine and fresh air to bring back the roses into pale cheeks."
"Yes, Admiral," replies the good lady, "and I was just going this
very moment to fetch the other one out too. Miss Sheridan, let me
introduce Admiral Darlington, and Mr. Dimsdale.
"Now you know one another, and I can leave you for a few minutes
while I get the other poor thing. Now, Mr. Dimsdale, you must be
entertaining. Try and brighten her up a little; she wants rousing!
Well, I'll be off now." And so saying she bustles off to the hut,
full of energy and kindness as usual.
Admiral Darlington settles himself comfortably in the vacant deck
chair at Norah's side, and to judge by the satisfied appearance of
his beaming face is thoroughly pleased with the situation. It is a
long time since he has had the opportunity of talking to such a
pretty girl as this, and the gallant old sea-dog is ready to make the
most of the chance.
The secretary, however, is left standing awkwardly in face of the
seated pair. He looks rather a forlorn sight. So much so that the
wicked old admiral chuckles inwardly at his discomfiture, and slyly
says:
"You can sit on the ground, Dimsdale. It won't hurt you, you are
younger than I am. Besides, it's the correct thing for youth to bask
at the feet of beauty!"
"I--I'd rather stand, thank you. I'm quite comfortable like this,
thank you," stammers the unhappy secretary.
Oh, if the conversation can only be confined to pleasantries and
small-talk, thinks Norah. Anything, rather than that it should veer
round to herself and her experiences! So, with an effort, she
continues to act her part:
"Oh, Mr. Dimsdale, please do sit down. Perhaps you are afraid of the
damp? You can have a corner of my rug to sit on, if you like. Isn't
that nice of me?"
"Oh no, not at all, not at all!--I mean--yes, very. But really, I'd
rather stand."
"I see," answers Norah, "I quite understand. No giving way to
idleness--the alert, active temperament--always ready for instant
action. I, expect you are just longing for an engagement, aren't
you?"
"An _engagement_?" cries the thoroughly flustered secretary. "No,
certainly not! Oh, I see what you mean--yes, yes, of course--stupid
of me--I should love to be engaged. I mean--dear me, how very
oppressive it is this afternoon. Quite hot, isn't it? I think, sir,
I had better be getting back to the ship to write out that report for
you."
"Oh, no hurry, Dimsdale, no hurry at all," answers the wicked
admiral. "In fact, I don't even know what report you are talking
about. But whatever it is I am quite sure it can perfectly well wait
for a while. You don't come ashore often enough; and now that you
_are_ out of the ship for once you may as well stay and get the
benefit of the fresh air."
"Yes, _do_ stay," adds Norah's voice, which can be meltingly
persuasive when she tries to make it so. In this instance the
earnestness is not altogether assumed; three's company, two's none,
when it is a question of a _tête-à-tête_ with the admiral.
"It's--it's rather cold out of doors this afternoon, sir. I think
I'd better be getting back to the ship."
"Nonsense, man, nonsense," says Admiral Darlington. "You can stay
awhile, surely. We'll go back together, presently."
"Mr. Dimsdale," insinuates Norah, "I should think that you--all of
you--must find it very trying to be cooped up on board a ship month
after month all by yourselves and never having any ladies' society,
don't you?"
This is a subject on which the secretary can be really eloquent. His
face quite lights up as he replies:
"I never enjoyed being in the Navy so much before in all my life!"
And then, suddenly awaking to the enormity of these sentiments, he
tries to cover it by adding, "Oh, I don't mean that, I mean it's
very----"
"It's perfectly damnable, Miss Sheridan. Tut, tut, perfectly
dreadful, I should say," breaks in the admiral.
"I am sure it must be," smiled the girl. "How beautiful it is to sit
here, Admiral Darlington, with such a view, and all these ships to
look at."
The admiral's beaming face becomes suddenly grave and thoughtful, as
he lifts his eyes to rest them on those distant ships lying at anchor
which his young companion has remarked as a beautiful sight.
"It is something more than beautiful," he says meaningly; "it is an
impressive sight--next to the Grand Fleet itself, perhaps the most
impressive sight to be seen anywhere on the seas at this present
moment! When you go home, Miss Sheridan, you will be able to tell
your friends that you have seen some of those ships that stand
between Germany and her monstrous dreams of world-power. Were it not
for the Fleet, the war would have come to an end long ago, with
Europe blackened and devastated, crushed under Germany's iron heel.
Look well at those ships, young lady. They are just a part of the
protecting shield that keeps our country from the invader. His foot
will never defile our shores so long as the Fleet is above water!"
This is trying enough to Norah's ears, but not so bad as it might be.
And, to her great relief and joy, Mrs. Shaw rejoins the group at this
moment, with Netta. The two girls meet in a close embrace with
hurried, whispered greetings. No time for confidences now, for Mrs.
Shaw is already clucking over her chickens.
"Here is our other patient, Admiral," she says; "Not very strong yet,
I'm afraid. We shall have to take great care of her for a few days,
before she will be fit to travel."
"She can't be in better hands than yours, Mrs. Shaw," replies the
admiral gallantly. "I hope, young ladies, you will consider
yourselves the guests of the British Navy for as long as you like.
We shall be only too delighted to do what little we can for you,
knowing what you women have done to alleviate the hardships of us
sailormen. We can never repay what we owe to you!"
How sharp is the stab which such a kindly hand can deal unknowingly.
It is more than Norah can bear.
"You too?" she cries, hiding her face in her hands. "Must everyone
remind me?"
"Remind you?" echoes the admiral, slightly puzzled. "Oh, of your
sex's kindness towards the Navy, you mean. Well, my dear young lady,
you will have to accustom yourself to being thanked for that. I can
tell you, we shall never forget what you have done. Mrs. Shaw, let
us leave these young people for a few minutes; I have something I
want to say to you."
"Certainly, Admiral," assents the good lady, a little surprised, but
nevertheless allowing him to lead her away where they can talk
without being overheard. "Is it anything I can do?"
"Well, it was not merely to enquire for these two poor things that I
came ashore this afternoon. I have something rather serious to tell
you, something that I don't want anybody to know. But it is only
right that you should hear it."
"Not about Alick?" anxiously asks the other, clutching her
companion's arm.
"Your nephew is quite safe; you can be perfectly easy in your mind
about him. But his ship, the _Marathon_--however, come a little
further away, where we can be sure they won't hear us. We don't want
the matter to become public property yet, you understand."