CHAPTER XVI
CLARETTE
So it was toward evening of the fourth day that the launch finallysighted the ship _Arabella_. Delays and difficulties had beenencountered in spite of government credentials and _laissez-passer_ andPatsy had begun to fear they would not reach the harbor of Dunkirkbefore dark.
All through the journey the Belgian woman and her children had satsullenly in the bow, the youngsters kept from mischief by the stern eyeof Henderson. In the stern seats, however, the original frigid silencehad been thawed by Patsy Doyle's bright chatter. She began by tellingthe countess and Elizabeth all about herself and Beth and Maud and UncleJohn, relating how they had come to embark upon this unusual mission ofnursing the wounded of a foreign war, and how they had secured theservices of the clever but disfigured surgeon, Dr. Gys. She gave theladies a clear picture of the hospital ship and told how the girls hadmade their dash to the firing line during the battle of Nieuport andbrought back an ambulance full of wounded--including Andrew Denton.
Patsy did not answer very fully Elizabeth Denton's eager questionsconcerning the nature of her husband's injuries, but she tried toprepare the poor young wife for the knowledge that the wound would provefatal. This was a most delicate and difficult thing to do and Patsyblundered and floundered until her very ambiguity aroused alarm.
"Tell me the worst!" begged Elizabeth Denton, her face pale and tenselydrawn.
"Why, I cannot do that, you see," replied Patsy, "because the worsthasn't happened yet; nor can I tell you the best, because a wound issuch an uncertain thing. It was a shell, you know, that exploded behindhim, and Dr. Gys thought it made a rather serious wound. Mr. Denton wasunconscious a long time, and when he came to himself we eased his pain,so he would not suffer."
"You came to get me because you thought he would die?"
"I came because he asked me to read to him your letters, and I foundthey comforted him so much that your presence would, I knew, comfort himmore."
There was a long silence. Presently the countess asked in her soft, evenvoice:
"Will he be alive when we get there?"
Patsy thought of the days that had been wasted, because of theirdetention at Ostend through Colonel Grau's stupidity.
"I hope so, madam," was all she could reply.
Conversation lagged after this episode. Elizabeth was weeping quietly onher mother's shoulder. Patsy felt relief in the knowledge that she hadprepared them, as well as she could, for whatever might wait upon theirarrival.
The launch made directly for the ship and as she came alongside to theladder the rail was lined with faces curious to discover if the errandhad been successful. Doctor Gys was there to receive them, smilinghorribly as he greeted the two women in black. Maud, seeing that theyrecoiled from the doctor's appearance, took his place and saidcheerfully:
"Mr. Denton is asleep, just now, but by the time you have bathed and hada cup of tea I am quite sure he will be ready to receive you."
"Tell me; how is he? Are you his nurse?" asked the young wife withtrembling lips.
"I am his nurse, and I assure you he is doing very well," answered Maudwith her pleasant, winning smile. "When he finds you by his side I amsure his recovery will be rapid. No nurse can take the place of a wife,you know."
Patsy looked at her reproachfully, thinking she was misleading the pooryoung wife, but Maud led the ladies away to a stateroom and it was Dr.Gys who explained the wonderful improvement in the patient.
"Well," remarked Uncle John, "if we'd known he had a chance, we wouldn'thave worried so because we were held up. In fact, if we'd known he wouldget well, we needn't have gone at all."
"Oh, Uncle John!" cried Patsy reprovingly.
"It was your going that saved him," declared the doctor. "I promised tokeep him alive, for that little wife of his, and when he took a turn forthe worse I had to assume desperate chances--which won out."
Meantime the big Belgian woman and her children had been helped up theladder by Henderson, who stood respectfully by, awaiting orders fortheir disposal. The mother had her eye on the shore and was scowlingsteadily upon it when little Maurie came on deck and strolled toward Mr.Merrick to greet him on his return. Indeed, he had approached to withina dozen feet of the group when the woman at the rail suddenly turned andsaw him.
"Aha--mon Henri!" she cried and made a dash toward him with outstretchedarms.
"Clarette!"
Maurie stopped short; he grew pallid; he trembled. But he did not awaither coming. With a howl that would have shamed a wild Indian he leapedupon the rail and made a dive into the water below.
Even as her engulfing arms closed around the spot where he had stood,there was a splash and splutter that drew everyone to the side to watchthe little Belgian swim frantically to the docks.
The woman grabbed a child with either arm and held them up.
"See!" she cried. "There is your father--the coward--the traitor--thedeserter of his loving family. He thinks to escape; but we shall capturehim yet, and when we do--"
"Hurry, father," screamed the little girl, "or she'll get you."
A slap on the mouth silenced her and set the boy wailing dismally. Theboy was accustomed to howl without provocation. He kicked his motheruntil she let him down. By this time they could discern only Maurie'shead bobbing in the distant water. Presently he clambered up the dockand ran dripping toward the city, disappearing among the buildings.
"Madam," said Uncle John, sternly, "you have cost us the best chauffeurwe ever had."
She did not understand English, but she shook her fist in Mr. Merrick'sface and danced around in an elephantine fashion and jabbered a streamof French.
"What does she say?" he asked Patsy, who was laughing merrily at theabsurd scene.
"She demands to be put ashore at once. But shall we do that, and putpoor Maurie in peril of being overtaken?"
"Self preservation is the first law of nature, my dear," replied UncleJohn. "I'm sorry for Maurie, but he alone is responsible. Henderson," headded, turning to the sailor, "put this woman ashore as soon aspossible. We've had enough of her."