the frozen deep(冰渊)-第15部分
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his hand on her pulse。 There was no sympathy here between the dreamy
mystical temperament of the patient and the downright practical character
of the doctor。 Clara secretly disliked her medical attendant。 She submitted
impatiently to the close investigation of which he made her the object。 He
questioned herand she answered irritably。 Advancing a step further （the
doctor was not easily discouraged） he adverted to the news of the
Expedition； and took up the tone of remonstrance which had been already
adopted by Mrs。 Crayford。 Clara declined to discuss the question。 She rose
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with formal politeness； and requested permission to return to the house。
The doctor attempted no further resistance。 〃By all means； Miss
Burnham；〃 he answered； resignedlyhaving first cast a look at Mrs。
Crayford which said plainly； 〃Stay here with me。〃 Clara bowed her
acknowledgments in co ld silence； and left them together。 The doctor's
bright eyes followed the girl's wasted； yet still graceful figure as it slowly
receded from view； with an expression of grave anxiety which Mrs。
Crayford noticed with grave misgiving on her side。 He said nothing； until
Clara had disappeared under the veranda which ran round the garden…side
of the house。
〃I think you told me；〃 he began； 〃that Miss Burnham has neither father
nor mother living？〃
〃Yes。 Miss Burnham is an orphan。〃
〃Has she any near relatives？〃
〃No。 You may speak to me as her guardian and her friend。 Are you
alarmed about her？〃
〃I am seriously alarmed。 It is only two days since I called here last；
and I see a marked change in her for the worsephysically and morally； a
change for the worse。 Don't needlessly alarm yourself！ The case is not； I
trust； entirely beyond the reach of remedy。 The great hope for us is the
hope that Mr。 Aldersley may still be living。 In that event； I should feel no
misgivings about the future。 Her marriage would make a healthy and a
happy woman of her。 But as things are； I own I dread that settled
conviction in her mind that Mr。 Aldersley is dead； and that her own death
is soon to follow。 In her present state of health this idea （haunting her as it
certainly will night and day） will have its influence on her body as well as
on her mind。 Unless we can check the mischief； her last reserves of
strength will give way。 If you wish for other advice； by all means send for
it。 You have my opinion。〃
〃I am quite satisfied with your opinion；〃 Mrs。 Crayford replied。 〃For
God's sake； tell me； what can we do？〃
〃We can try a complete change；〃 said the doctor。 〃We can remove her
at once from this place。〃
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〃She will refuse to leave it；〃 Mrs。 Crayford rejoined。 〃I have more than
once proposed a change to herand she always says No。〃
The doctor paused for a moment； like a man collecting his thoughts。
〃I heard something on my way here；〃 he proceeded； 〃which suggests
to my mind a method of meeting the difficulty that you have just
mentioned。 Unless I am entirely mistaken； Miss Burnham will not say No
to the change that I have in view for her。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Mrs。 Crayford； eagerly。
〃Pardon me if I ask you a question； on my part； before I reply；〃 said
the doctor。 〃Are you fortunate enough to possess any interest at the
Admiralty？〃
〃Certainly。 My father is in the Secretary's office； and two of the Lords
of the Admiralty are friends of his。〃
〃Excellent！ Now I can speak out plainly with little fear of
disappointing you。 After what I have said； you will agree with me； that the
only change in Miss Burnham's life which will be of any use to her is a
change that will alter the present tone of her mind on the subject of Mr。
Aldersley。 Place her in a position to discovernot by reference to her own
distempered fancies and visions； but by reference to actual evidence and
actual factwhether Mr。 Aldersley is； or is not； a living man； and there will
be an end of the hysterical delusions which now threaten to fatally
undermine her health。 Even taking matters at their worsteven assuming
that Mr。 Aldersley has died in the Arctic seasit will be less injurious to
her to discover this positively； than to leave her mind to feed on its own
morbid superstitions and speculations； for weeks and weeks together；
while the next news from the Expedition is on its way to England。 In one
word； I want you to be in a position； before the week is out； to put Miss
Burnham's present conviction to a practical test。 Suppose you could say to
her； 'We differ； my dear； about Mr。 Francis Aldersley。 You declare； without
the shadow of a reason for it； that he is certainly dead； and； worse still； that
he has died by the act of one of his brother officers。 I assert； on the
authority of the newspaper； that nothing of the sort has happened； and that
the chances are all in favor of his being still a living man。 What do you say
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to crossing the Atlantic； and deciding which of us is rightyou or I？' Do
you think Miss Burnham will say No to that； Mrs。 Crayford？ If I know
anything of human nature； she will seize the opportunity as a means of
converting you to a belief in the Second Sight。〃
〃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 mentioneddidn'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 shipsand
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 matterand 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 Admiraltyyou may rely on that。 Oh；
my dear doctor； what a prospect it is！ My husband！ Clara！ What a
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discovery you have madewhat 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。
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Fourth Scene
The Boat…House。
Chapter 16。
Once more the open seathe 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 shoreone 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；
