Lieutenant-Commander Stapleton advances with smiling face and
outstretched hand towards two very frightened girls. He is quite
aware that they would have cause indeed to feel alarmed if they
really knew of the disaster that has happened to the _Marathon_; but
he is also aware that they are in ignorance of this occurrence--and
it is up to him to keep them so. Why should they be made to feel
this additional shock, after all their sufferings?
So his first greeting is a cheery--
"So I have found you! And given you a fright at the same time, eh?
You did not expect to see me again so soon, I suppose? But, as a
matter of fact, our cruise was unexpectedly shortened, and I got
ashore not so very long after you did."
"Oh, I am so glad, so glad!" Netta exclaims, with the most obvious
relief and joy beaming in her pretty grey eyes.
"That's very good of you to say so," returns Stapleton, a little
dryly; knowing that the loss of the _Marathon_ is at present a secret
he is somewhat at a loss to account for this ebullition of gladness.
There is rather an awkward pause; and Stapleton's usually ready wit
fails him when he searches in his mind for the appropriate thing to
say next. Netta's uncalled for expressions of joy have made things
just a little difficult for him.
Happily, the situation is relieved from an unexpected quarter, Mrs.
Shaw coming into view and running--yes, running, and with rather
shaky steps, towards her nephew.
"Why--there's--oh, Alick, my boy, my boy!" she cries, hugging him
close, then holding him off to take a good look at him, and then
hugging him again.
"Hallo, Auntie!" laughs the young man, recovering his
self-possession, "why you seem all of a tremble like! Got a job of
work to do, or what's affecting you?"
"You cheeky fellow!" is all she answers him: all she answers him
openly, that is; for still holding him in her embrace, she finds
opportunity to whisper in his ear:
"Hush, I know all about it. I've just seen your admiral. Remember,
not a word to these two!"
And then, speaking in her natural tones and turning towards the girls:
"This bad nephew of mine is always giving me the most dreadful
shocks! Coming back so soon, when I thought he was hundreds of miles
away! Everyone well on board the _Marathon_, Alick?"
"Thank you, Auntie." Stapleton cannot bring himself to play up to
the good soul's sly acting quite so well as she would like; but he
does his best.
"I'm very glad indeed to hear that," Netta tells him. "You were all
so good to us." So great is her reaction and relief of mind that she
cannot help repeating her sentiments. And she looks so very much in
earnest about it; her face grows quite pale as she speaks the simple
words.
Mrs. Shaw notices this. "Why, child," she observes, "you're looking
quite upset! You must have been allowing yourself to get
over-excited--now don't tell me you haven't! You had better come
indoors and lie down in the shade for a little while; I was half
afraid it might be too much for you out here. Alick, you may stay a
little and talk to Miss Norah, and then come in and see me before you
go back. But don't stay too long, and mind you don't get her excited
too!"
Not unwillingly, Netta obediently takes the good woman's proffered
arm, and rising from her chair goes to seek the friendly shelter of
her room in the hut. Indeed, it is quite true that what she has just
now seen and heard has been rather overcoming. She has seen
Stapleton alive, and heard from his lips that all on board the
_Marathon_ are safe and sound. Norah also has told her that she did
not leave the bomb in the ship; and, obviously, Patrick could not
have done so either, since no misadventure has occurred. Now, she
reflects, Norah's mind as well as her own can be at rest; and nothing
remains but to get away as soon as can be arranged and try and live
down the memory of this nightmare, taking up some quiet useful walk
in life far away from Patrick's dreadful environment. All that will
be easy, now that this gigantic load has been removed from their
lives.
So thinks Netta, as she departs with her kind friend. And as she
rests on the couch where Mrs. Shaw places her with much kind fussing
and many injunctions to lie still and rest, she is able already to
indulge in rosy visions of the future.
She does not sleep, but just lies motionless with wide-open eyes, and
there is a trace of a smile lingering still on her lips. This happy,
peaceful face is very different to the care-worn countenance she was
wearing but half an hour ago. Like a child, she seems able to put
off very quickly the horrors of the past as soon almost as they have
gone, and to forget them utterly. Her conscience has never approved
of the dreadful deed in which she was to have taken part--and, in
fact, did take part up to a certain point; but then, her conscience
was a very small factor in comparison with the iron force of her
brother's compelling will, and it never really had a chance to assert
itself.
Now, however, she is happy in the thought that events have turned out
just as she would really have willed them to: it seems almost a
miracle, and too good to be true, but the fact remains that she never
wanted to blow up the ship, and the ship has not been blown up.
So Netta suffers no mental agonising like that of Norah's, whose
purpose has only been broken down by one fearful blow after another.
So she rests with peaceful mind, and begins even now to build up
hopeful plans for the better days to come.
Amongst these happy visions there is one that shapes itself very
clearly and in the brightest colours: her cousin Norah must surely
blend her life with that of the man who has won her heart. Why, the
two are even now at this very moment sitting side by side and
exchanging close confidences: from this it can only be a step to that
chapter of their life story which closes with the words "and they
lived happily ever after." What could be simpler or better than
this? There is nothing in the world to prevent it, thinks Netta;
and, having thoroughly settled this pleasing conclusion to her own
complete satisfaction, she at last closes her eyes and falls into a
happy slumber.