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Page 38
"Good Heavens, doctor! do you mean to tell me that we are to go
to sea and meet the Arctic Expedition on its way home?"
"Admirably guessed, Mrs. Crayford! That is exactly what I mean."
"But how is it to be done?"
"I will tell you immediately. I mentioned--didn't I?--that I had
heard something on my road to this house."
"Yes."
"Well, I met an old friend at my own gate, who walked with me a
part of the way here. Last night my friend dined with the admiral
at Portsmouth. Among the guests there was a member of the
Ministry who had brought the news about the Expedition with him
from London. This gentleman told the company there was very
little doubt that the Admiralty would immediately send out a
steam-vessel, to meet the rescued men on the shores of America,
and bring them home. Wait a little, Mrs. Crayford! Nobody knows,
as yet, under what rules and regulations the vessel will sail.
Under somewhat similar circumstances, privileged people have been
received as passengers, or rather as guests, in her majesty's
ships--and what has been conceded on former occasions may, by
bare possibility, be conceded now. I can say no more. If you are
not afraid of the voyage for yourself, I am not afraid of it
(nay, I am all in favor of it on medical grounds) for my patient.
What do you say? Will you write to your father, and ask him to
try what his interest will do with his friends at the Admiralty?"
Mrs. Crayford rose excitedly to her feet.
"Write!" she exclaimed. "I will do better than write. The journey
to London is no great matter--and my housekeeper here is to be
trusted to take care of Clara in my absence. I will see my father
to-night! He shall make good use of his interest at the
Admiralty--you may rely on that. Oh, my dear doctor, what a
prospect it is! My husband! Clara! What a discovery you have
made--what a treasure you are! How can I thank you?"
"Compose yourself, my dear madam. Don't make too sure of success.
We may consider Miss Burnham's objections as disposed of
beforehand. But suppose the Lords of the Admiralty say No?"
"In that case, I shall be in London, doctor; and I shall go to
them myself. Lords are only men; and men are not in the habit of
saying No to me."
So they parted.
In a week from that day, her majesty's ship _Amazon_ sailed for
North America. Certain privileged persons, specially interested
in the Arctic voyagers, were permitted to occupy the empty
state-rooms on board. On the list of these favored guests of the
ship were the names of two ladies--Mrs. Crayford and Miss
Burnham.
Fifth Scene
The Boat-House.
Chapter 16.
Once more the open sea--the sea whose waters break on the shores
of Newfoundland! An English steamship lies at anchor in the
offing. The vessel is plainly visible through the open doorway of
a large boat-house on the shore--one of the buildings attached to
a fishing-station on the coast of the island.
The only person in the boat-house at this moment is a man in the
dress of a sailor. He is seated on a chest, with a piece of cord
in his hand, looking out idly at the sea. On the rough
carpenter's table near him lies a strange object to be left in
such a place--a woman's veil.
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