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Any one of the above books will be sent by mail, postage paid, on receipt of the price. HUNTER, EOSE & CO., Publishers, Toronto. READINGS IN AMERICA. I.-THE FROZEN DEEP. II.-THE DREAM-WOMAN. BY WILKIE COLLINS, AUTHOR OF "MAN AND WIFR," " POOR .MISS KINCIl" " TIIH NKW MAODALEN," "TUB WOMAN IN WIIITK," ETO., KTC, i HUNTER, ROSE & COMPANY. 1874. yz^£if% .ft Entered nceording to the Act of the Par- liament of Canada, In the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, by Wilkik Collins, In the Office of the Minister o Agriculture. II UUNTBR, ROSE AND CO. PRINTKRS A\D BIMDKKtt lOKOMTO. CONTENTS. I.~THE FEOZEI^ DEEP. A DRAMATIC STORY, IN FIVE SCENES. PAGE. Introductory Lines 1 First Scene— The Ball Room. Chapter I 6 Chapter II 12 Chapter III 18 Chapter IV 20 Chapter V 24 Second Scene — The Hut of the Sea-Mew. Chapter VI 30 Chapter VII ,.. 31 Chapter VIII 37 Chapter IX 42 Chapter X 46 Chapter XI 49 Third Scene — The Iceberg. Chapter XII 57 1082o0 Vi CONTENTS. Fourth Scene— The Garden. PAGE. Chapter XIII 59 Chapter XIV 65 Chapter XV 69 Fifth Scene. — The Boat-house. Chapter XVI 74 Chapter XVII 79 Chapter XVIII 86 - . ■ .-■■■. % . « IL-THE DREAM- WOMAI^. A MYSTERY, IN FOUR NARRATIVES. Introductory Note 95 The First Narrative. Introductory Statement of the Facts. By Percy Fairbank 96 The Second Narrative. The Ostler's Story— Told by Himself 106 'JONTENTS. ; - vii PAOE. The Third Narrative, The Story continued by Percy Fairbank 1 34 Fourth (and Last) Narrative. The Statement of Joseph Rigobert ; addressed to the Bar- rister who defended him at his trial 143 Last lines. Added by Percy Fairbank 151 READINGS IN AMERICA. I— She fy^titu §ttp. A DRAMATIC STORY, IN FIVE SCENES. INTRODUCTORY LINES. (Reiating the Adventures and Transf&rmatians of The Frozen Deep.) S long ago as the year 1856, 1 wrote a Play called The Frozen Deep. The work was first represented by amateur actors, at the house of the late Charles Dickens, on the 6th of January, 1857. Mr. Dickens himself played the principal part — and played it with a truth, vigour, and pathos, never to be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to witness the performance. The other personages of the story were represented by the ladies of Mr. Dickens' family ; by the late Mark Lemon (editor of Punch) ; by the late Augustus Egg, JtC.A. (the artist) ; and by the author of the play. The next appearance of The Frozen Deep (played by the amateur company) took place at The Gallery of Illustration, B 2 THE FROZEN DEEP. Regent Street, before the Queen and the Royal Family, by the Queen's own command. After this special performance, other representations of the work were given— first at The Gallery of Illustration; subsequently (with professional actresses) in some of the principal towns in England — for. the benefit of the family of a well-beloved friend of ours, who died in 1857 : the late Douglas Jerrold. At Manchester, the play was twice performed — on the second evening, in the presence of three thousand spectators. This was, I think, the finest of all the representations of The Frozen Deep. The extraordinary in- telligence and enthusiasm of the great audience stimulated us all to do our best. Dickens surpassed himself. The trite phrase is t^ .e true phrase to describe that magnificent piece of acting. He literally electrified the audience. I present here, as " a curiosity " which may be welcome to some of ray readers, a portion of the original playbill of the performance at Manchester. To me it has now become one of the saddest memorials of the past that I possess. Of the nine amateur actors who played the men's parts (one of them my brother; all of them my valued friends) but two are now living besides myself — Mr. Charles Dickens, juni , and Mr. Edward Pigott. INTRODUCTORY LINES. 8 r, by the ce, other Gallery esses) in it of the m-. the as twice of three ' all the nary in- ated us he trite piece of some to of the ) one of he nine em my re now id Mr. IN SEHEMBBANOE OF THE LATE MB. DOUGLAS JEBBOLD. 0. FREE TRADE HALL. UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MR. CHARLES DICKENS. On Friday Evening, Aug. 21, and on Saturday Evening, Aug. 22, 1867, AT EIGHT o'clock EXACTLY, Will be presented an entirely new Romantic Drama, in three A aba, by MR. WILKIE COLLINS, CALLED - THE FROZEN DEEP. The Overture composed expressly for this Piece by Mr. Francesco Beroer, who will conduct the Orchestra. The DresMg by Messrs. Nathan, of Tichboume Street, Haymarket, and Miss Wilrins, ofCarburtonSt, Fitzroy Square. Perniquier, Mr. Wilson, of the Strand. Captain Ebswortii . . .. (of the * Sea-Meto ") . . . . Mr. EDWARD PIGOTT. Captain HuLDiNO (of the " Wanderer'') . . .. Mr. ALFRED DICKENS. LiKUTBNANT Crayford Mr. MARK LEMON. Frank ALDBR8LBY Mr. WILKIE COLLINS. Richard Wardour Mr, CHARLES DICKENS Likutknant Stbvbnton Mr, YOUNG CHARLES.* John Want {Ship's Cook) Mr. AUGUSTUS EGG. Batbbon ) „,^ ^t *h^ i* «?^/, »f«,«'B» «^n«7^\ J Mr, SHIRLEY BROOKS. Darker f (two of the Sea-Mew s people) .. •• Jmr, CHARLES COLLINS. (Officbrb and Crbws of thb "SK^•MBW" AND "Wandbrbr," Mrs, Stevknton Mrs. GEORGE VINING. RosH EnswoRTH Mias ELLEN SABINE. Ldct Crayford Miss ELLEN TERNAN. Clara Burn HAM Miss MARIA TERNAN. NURSB Esthkr .. .. Mrs, TERNAN. Maid Miss MEWTE.t The Scenery and Scenic Effects of the First Act, by Mr. Telbin. The Scenery and Scenic Effects of the Second and Third Acts, by Mr. Stanfield, R.A. * A facetious nickname, invented by Dickens for his eldest son. f Another nickname by Dickens for a young lady who had nothing to say. The country performances being concluded, nearly ten years passed before the footlights shone again on The Frozen Deep. In 1866, I accepted a proposal made to me by Mr. Horace Wigan, to produce the play (with certain alterations and addi- 4 THE FROZEN DEEP. tions) on the public stage, at the Olympic Theatre, London. The first performance took place (while I was myself absent from England) on the 27th of November, in the year just mentioned. Mr. H. Neville acted the part " created " by Dickens. Seven years passed, after the production of the play at the Olympic Theatre— and then The Frozen Deep appealed once more to public favour, in another country than England, and under a totally new form. I occupied the autumn and winter of 1873-74, most agree- ably to myself, by a tour in the United States of America ; receiving from the generous people of that great country a reception which I shall remember proudly and gratefully to the end of my life. During my stay in America, I read in public, in the principal cities, one of my shorter stories (en- larged and re-written for the purpose), called " The Dream- Woman." * Concluding my tour at Boston, I was advised by my friends to give, if possible, a special attraction to my fare- well reading in America, by presenting to my audience a new work. Having this object in view, and having but a short space of time at my disposal, I bethought myself of The Frozen Deep. The play had never been published ; and I determined to re-write it, in narrative form, for a public reading. The 1 * The publication of " The Dream Woman " will follow the publication of "The Frozen Deep." INTRODUCTOEY LINES. 5 experiment proved, o)i trial, to be far more successful than I had ventured to anticipate. Occupying nearly two hours in its delivery, the transformed " Frozen Deep " kept its hold from first to last on the interest and the sympathies of the audience. I hope to have future opportunities of reading it, in my own country, as well as in the United States. Proposals having lately been made to me, in England and in America, to publish my "readings," I here present them — beginning with The Frozen Deep. The stories, as I print them, are, in both instances, considerably longer than the stories as I read them ; the limits of time, in the case of a public reading, rendering it imperatively necessary to abridge, without mercy, developments of character and incident which are essential to the due presentation of a work in its literary form. I have only to add — for the benefit of those who may have seen, and who may not have forgotten, the play — that the narrative version of The Frozen Deep departs widely from the treatment of the story in the First Act of the dramatic version, but (with the one exception of the Third Scene) follows the play as closely as possible iu the succeeding Acts. W. 0. London, April, 1874. THE FROZEN DEEP. ®;^« ^iorg. , • FIEST SCENE. THE BALL-ROOM. >\ * CHAPTER I. I HE date is between twenty and thirty years ago. The place is an English sea-port. The time is night. And the business of the moment is — dancing. The Mayor and Corporation of the town are giving a grand ball, in celebration of the departure of an Arctic expedition from their port. The ships of the expedition are two in num- ber — The Wanderer and The Sea-Mew. They are to sail (in search of the North-West Passage) on the next day, with the morning tide. Honour to the Mayor and Corporation ! It is a brilliant ball. The band is complete. The room is spacious. The large conservatory, opening out of it, is pleasantly lit with Chinese lanterns, and beautifully decorated with shrubs and flowers. All officers of the army and navy who are present, wear their uniforms in honour of the occasion. Among the ladies, the display of dresses (a subject which the men don't understand) is bewildering — and the average of beauty (a sub- ject which the men do understand) is the highest average attainable, in all parts of the room. For the moment, the dance which is in progress is a qua- drille. General admiration selects two of the ladies, who are dancing as its favourite objects. One is a dark beauty, in the prime of womanhood — the wife of First Lieutenant Crayford, of The Wanderer. The other is a young girl, pale and deUcate ; dressed simply in white ; with no ornament on her head but THE BALL-ROOM. her own lovely brown hair. This is Miss Clara Burnham — an orphan. She is Mrs. Crayford's dearest friend, and she is to stay with Mrs. Crayford, during the Lieutenant's absence in the Arctic regions. She is now dancing, with the Lieutenant himself for partner, and with Mrs. Crayford and Captain Helding (Commanding Officer of The Wanderer) for vis-a-vis — in plain English, for opposite couple. The conversation between Captain Helding and Mrs. Cray- ford, in one of the intervals of the dance, turns on Miss Burn- ham. The Captain is greatly interested in Clara. He admires her beauty ; but he thinks her manner — for a young girl — strangely serious and subdued. Is she in delicate health? Mrs. Crayford shakes her head ; sighs mysteriously ; and answers, '' In very delicate health, Captain Held ng." "Consumptive?" " Not in the least." " I am glad to hear that. She is a charming creature, Mrs. Crayford. She interests me indescribably. If I was only twenty years younger — perhaps (as I am not twenty years younger) I had better not finish the sentence ? It is indiscreet, my dear lady, to inquire what is the matter with her ? " " It might be indiscreet, on the part of a stranger," said Mrs. Crayford. " An old friend like you may make any inquiriep. I wish I could tell you what is the matter with Clara. It is a mystery to the doctors themselves. Some of the mischief is due, in my humble opinion to the manner in which she has been brouglit up." " Aye ! aye ! A bad school, I suppose ?" " Very bad, Captain Helding. But not the sort of school which you have in your mind at this moment. Clara's early years were spent in a lonely old house in the Highlands of Scotland. The ignorant people about her were the people who did the mischief which I have just been speaking of. They filled her mind with the superstitions which are still respected as truths in the wild north — especially the superstition called The Second Sight." " God bless me ! " cried the captain; " you don't mean to say she believes in such stufi" as that? In these enlightened times too!" f ' 8 THE FBOZEN DEEP. Mrs. Crayford looked at lier partner with a satirical smile. " In these enlightened times, Captain Helding, we only be- lieve in dancing tables, and in messages sent from the other world by spirits who can't spell I By comparison with such superstitions as these, even The Second Sight has something — in the shape of poetry — to recommend it, surely 1 Estimate for yourself," she continued seriously, " the effect of such surround- ings as I have described on a delicate sensitive young creature — a girl with a naturally imaginative temperament, leading a lonely neglected life. Is it so very surprising that she should catch the infection of the superstition about her 1 And is it quite incomprehensible that her nervous system should suffer accordingly, at a very critical period of her lifel" Not at all, Mrs. Crayford — not at all, ma'am as you put it. Still it is a little startling, to a common-place man like me, to meet a young lady at a ball who believes in The Second Sight Does she really profess to see into the future ? Am I to under- stand that she positively falls into a trance, and sees people in distant countries, and foretells events to come) That is The Second Sight, is it not 1 " " That is The Second Sight, Captain. And that is, really and positively, what she dc<^s." " The young lady who is dancing opposite to us 1 " " The young lady who is dancing opposite to us." The captain waited a little — letting the new flood of infor- mation which had poured in on him, settle itself steadily in his mind. This process accomplished, the Arctic explorer proceeded resolutely on his way to further discoveries. " May I ask, ma'am, if you have ever seen her in a state of trance with your own eyes ?" he enquired. " My sister and I both saw her in the trance, little more than a month since," Mrs. Crayford replied. "She had been nervous and irritable all the morning; and we took her out into the garden to breathe the fresh air. Suddenly, without any reason for it, the colour left her face. She stood between us. insensible to touch, insensible to sound ; motionless as stone, and cold as death, in a moment. The first change we noticed, came after a lapse of some minutes. Her hands began to move slowly, as if she was groping in the dark. Words Topped, one by one from her lips, in a lost, vacant tone, as if she was talking in her ,1 It THE BALL-ROOM. 9 sleep. Whether what she said referred to past or future I can- not tell you. She spoke of persons in a foreign country — perfect strangers to my sister and to me. After a little interval, she suddenly became silent. A momentary colour appeared in her face, and left it again. Her eyes closed — her feet failed her — and she sank insensible into our arms." " Sank insensible into your arms," repeated the captain, ab- sorbing his new information. "Most extraordinary ! And — in this state of health — she goes out to parties, and dances. More extraordinary still !" " You are entirely mistaken," said Mrs. Crayford. " She is only here to-night to please me. And she is only dancing to please my husband. As a rule, she shuns all society. The doctor recommends change and amusement for her. She won't listen to him. Except on rare occasions like this, she persists in remain- ing at home." Captain Helding brightened at the allusion to the doctor. Something practical might be got out of the doctor. Scientific man. Sure to see this very obscure subject under a new light. " How does \t strike the doctor now ?" said the captain. "Viewed simply as a Case, ma'am, how does it strike the doctor 1 " " He will give no positive opinion," Mrs. Crayford answered. " He told me that such cases as Clara's were by no means unfa- miliar to medical practice. ' We know,' he told me, * that certain disordered conditions of the brain and the nervous system pro- duce results quite as extraordinary as any that you have de- scribed — and there our knowledge ends. Neither my science, nor any man's science, can clear up the mystery in this case. It is an especially difficult case to deal with, because Miss Bum- ham's early association^ dispose her to attach a superstitious importance to the malady — the hysterical malady as some doctors would call it — from which she suflFers. I can give you instructions for preserving her general health; and I can recom- mend you to try some change in her life — provided you first relieve her mind of any secret anxieties that may possibly be preying on it" The captain smiled self-approvingly. 'The doctor had justified his anticipations. The doctor had suggested a practical solution of the difficulty. Aye 1 aye I At last, we have hit the nail on the head ! Secret <( 10 THE FROZEN DEEP. anxieties. Yes ! yes ! Plain enough now. A disappointment in love — eh, Mrs. Crayfordl " " I don't know, Captain Helding ; I am quite in the dark. Clara's confidence in me — in other matters unbounded — is, in this matter of her (supposed) anxieties, a confidence still with- held. In all else we are like sisters. I sometimes fear there may indeed be some trouble preying secretly on her mind. I sometimes feel a little hurt at her incomprehensible silence." Captain Helding was ready with his own practical remedy for this difficulty. " Encouragement is all she wants, ma'am. Take my word for it, this matter rests entirely with you. It's all in a nutshell. Encourage her to confide in you — and she will confide." " I am waiting to encourage her. Captain, until she is left alone with me — after you have all sailed for the Arctic Seas. In the meantime, will you consider what I have said to you as intended for your ear only 1 And will you forgive me, if I own that the turn the subject has taken does not tempt me to pursue it any farther V The captain took the hint. He instantly changed the sub- ject ; choosing, on this occasion, safe professional topics. He spoke of ships that were ordered on foreign service ; and, finding that tiiese as subjects failed to interest Mrs. Crayford, he spoke next of ships that were ordered home again. This last experi- ment produced its effect — an effect which the captaia had not bargained for. "Do you know," he began, "that the Atalanta is expected back from the West Coast of Africa, every day 1 Have you any acquaintances among the officers of that ship ) " As it so happened, he put those questions to Mrs. Crayford while they were engaged in one of the figures of the dance which brought them within hearing of the opposite couple. At the moment — to the astonishment of her friends and admirers — Miss Clara Burnham threw the quadrille into confusion by making a mistake ! Everybody waited to see her set the mis- take right. She made no attempt to set it right — she turned deadly pale, and caught her partner by the arm. " The heat !" she said faintly. " Take me away — take me into the air ! " Lieutenant Crayford instantly led her out of the dance, and THE BALL-ROOM. u It in irk. Kin ith- Ure I for took her into the cool and empty conservatory, at the end of the room. As a matter of course, Captain Helding and Mrs. Gray- ford left the quadrille at the same time. The captain saw his way to a joke. " Is this the trance coming on ? " he whispered. " If it is, as commander of the Arctic expedition, I have a particular request to make. Will the Second Sight oblige me by seeing the shortest way to the North West Passage, before we leave Eng- land ? " Mrs. Crayford declined to humour the joke. " If you will excuse my leaving you," she said quietly, " I will try and find out what is the matter with Miss B.. :nham." At the entrance to the conservatory, Mrs. Crayford encoun- tered her husband. The lieutenant was of middle age, tall and comely. A man with a winning simplicity and gentleness in his manner, and an irresistible kindness in his brave blue eyes. In one word, a man whom everybody loved — including his wife. *' Don't be alarmed," said the lieutenant. " The heat has over- come her — that's all." Mrs. Crayford shook her head, and looked at her husband, half satirically, half fondly. " You dear old innocent ! " she examined, " that excuse may do for you. For my part, I don't believe a word of it. Go and get another partner, and leave Clara to me." She entered the conservatory and seated herself by Clara's side. 12 THE FROZEN DEEP. CHAPTER II. OW, my dear ! " Mrs. Crayford began, " what does thig mean?" "Nothing." " That won't do, Clara. Try again." " The heat of the room " " That won't do, either. Say that you choose to keep yonr own secrets ; and I shall understand what you mean." Clara's sad, clear grey eyes looked up for the first time in Mrs. Crayford's face, and suddenly became dimmed with tears. " If I only dared tell you ! " she murmured. I hold so to your good opinion of me, Lucy — and I am so afraid of losing it." Mrs. Crayford's manner changed. Her eyes rested gravely and anxiously on Clara's face. " You know as well as I do, that nothing can shake my affec- tion for you," she said. " Do justice, my child, to your old friend. There is nobody here to listen to what we say. Open your heart, Clara. I see you are in trouble — and I want to comfort you." Clara began to yield. In other words, she began to make conditions. " Will you promise to keep what I tell you, a secret from every living creature 1 " she began. Mrs. Crayford met that question, by putting the question on her side. " Does * every living creature' include my husband ? " " Your husband more than anybody ! I love him, I revere him. He is so noble ; he is so good ! If I told him, what I am going to tell you, he would despise me. Own it plainly, Lucy, if I am asking too much in asking you to keep a secret from your husband." " Nonsense, child ! When you are married, you will know that the easiest of all secrets to keep is a secret from your hus- band. I give you my promise. Now begin I " Clara hesitated painfully. THE BALL-ROOM. 13 " I don*t know how to begin I " she exclaimed, with a burst of despair. " The words won't come to me." " Then I must help you. Do you feel ill, to-night 1 Do you feel as you felt, that day, when you were with my sister and me in the garden ) " "Oh, no." " You are not ill, you are not really affected by the heat — and yet vou turn as pale as ashes, and you are obliged to leave the quaorille ! There must be some reason for this." " There is a reason. Captain Helding " " Captain Helding ! What, in the name of wonder, has the captain to do with it ? " " He told you something about the Atalanta. He said the Atalanta was expected back from Africa immediately." " Well, and what of that 1 Is there anybody in whom you are interested coming home in the ship 1 " "Somebody whom I am afraid of is coming home in the ship." Mrs. Crayford's magnificent black eyes opened wide in amazement. " My dear Clara ! do you really mean what you say 1 " " Wait a little, Lucy — and you shall judge for yourself. We must go back — if I am to make you understand me — to the year before we knew each other — to the last year of my father's life. Did I ever tell you that my father moved southward, for the sake of his health, to a house in Kent that was lent to him by a friend?" " No, my dear. I don't remember ever hearing of the house in Kent. Tell me about it." "There is nothing to tell — except this. The new house was near a fine country seat standing in its own park. The owner of the place was a gentleman named Wardour. He too, was one of my father's Kentish friends. He had an only son." She paused, and played nervously with her fan. Mrs. Cray- ford looked at her attentively. Clara's eyes remained fixed on her fan — Clara said no more. " What was the son's name 1 " asked Mrs. Crayford quietly. " Richard." " Am I right, Clara, in suspecting that Mr. Bichard Wardour admired you 1 " u THE FROZEN DEEP. The question produced its intended effect. The question helped Clara to go on. " I hardly knew at first," she said, " whether he admired me or not. He was very strange in his ways — headstrong, terribly headstrong and passionate ; but generous and affectionate in spite of his faults of temper. Can you understand such a character 1" " Such characters exist by thousands. I have my faults of temper. I begin to like Richard already. Go on." " The days went by, Lucy, and the weeks went by. We were thrown very much together. I began, little by little, to have some suspicion of the truth." " And Richard helped to confirm your suspicions, of course 1 " " No. He was not — unhappily for me — he was not that sort of man. He never spoke of the feeling with which he regarded me. It was I who saw it. I couldn't help seeing it. I did all I could to shew that I was willing to bo a sister to him, and that I could never be anything else. He did not understand me — or he would not — I can't say which." " * Would not,' is the most likely, my dear. Go on." " It might have been as you say. There was a strange rough bashfulness about him. He confused and puzzled me. He never spoke out. He seemed t treat me as if our future lives had been provided for while we were children. What could I do, Lucy 1 " " Do 1 You could have asked your father to end the diffi- culty for you." " Impossible ! You forget what I have just told you. My father was suffering at that time under the illness which after- wards caused his death. He was quite unfit to interfere." " Was there no one else who could help you 1 " "No one." " No lady in whom you could confide ? " " I had acquaintances among the ladies in the neighbourhood. I had no friends." " What did you do, then 1 " " Nothing. I hesitated ; I put off coming to an explanation with him — unfortunately until it was too late." " What do you mean by too late 1 " iMMIMW THE BALL-ROOM. 15 stion " You shall hear. I ought to have told you that Richard Wardour is in the navy " •* Indeed 1 I am more interested in him than ever. Well 1 " " One spring day, Richard came to our house to take leave of us before he joined his ship. I thought he was gone, and I went into the next room. It was my own sitting-roum, and it opened on to the garden." " Yes V " Richard must have been watching me. He suddenly ap- peared in the garden. Without waiting for me to invite him, he walked into the room. I was a little startled as well as surprised, but I managed to hide it. I said, * What is it, Mr. Wardour 1 ' He stepped close up to me ; he said, in his quick, rough way : ' Clara ! I am going to the African coast. If I live, I shall come back promoted ; and we both know what will happen then.' He kissed me. I was half frightened, half angry. Before I could compose myself to say a word, he was out in the garden again he was gone ! I ought to have spoken, I know. It was not honourable, not kind towards him. You can't reproach me for my want of courage and frankness, more bitterly than I reproach myself ! " " My dear child, I don't reproach you. I only think you might have written to him." " I did write." " Plainly?" " Yes. I told him in so many words, that he was deceiving himself, and that I could never marry him." " Plain enough, in all conscience ! Having said that, surely you are not to blame '( What are you fretting about, now ? " Suppose my letter has never reached him 1 " " Why should you suppose anything of the sort ? " " What 1 wrote required an answer, Lucy asked for an answer. The answer has never come. What is the plain con- clusion ) My letter has never reached him. And the Atalanta is expected back ! Richard Wardour is returning to England — Richard Wardour will claim me as his wife ! You wondered just now if I really meant what I said. Do you doubt it still 1 " Mrs. Crayford leaned back absently in her chair. For the first time since the conversation had begun, she let a question 16 THE FROZEN DEEP. pass without maMng a reply. The truth is, Mrs. Crajrford was thinking. She saw Clara's position plainly ; she understood the dis- turbing eflFect of it on the mind of a young girl. Still, mak- ing all allowances, she felt quite at a loss, so far, to account for Clara's excessive agitation. Her quick observing faculty had just detected that Clara's face showed no signs of relief, now that she had unburdened herself of her secret. There was something clearly under the surface here — something of im- portance, that still remained to be discovered. A shrewd doubt crossed Mrs. Crayford's mind, and inspired the next words which she addressed to her young friend. " My dear," she said abruptly. " Have you told me all 1 " Clara started as if the question terrified her. Feeling sure that she now had the clue in her hand; Mrs. Crajrford deliber- ately repeated her question, in another form of words. Instead of answering, Clara suddenly looked up. At the same mo- ment a faint flush of colour appeared in her face for the first time. Looking up instinctively on her side, Mrs. Cra)rford became aware of the presence in the conservatory of a young gentleman who was claiming Clara as his partner in the coming waltz. Mrs. Crayford fell into thinking once more. Had this young gentleman (she asked herself) anything to do with the untold end of the story 1 Was this the true secret of Clara Bumham's terror at the impending return of Richard Wardour 1 Mrs. Crayford decided on putting ner doubts to the test. " A friend of your's, my dear 1 " she asked innocently. " Suppose you introduce us to each other 1 " Clara confusedly introduced the young gentleman. " Mr. Francis Aldersley, Lucy. Mr. AJdersley belongs to the Arctic expedition." " Attached to the expedition 1 " Mrs. Crayford repeated. " I am attached to the expedition too — in my way. I had better introduce myself, Mr. Aldersley, as Clara seems to have forgotten to do it for me. I am Mrs. Crayford. My husband is Lieu- tenant Crayford, of The Wanderer. Do you belong to that ship ? " " I have not the honour, Mrs. Crayford. I belong to The SearMew." THE BALL-ROOM. 17 Mrs. Crayford's superb eyes looked shrewdly backwards and forwards between CLira and Francis Aldersloy, and saw the un- told sequel to Clara's story. The young officer was a bright handsome gentlemanlike lad. Just the person to seriously com- plicate the difficulty with Kichard Wardour ! There was no time for making any further inquiries. The band had begun the prelude to the waltz ; and Francis Aldersley was waiting for his partner. With a word of apology to the young man, Mrs. Crayford drew Clara aside for a moment, and spoke to her in a whisper. " One word, my dear, before you return to the ball-room. It may sound conceited — after the little you have told me — but I think I understand your position, now, better than you do your- self Do you want to hear my opinion 1 " " I am longing to hear it, Lucy ! I want your opinion ; I want your advice." " You shall have both, in the plainest and the fewest words. First, my opinion : — You have no choice but to come to an ex- planation with Mr. Wardour as soon as he returns. Second, my advice : — If you wish to make the explanation easy to both sides, take care that you make it in the character of a free woman." She laid a strong emphasis on the last three words, and look, d pointedly at Francis Aldersley as she pronounced them. " I won t keep you from your partner any longer, Clara," sh« resumed — and led the way back to the ball-room. ' .. . I , I ' ; 18 THE FROZEN DEEP. CHAPTER III. I HE burden on Clara's mind weighs on it more heavily than ever, after what Mrs. Crayford has said to her. She is too unhappy to feel the inspiriting influence of the dance. After a turn round the room, she complains of fatigue. Mr. Francis Aldersley looks at the conservatory (still as invit- ingly cool and empty as ever); leads her back to it ; and places her on a seat among the shrubs. She tries — very feebly — ^to dismiss him. " Don't let me keep you from dancing, Mr. Aldersley." He seats himself by her side, and feasts his eyes on the lovely downcast face that dares not turn towards him. He whispers " Call me Frank." She longs to call him Frank — she loves him with all her heart. But Mrs. Crayford's warning words are still in her mind. She never opens her lips. Her lover moves a little closer, and asks another favour. Men are all alike on these occasions. Silence invariably encourages them to try again. " Clara ! have you forgotten what I said at the concert yes- terday ) May I say it again)" "No!" " We sail to-morrow for the Arctic Seas. I may not return for years. Don't send me away without hope ! Think of the long lonely time in the dark North ! Make it a happy time for me." Though he speaks with the fervour of a man, he is lit.tle more than a lad : he is only twenty years old — and he is going to risk his young life on the frozen deep ! Clara pities him as she never pitied any human creature before. He gently takes her hand. She tries to release it. " What ! not even that little favour on the last night ? " Her faithful heart takes his part, in spite of her. Her hand remains in his, and feels its soft persuasive pressure. She is a lost woman. It is only a question of time now I " Clara ! do you love me 1" t I THE BALL-ROOM. 19 There is a pause. She shrinks from looking at him — she trembles with strange contradictory sensations of pleasure and pain. His arm steals round her ; he repeats his question in a whisper ; his lips almost touch her little rosy ear as be says it aguin : ' " Do you love me 1 " She closes her eyes faintly— she hears nothing but those words — feels nothing but his arm round her— forgets Mrs. Crayford's warning — forgets Richard Wardour himself — turns suddenly, with a loving woman's desperate disregard of every- thing but her love — nestles her head on his bosom, and answers him in that way, at last ! He lifts the beautiful drooping head — their lips meet in their first kiss — they are both in Heaven — it is Clara who brings them back to earth again with a start — it is Clara who says, " Oh what have I done 1 " — as usual, when it is too late. Frank answers the question. " You have made me happy, my angel. Now, when I come back, I come back to make you my wife." She shudders. She remembers Eichard Wardour again at those words. " Mind ! " she says, " nobody is to know we are engaged till I permit you to mention it. Remember that ! " He promises to remember it. His arm tries to wind round her once more. No I She is mistress of herself ; she can posi- tively dismiss him now — after she has let him kiss her ! " Go !" she says. "I want to see Mrs. Crayford. Find her ! Say I am here, waiting to speak to her. Go at once, Frank — for my sake ! " There is no alternative but to obey her. His eyes drink a last diaught of her beauty. He hurries away on his errand — the happiest man in the room. Five minutes since, she was only his partner in the dance. He has spoken — and she has pledged herseli to be his partner for life ! 20 THE FROZEN DEEP. CHAPTER IV. ^T was not easy to find Mrs. Crayford in the crowd. Search- jIT ing here, and searching there, Frank became conscious of a stranger, who appeared to be looking for somebody, on his side. He wab a dark, heavy-browed, strongly-built man ; dressed in a shabby old naval officer's uniform. His manner — strikingly resolute and self-contained — was unmistakably the manner of a gentleman. He wound his way slowly through the crowd ; stopping to look at every lady whom he passed, and then looking away again with a frown. Little by little, he approached the conservatory — entere". it, after a moment's reflection — detected the glimmer of a white dress in the dis- tance, through the shrubs and flowers — advanced to get a nearer view of the lady — and burst into Clara's presence with a cry of delight. She sprang to her feet. She stood before him speechless, motionless, struck to stone. All her life was in her eyes — ^the eyes which told her she was looking at Eichard Wardour. He was the first to speak. " I am sorry I startled you, my darling. I forgot everything but the happiness of seeing you again. We only reached our moorings two hours since. I was some time inquiring after you, and some time getting my ticket when they told me you were at the ball. Wish me joy, Clara ! I am promoted. I have come back to make you my wife." A momentary change passed over the blank terror of her face. Her colour rose faintly, her lips moved. She abruptly put a question to him. " Did you get my letter 1 " He started. " A letter from you 1 I never received it." The momentary animation died out of her face again. She drew back from him, and dropped into a chair. He advanced towards her, astonished and alarmed. She shrank in the chair — shrank, as if she was frightened of him. THE BALL BOOM. 21 ch- of on in; of " Clara ! you h^ve not even shaken hands with me ! What does it meani" He paused ; waiting, and watching her. She made no reply. A flash of the quick temper in him leapt up in his eyes. He repeated his last words, in louder and sterner tones. " What does it mean ?" She replied this time. His tone had hurt her — his tone had roused her sinking courage. " It means, Mr. Wardour, that you have been mistaken from the first." ** How have I been mistaken ?" " You have been under a wrong impression, and you have given me no opportunity of setting you right." " In what way have I been wrong 1 " ** You have been too hasty and too confident about yourself, and about me. You have entirely misunderstood me. I am grieved to distress you, but for your sake I must speak plainly. I am your friend always, Mr. Wardour. I can never be your wife." He mechanically repeated the last words. He seemed to doubt whether he had heard aright. ** You can never be my wifer' "Never!" " Why r There was no answer. She was incapable of telling him a falsehood. She was ashamed to tell him the truth. He stooped over her, and suddenly possessed himself of her hand. Holding her hand firmly, he stooped a little lower; searching for the signs which might answer him in her face. His own face darkened slowly while he looked. He was begin- ning to suspect her — and he acknowledged it in his next words. " Something has changed you towards me, Clara. Somebody has influenced you against me. Is it — you force me to ask the question — is it some other man ]" " You have no right to ask me that." He went on without noticing what she had said to him. " Has that other man come between you and me 1 I speak plainly on my side. Speak plainly on yours." " I have spoken, I have nothing more to say," 22 THE FROZEN DEEP. There was a pause. She saw the warning light which told of the fire within him, growing brighter and brighter in his eyes. She felt his grasp strengthening on her hand. He appealed to her for the last time. " Reflect," he said, " reflect before it is too late. Your silence will not serve you. If you persist in not answering me, I shall take your silence as a confession. Do you hear me t " " I hear you." " Clara Burnham ! I am not to be trifled with. Clara Burnham ! I insist on the truth. Are you false to me 1 " She resented that searching question with a woman*s keen sense of the insult that is implied in doubting her to her face. " Mr. Wardour ! you forget yourself when you call me to account in that way. I never encouraged you. I never gave you promise or pledge " He passionately interrupted her before she could say more. " You have engaged yourself in my absence. Your words own it ; your looks own it ! You have engaged yourself to another man !" " If I Jiave engaged myself, what right have you to complain of it?" she answered firmly. " What right have you to con- trol my actions V* The next words died away on her lips. He suddenly dropped her hand. A marked change appeared in the expression of his eyes — a change which told her of the terrible passions that she had let loose in him. She read, dimly read, something in his face which made her tremble — not for herself, but for Frank. Little by little, the dark colour faded out of his face. His deep voice dropped suddenly to a low and quiet tone as he spoke the parting words. *• Say no more. Miss Burnham — you have said enough. I am answered; I am dismissed." He paused, and, stepping close up to her, laid his hand on her arm. " The time may come," he said, " when I shall forgive you. But the man who has robbed me of you, shall rue the day when you and he first met." He turned and left her, THE BALL-ROOM. 23 e. A few minutes later, JJ'b. Crayford, entering the conserva- tory, was met by one of the aUendants at the ball. The man stopped as if he wished to speak to her. " What do you want 1 " she asked. "I beg your pardon, ma'am. Do you happen to have a smelling-bottle about you 'i There is a young lady in the con- servatory who is taken faint." ra 24 THB FROZEN DEEP. CHAPTER V. . ,HE morning of the next day — the morning on which the ^ ships were to sail — came bright and breezy. Mrs. Cray- -^^ ford — 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 had passed the night. To her astonish- ment 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 1 " '* I can't rest, I have not slept all night. Have you been out vet 1 "No." " Have you seen or heard anything of Eichard Wardour 1 " " 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 I 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 1 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 1 Why was I mad enough to let Frank know that I loved him ? Are you going to the landing-stage 'i I am all ready — I must go with you." ' ^ You must not think of it, Clara. There will be crowding and confusion at the waterside. You are not strong enough to bear it. Wait — I won't be long away — wait till I come back." c a t THE BALL-ROOM. 25 " I must, and will, go with you ! Crowd 1 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 fori 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. Grayford yielded. The wo 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 lis well, had assembled in large numbers to see the ships sail. Clara's eyes wandered affrightcdly 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 an3rthing happened to you, Frank 1 anything out of the common 1 " Frank laughed at the strange question. "Anything out of the common?" he repeated. Nothing that I know of — except sailing for the Arctic seas. That's out of the common, I suppose — isn't it 1 " *' Has anybody spoken to you since last night 1 Has any stranger followed you in the street 1 " Frank turned in blank amazement to Mrs. Crayford : " What on earth does she mean 1 " Mrs. Crayford's lively invention supplied her answer, on the spur of the moment. " Do you believe in dreams, Frank 1 Of course you don't. Clara has been dreaming about you : and Clara is foolish enough to believe in dreams. That's all— it's not worth talking about. Hark ! they are calling you. Say good-bye, or you will be too late for the boat," i 26 THE FROZEN DEEP. Frank took Clara's hand. Long afterwards — in the dark Arctic days, in the dreary Arctic nights — he remembered how coldly and how passively that hand lay in his. " Jourage, Clara !" he said, gaily. " A sailor's sweetheart must, accustom herself to parting. The time will soon pass. Goo