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Page 13
The Landing Stage
Chapter 5.
The morning of the next day--the morning on which the ships were
to sail--came bright and breezy. Mrs. Crayford, having arranged
to follow her husband to the water-side, and see the last of him
before he embarked, entered Clara's room on her way out of the
house, anxious to hear how her young friend passed the night. To
her astonishment she found Clara had risen, and was dressed, like
herself, to go out.
"What does this mean, my dear? After what you suffered last
night--after the shock of seeing that man--why don't you take my
advice and rest in your bed?"
"I can't rest. I have not slept all night. Have you been out
yet?"
"No."
"Have you seen or heard anything of Richard Wardour?"
"What an extraordinary question!"
"Answer my question! Don't trifle with me!"
"Compose yourself, Clara. I have neither seen nor heard anything
of Richard Wardour. Take my word for it, he is far enough away by
this time."
"No! He is here! He is near us! All night long the presentiment
has pursued me--Frank and Richard Wardour will meet."
"My dear child! what are you thinking of? They are total
strangers to each other."
"Something will happen to bring them together. I feel it! I know
it! They will meet--there will be a mortal quarrel between
them--and I shall be to blame. Oh, Lucy! why didn't I take your
advice? Why was I mad enough to let Frank know that I loved him?
Are you going to the landing-stage? I am all ready--I must go
with you."
"You must not think of it, Clara. There will be crowding and
confusion at the water-side. You are not strong enough to bear
it. Wait--I won't be long away--wait till I come back."
"I must and will go with you! Crowd? _He_ will be among the
crowd! Confusion? In that confusion _he_ will find his way to
Frank! Don't ask me to wait. I shall go mad if I wait. I shall
not know a moment's ease until I have seen Frank, with my own
eyes, safe in the boat which takes him to his ship! You have got
your bonnet on; what are we stopping here for? Come! or I shall
go without you. Look at the clock; we have not a moment to lose!"
It was useless to contend with her. Mrs. Crayford yielded. The
two women left the house together.
The landing-stage, as Mrs. Crayford had predicted, was thronged
with spectators. Not only the relatives and friends of the Arctic
voyagers, but strangers as well, had assembled in large numbers
to see the ships sail. Clara's eyes wandered affrightedly hither
and thither among the strange faces in the crowd; searching for
the one face that she dreaded to see, and not finding it. So
completely were her nerves unstrung, that she started with a cry
of alarm on suddenly hearing Frank's voice behind her.
"The _Sea-mew_'s boats are waiting," he said. "I must go,
darling. How pale you are looking, Clara! Are you ill?"
She never answered. She questioned him with wild eyes and
trembling lips.
"Has anything happened to you, Frank? anything out of the
common?"
Frank laughed at the strange question.
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