CHAPTER IX.
The Duke was the first to be astir in the morning, and as soon as heopened his eyes he made up his mind that the weather was improving. Thesea was still running high, but there was no sound of water breakingover the bulwarks. He emerged from his deck-cabin, and took a sniff ofthe morning air. A reef had been shaken out of the trysails, and thefore-topsail and jib were set. He went aft, and found the mate justheaving the patent log.
"Nine and a half, your Grace," said the officer with a chuckle, for hewas an old sailor, and hated steamers.
"That's very fair," remarked the owner, skating off with his bare feetover the wet deck. Then he went back to his cabin to dress.
Presently Mr. Barker's neat person emerged from the cuddy. He lookedabout to see if any one were out yet, but only a party of red-cappedtars were visible, swabbing the forward deck with their pendulum-likebrooms, and working their way aft in a regular, serried rank. Thephalanx moved with an even stroke, and each bare foot advanced just somany inches at every third sweep of the broom, while the yellow-hairedNorse 'prentice played the hose in front of them. Mr. Barker perceivedthat they would overtake him before long, and he determined on flight,not forward or aft, but aloft; and he leisurely lifted himself into themain-shrouds, and climbing half-way, hooked his feet through theratlines. In this position he took out a cigar, lighted it with avesuvian, and, regardless of the increased motion imparted to him at hisgreater elevation, he began to smoke. The atmosphere below must havebeen very oppressive indeed to induce Mr. Barker to come up beforebreakfast--in fact, before eight o'clock--for the sake of smoking asolitary cigar up there by the catharpings. Mr. Barker wanted to think,for an idea had struck him during the night.
In ten minutes the parade of deck-swabbers had passed, and Claudius alsoappeared on deck, looking haggard and pale. He did not see Barker, forhe turned, seaman-like, to the weatherside, and the try-sail hid hisfriend from his sight. Presently he too thought he would go aloft, forhe felt cramped and weary, and fancied a climb would stretch his limbs.He went right up to the crosstrees before he espied Barker, a few feetbelow him on the other side. He stopped a moment in astonishment, forthis sort of diversion was the last thing he had given the Americancredit for. Besides, as Barker was to leeward, the rigging where he wasperched stood almost perpendicular, and his position must have been avery uncomfortable one. Claudius was not given to jocularity as a rule,but he could not resist such a chance for astonishing a man who imaginedhimself to be enjoying an airy solitude between sky and water. So hegently swung himself into the lee rigging and, leaning far down,cautiously lifted Mr. Barker's cap from his head by the woollen buttonin the middle. Mr. Barker knocked the ash from his cigar with his freehand, and returned it to his mouth; he then conveyed the same hand tothe top of his head, to assure himself that the cap was gone. He knewperfectly well that in his present position he could not look up to seewho had played him the trick.
"I don't know who you are," he sang out, "but I may as well tell you mylife is insured. If I catch cold, the company will make it hot foryou--and no error."
A roar of laughter from below saluted this sally, for the Duke andSturleson had met, and had watched together the progress of the joke.
"I will take the risk," replied Claudius, who had retired again to thecrosstrees. "I am going to put it on the topmast-head, so that you mayhave a good look at it."
"You can't do it," said Barker, turning himself round, and lying flatagainst the ratlines, so that he could look up at his friend.
"What's that?" bawled the Duke from below.
"Says he will decorate the maintruck with my hat, and I say he can't doit," Barker shouted back.
"I'll back Claudius, level money," answered the Duke in stentoriantones.
"I'll take three to two," said Barker.
"No, I won't. Level money."
"Done for a hundred, then," answered the American.
It was an unlikely thing to bet on, and Barker thought he might havegiven the Duke odds, instead of asking them, as he had done. But heliked to get all he could in a fair way. Having arranged his bet, hetold Claudius he might climb to the mast-head if he liked, but that he,Barker, was going down so as to have a better view; and he forthwithdescended. All three stood leaning back against the weather bulwarks,craning their necks to see the better. Claudius was a very large man, ashas been said, and Barker did not believe it possible that he could draghis gigantic frame up the smooth mast beyond the shrouds. If it werepossible, he was quite willing to pay his money to see him do it.
Claudius put the woollen cap in his pocket, and began the ascent. Thesteamer, as has been said, was schooner-rigged, with topsail yards onthe foremast, but there were no ratlines in the main topmast shrouds,which were set about ten feet below the mast-head. To this pointClaudius climbed easily enough, using his arms and legs against thestiffened ropes. A shout from the Duke hailed his arrival.
"Now comes the tug of war," said the Duke.
"He can never do it," said Barker confidently.
But Barker had underrated the extraordinary strength of the man againstwhom he was betting, and he did not know how often, when a boy, Claudiushad climbed higher masts than those of the _Streak_. The Doctor was oneof those natural athletes whose strength does not diminish for lack ofexercise, and large as he was, and tall, he was not so heavy as Barkerthought. Now he pulled the cap out of his pocket and held it between histeeth, as he gripped the smooth wood between his arms and hands andlegs, and with firm and even motion he began to swarm up the bare pole.
"There--I told you so," said Barker. Claudius had slipped nearly a footback.
"He will do it yet," said the Duke, as the climber clasped his mightyhands to the mast. He would not slip again, for his blood was up, and hecould almost fancy his iron grip pressed deep into the wood. Slowly,slowly those last three feet were conquered, inch by inch, and the broadhand stole stealthily over the small wooden truck at the topmast-headtill it had a firm hold--then the other, and with the two he raised andpushed his body up till the truck was opposite his breast.
"Skal to the Viking!" yelled old Sturleson, the Swedish captain, hissunburnt face glowing red with triumph as Claudius clapped the woollencap over the mast-head.
"Well done, indeed, man!" bawled the Duke.
"Well," said Barker, "it was worth the money, anyhow."
There was a faint exclamation from the door of the after-cabin; but noneof the three men heard it, nor did they see a horror-struck face, stonyand wide-eyed, staring up at the mast-head, where the Doctor's athleticfigure swayed far out over the water with the motion of the yacht. Timehad flown, and the bright sunlight streaming down into the ladies' cabinhad made Margaret long for a breath of fresh air; so that when LadyVictoria appeared, in all sorts of jersies and blue garments, fresh andready for anything, the two had made common cause and ventured up thecompanion without any manly assistance. It chanced that they came out onthe deck at the very moment when Claudius was accomplishing his feat,and seeing the three men looking intently at something aloft, Margaretlooked too, and was horrified at what she saw. Lady Victoria caught herand held her tightly, or she would have lost her footing with the lurchof the vessel. Lady Victoria raised her eyes also, and took in thesituation at a glance.
"Don't be afraid," she said, "he can take care of himself, no doubt. Mybrother used to be able to do it before he grew so big."
Claudius descended rapidly, but almost lost his hold when he sawMargaret leaning against the taffrail. He would not have had her see himfor worlds, and there she was, and she had evidently witnessed the wholeaffair. Before he had reached the deck, the Duke had seen her too, andhastened to her side. She was evidently much agitated.
"How can you allow such things?" she said indignantly, her dark eyesflashing at him.
"I had nothing to say about it, Countess. But he did it magnificently."
Claudius had reached the deck, and eluding the compliments of Barker andSturleson, hastened to the cuddy door, b
owing to the ladies as hepassed. He meant to beat a retreat to his cabin. But Margaret wasdetermined to call him to account for having given her such a fright.
"Dr. Claudius," said the voice that he loved and feared.
"Yes, Countess," said he, steadying himself by the door as the vessellurched.
"Will you please come here? I want to speak to you." He moved to herside, waiting his chance between two seas. "Do you think you have aright to risk your life in such follies?" she asked, when he was closeto her. The Duke and Lady Victoria were near by.
"I do not think I have risked my life, Countess. I have often done itbefore."
"Do you think, then, that you have a right to do such things in thesight of nervous women?"
"No, Countess, I pretend to no such brutality, and I am very sincerelysorry that you should have unexpectedly seen me. I apologise mosthumbly to you and to Lady Victoria for having startled you;" he bowed tothe Duke's sister as he spoke, and moved to go away. He had alreadyturned when Margaret's face softened.
"Dr. Claudius," she called again. He was at her side in a moment."Please do not do it again--even if I am not there." She looked at him;he thought it strange. But he was annoyed at the whole business, andreally angry with himself. She had spoken in a low tone so that theothers had not heard her.
"Countess," said he in a voice decidedly sarcastic, "I pledge myselfnever in future to ascend to the mast-head of any vessel or vesselswithout your express permission."
"Very well," said she coldly; "I shall keep you to your word." ButClaudius had seen his mistake, and there was no trace of irony in hisvoice as he looked her steadfastly in the eyes and answered.
"Believe me, I will keep any promise I make to you," he said earnestly,and went away. Lady Victoria, who was not without tact, and had guessedthat Margaret had something to say to the Doctor, managed meanwhile tokeep her brother occupied by asking him questions about the exploit, andhe, falling into the trap, had begun to tell the story from thebeginning, speaking loud, by way of showing Claudius his appreciation.But Claudius, recking little of his laurels, went and sat in his cabin,pondering deeply. Barker, from a distance, had witnessed theconversation between Margaret and the Doctor. He came up murmuring tohimself that the plot was thickening. "If Claudius makes a corner inmast-heads, there will be a bull market," he reflected, and he alsoremembered that just now he was a bear. "In that case," he continuedhis train of thought, "no more mast-heads."
"Good morning, Countess; Lady Victoria, good morning," he said, bowing."I would take off my hat if I could, but the Doctor has set the cap ofliberty on high." Lady Victoria and the Duke laughed, but Margaret said"Good morning" without a smile. Barker immediately abandoned the subjectand talked about the weather, which is a grand topic when there isenough of it. It was clear by this time that they had passed through aviolent storm, which had gone away to southward. The sea was heavy ofcourse, but the wind had moderated, and by twelve o'clock the yacht wasrunning between nine and ten knots, with a stiff breeze on her quarterand all sails set.
The Duke was extremely attentive to Margaret all that day, rarelyleaving her side, whether she was below or on deck; bringing her booksand rugs, and adjusting her chair, and altogether performing the officesof a faithful slave and attendant. Whenever Claudius came within hailthe Duke would make desperate efforts to be animated, lengthening hissentences with all the vigorous superlatives and sledge-hammer adverbshe could think of, not to mention any number of "you knows." His effortsto be agreeable, especially when there appeared to be any likelihood ofClaudius coming into the conversation, were so palpable that Margaretcould not but see there was a reason for the expenditure of so muchenergy. She could not help being amused, but at the same time she wasannoyed at what she considered a bit of unnecessary officiousness on thepart of her host. However, he was such an old friend that she forgavehim. But woman's nature is impatient of control. Left to herself shewould have avoided Claudius; forcibly separated from him she discoveredthat she wanted to speak to him. As the day wore on and the Duke'sattentions never relaxed, she grew nervous, and tried to think how shecould send him away. It was no easy matter. If she asked for anything,he flew to get it and returned breathless, and of course at that verymoment Claudius was just out of range. Then she called Miss Skeat, butthe Duke's eloquence redoubled, and he talked to them both at once; andat last she gave it up in despair, and said she would lie down for awhile. Once safe in her stateroom, the Duke drew a long breath, and wentin search of Mr. Barker. Now Mr. Barker, in consequence of the idea thathad unfolded itself to his fertile brain in the darkness of night, hadbeen making efforts to amuse Claudius all day long, with as muchdetermination as the Duke had shown in devoting himself to the Countess,but with greater success; for Barker could be very amusing when hechose, whereas the Duke was generally most amusing when he did not wishto be so. He found them in the smoking cabin, Claudius stretched at fulllength with a cigarette in his teeth, and Barker seated apparently onthe table, the chair, and the transom, by a clever distribution of thevarious parts of his body, spinning yarns of a high Western flavourabout death's-head editors and mosquitoes with brass ribs.
The Duke was exhausted with his efforts, and refreshed himself with beerbefore he challenged Barker to a game.
"To tell the truth, Duke," he answered, "I don't seem to think I feellike winning your money to-day. I will go and talk to the ladies, andClaudius will play with you."
"You won't make much headway there," said the Duke. "The Countess isgone to bed, and Miss Skeat and my sister are reading English history."
"Besides," put in Claudius, "you know I never play."
"Well," said Barker, with a sigh, "then I will play with you, andClaudius can go to sleep where he is." They cut and dealt. But Claudiusdid not feel at all sleepy. When the game was well started he rose andwent out, making to himself the same reflection that Margaret had made,"Why is my friend so anxious to amuse me to-day?" He seldom paid anyattention to such things, but his strong, clear mind was not long inunravelling the situation, now that he was roused to thinking about it.Barker had guessed the truth, or very near it, and the Duke and he hadagreed to keep Claudius and Margaret apart as long as they could.
He went aft, and descended to the cabin. There sat Miss Skeat and LadyVictoria reading aloud, just as the Duke had said. He went through thepassage and met the steward, or butler, whom he despatched to see if theCountess were in the ladies' cabin. The rosy-cheeked, gray-haired priestof Silenus said her ladyship was there, "alone," he added with a littleemphasis. Claudius walked in, and was not disappointed. There she sat atthe side of the table in her accustomed place, dark and beautiful, andhis heart beat fast. She did not look up.
"Countess," he began timidly.
"Oh, Doctor Claudius, is that you? Sit down." He sat down on thetransom, so that he could see the evening light fall through theport-hole above him on her side face, and as the vessel rose and fellthe rays of the setting sun played strangely on her heavy hair.
"I have not seen you all day," she said.
"No, Countess." He did not know what to say to her.
"I trust you are none the worse for your foolish performance thismorning?" Her voice was even and unmodulated, not too friendly and nottoo cold.
"I am, and I am not. I am unspeakably the worse in that I displeasedyou. Will you forgive me?"
"I will forgive you," in the same tone.
"Do you mean it? Do you mean you will forgive me what I said to youthat--the other night?"
"I did not say that," she answered, a little weariness sounding with thewords. Claudius's face fell.
"I am sorry," he said very simply.
"So am I. I am disappointed in you more than I can say. You are justlike all the others, and I thought you were different. Do you notunderstand me?"
"Not entirely, though I will try to. Will you not tell me just what youmean to say?"
"I think I will," she answered, looking up, but not towards Claudius.She hesitated a moment and th
en continued, "We are not children, Dr.Claudius; let us speak plainly, and not misunderstand each other." Sheglanced round the cabin as if to see if they were alone. Apparently shewas not satisfied. "Move my chair nearer to the sofa, please," sheadded; and he rose and did her bidding.
"I have not much to say," she went on, "but I do not want to say itbefore the whole ship's company. It is this: I thought I had found inyou a friend, a man who would be to me what no one has ever been--afriend; and I am disappointed, for you want to be something else. Thatis all, except that it must not be thought of, and you must go."
An Englishman would have reproached her with having given himencouragement; an Italian would have broken out into a passionateexpression of his love, seeking to kindle her with his own fire. But thegreat, calm Northman clasped his hands together firmly on his knee andsat silent.
"You must go--" she repeated.
"I cannot go," he said honestly.
"That is all the more reason why you should go at once," was thefeminine argument with which she replied.
"Let us go back to two days ago, and be as we were before. Will you notforget it?"
"We cannot--you cannot, and I cannot. You are not able to take back yourwords or to deny them."
"May God forbid!" said he very earnestly. "But if you will let me beyour friend, I will promise to obey you, and I will not say anythingthat will displease you."
"You cannot," she repeated; and she smiled bitterly.
"But I can, and I will, if you will let me. I am very strong, and I willkeep my word;" and indeed he looked the incarnation of strength as hesat with folded hands and earnest face, awaiting her reply. His wordswere not eloquent, but they were plain and true, and he meant them.Something in the suppressed power of his tone drove away the smile fromMargaret's face, and she looked toward him.
"Could you?" she asked. But the door opened, and Lady Victoria enteredwith her book.
"Oh!" said Lady Victoria.
"I must go and dress," said Claudius.
"We will go on with the book to-morrow," said the Countess. And he boreaway a light heart.
On the following day the Duke began to take care of the Countess, as hehad done yesterday, and Barker turned on the fireworks of hisconversation for the amusement of Claudius. Claudius sat quite still foran hour or more, perhaps enjoying the surprise he was going to give theDuke and Barker. As the latter finished a brilliant tale, for theveracity of which he vouched in every particular, Claudius calmly roseand threw away his cigarette.
"That is a very good story," he said. "Good-bye for the present. I amgoing to read with the Countess." Barker was nearly "taken off hisfeet."
"Why--" he began, but stopped short. "Oh, very well. She is on deck. Isaw the Duke bring up her rugs and things." His heavy moustache seemedto uncurl itself nervously, and his jaw dropped slowly, as he watchedClaudius leave the deck-cabin.
"I wonder when they got a chance," he said to himself.
But Barker was not nearly so much astonished as the Duke. The latter wassitting by Margaret's side, near the wheel, making conversation. He wastelling her such a good story about a mutual friend--the son of a greatchancellor of the great empire of Kakotopia--who had gambled away hiswife at cards with another mutual friend.
"And the point of the story," said the Duke, "is that the lady did notobject in the least. Just fancy, you know, we all knew her, and now sheis married again to--" At this point Claudius strode up, and Margaret,who did not care to hear any more, interrupted the Duke.
"Dr. Claudius, I have our book here. Shall we read?" The Doctor's faceflushed with pleasure. The Duke stared.
"I will get a chair," he said; and his long legs made short work of it.
"Well, if you will believe it," said the Duke, who meant to finish hisstory, "it was not even the man who won her at cards that she marriedwhen she was divorced. It was a man you never met; and they are livingin some place in Italy." The Duke could hardly believe his eyes whenClaudius boldly marched up with his chair and planted himself onMargaret's other side. She leaned back, looking straight before her, andturning the leaves of the book absently backwards and forwards. The Dukewas evidently expected to go, but he sat fully a minute stupidly lookingat Margaret. At last she spoke.
"That was not a very nice story. How odd! I knew them both very well. Doyou remember where we left off, Dr. Claudius?"
"Page one hundred and nineteen," answered the Doctor, who never forgotanything. This looked like business, and the Duke rose. He got awayrather awkwardly. As usual, he departed to wreak vengeance on Mr.Barker.
"Barker," he began with emphasis, "you are an ass."
"I know it," said Barker, with humility. "I have been saying it over tomyself for a quarter of an hour, and it is quite true. Say it again; itdoes me good."
"Oh, that is all. If you are quite sure you appreciate the fact I amsatisfied."
"It dawned upon me quite suddenly a few minutes ago. Claudius has beenhere," said Barker.
"He has been there too," said the Duke. "He is there now."
"I suppose there is no doubt that we are talking about the same thing?"
"I don't know about you," said the other. "I am talking about Claudiusand Countess Margaret. They never had a chance to speak all dayyesterday, and now she asks him to come and read with her. Just as I wastelling no end of a jolly story too." Mr. Barker's wrinkle wound slowlyround his mouth. He had been able to shave to-day, and the deep furrowwas clearly defined.
"Oh! she asked him to read, did she?" Then he swore, very slowly andconscientiously, as if he meant it.
"Why the deuce do you swear like that?" asked the Duke. "If it is nottrue that she has refused him, you ought to be very glad." And hestuffed a disreputable short black pipe full of tobacco.
"Why, of course I am. I was swearing at my own stupidity. Of course I amvery glad if she has not refused him." He smiled a veryunhealthy-looking smile. "See here--" he began again.
"Well? I am seeing, as you call it."
"This. They must have had a talk yesterday. He was here with me, andsuddenly he got up and said he was going to read with her. And you saythat she asked him to read with her when he went to where you were."
"Called out to him half across the deck--in the middle of my story, too,and a firstrate one at that."
"She does not care much for stories," said Barker; "but that is not thequestion. It was evidently a put-up job."
"Meaning a preconcerted arrangement," said the Duke. "Yes. It wasarranged between them some time yesterday. But I never left her aloneuntil she said she was going to lie down."
"And I never left him until you told me she had gone to bed."
"She did not lie down, then," said the Duke.
"Then she lied up and down," said Barker, savagely playful.
"Ladies do not lie," said the Duke, who did not like the word, andrefused to laugh.
"Of course. And you and I are a couple of idiots, and we have beenprotecting her when she did not want to be protected. And she will hateus for ever after. I am disgusted. I will drown my cares in drink. Willyou please ring the bell?"
"You had better drink apollinaris. Grog will go to your head. I neversaw you so angry." The Duke pressed the electric button.
"I loathe to drink of the water," said Barker, tearing off the end of acigar with his teeth. The Duke had seen a man in Egypt who bit off theheads of black snakes, and he thought of him at that moment. The stewardappeared, and when the arrangements were made, the ocean in which Barkerproposed to drown his cares was found to consist of a small glass of avery diluted concoction of champagne, bitters, limes, and soda water.The Duke had some, and thought it very good.
"It is not a question of language," said Barker, returning to theconversation. "They eluded us and met. That is all."
"By her wish, apparently," said the other.
"We must arrange a plan of action," said Barker.
"Why? If she has not refused him, it is all right. We have nothing moreto do with
it. Let them go their own way."
"You are an old friend of the Countess's, are you not?" asked theAmerican. "Yes--very well, would you like to see her married toClaudius?"
"Upon my word," said the Duke, "I cannot see that I have anything to sayabout it. But since you ask me, I see no possible objection. He is agentleman--has money, heaps of it--if she likes him, let her marry himif she pleases. It is very proper that she should marry again; she hasno children, and the Russian estates are gone to the next heir. I onlywanted to save her from any inconvenience. I did not want Claudius to behanging after her, if she did not want him. She does. There is an end ofit." O glorious English Common Sense! What a fine thing you are whenanybody gets you by the right end.
"You may be right," said Barker, with a superior air that meant "you arecertainly wrong." "But would Claudius be able to give her the positionin foreign society--"
"Society be damned," said the Duke. "Do you think the widow of Alexiscannot command society? Besides, Claudius is a gentleman, and that isquite enough."
"I suppose he is," said Mr. Barker, with an air of regret.
"Suppose? There is no supposing about it. He is." And the Duke looked athis friend as if he would have said, "If I, a real, palpable, tangible,hereditary duke, do not know a gentleman when I see one, what can _you_possibly know about it, I would like to inquire?" And that settled thematter.
But Mr. Barker was uneasy in his mind. An idea was at work there whichwas diametrically opposed to the union of Claudius and Margaret, and dayby day, as he watched the intimacy growing back into its oldproportions, he ground his gold-filled teeth with increasing annoyance.He sought opportunities for saying and doing things that might curtailthe length of those hours when Claudius sat at her side, ostensiblyreading. Ostensibly? Yes--the first day or two after she had allowed himto come back to her side were days of unexampled industry and severeroutine, only the most pertinent criticisms interrupting from time totime the even progress from line to line, from page to page, fromparagraph to paragraph, from chapter to chapter. But soon the criticismbecame less close, the illustration more copious, the tongue moreeloquent, and the glance less shy. The elective strength of their twohearts rose up and wrought mightily, saying, "We are made for eachother, we understand each other, and these foolish mortals who carry usabout in their bosoms shall not keep us apart." And to tell the truth,the foolish mortals made very little effort. Margaret did not believethat Claudius could possibly break his plighted word, and he knew thathe would die rather than forfeit his faith. And so they sat side by sidewith the book, ostensibly reading, actually talking, most of the day.And sometimes one or the other would go a little too near the forbiddenpoint, and then there was a moment's silence, and the least touch ofembarrassment; and once Margaret laughed a queer little laugh at one ofthese stumbles, and once Claudius sighed. But they were very happy, andthe faint colour that was natural to the Doctor's clear white skin cameback as his heart was eased of its burden, and Margaret's dark cheekgrew darker with the sun and the wind that she took no pains to keepfrom her face, though the olive flushed sometimes to a warmer hue, withpleasure--or what? She thought it was the salt breeze.
"How well those two look!" exclaimed Lady Victoria once to Mr. Barker.
"I have seen Claudius look ghastly," said Barker, for he thought theylooked too "well" altogether.
"Yes; do you remember one morning--I think it was the day before, or theday after, the accident? I thought he was going to faint."
"Perhaps he was sea-sick," suggested Barker.
"Oh no, we were a week out then, and he was never ill at all from thefirst."
"Perhaps he was love-sick," said the other, willing to be spiteful.
"How ridiculous! To think of such a thing!" cried the stalwart Englishgirl; for she was only a girl in years despite her marriage. "Butreally," she continued, "if I were going to write a novel I would putthose two people in it, they are so awfully good-looking. I would makeall my heroes and heroines beautiful if I wrote books."
"Then I fear I shall never be handed down to posterity by your pen, LadyVictoria," said Barker, with a smile.
"No," said she, eyeing him critically, "I don't think I would put you inmy book. But then, you know, I would not put myself in it either."
"Ah," grinned Mr. Barker, "the book would lose by that, but I shouldgain."
"How?" asked her ladyship.
"Because we should both be well out of it," said he, having reached hisjoke triumphantly. But Lady Victoria did not like Mr. Barker, or hisjokes, very much. She once said so to her brother. She thought himspiteful.
"Well, Vick," said her brother good-naturedly, "I daresay you areright. But he amuses me, and he is very square on settling days."
* * * * *
Meanwhile Lady Victoria was not mistaken--Mr. Barker was spiteful; butshe did not know that she was the only member of the party to whom heventured to show it, because he thought she was stupid, and because itwas such a relief to say a vicious thing now and then. He devotedhimself most assiduously to Miss Skeat, since Margaret would not accepthis devotion to her, and indeed had given him little chance to show thathe would offer it. The days sped fast for some of the party, slowly forothers, and pretty much as they did anywhere else for the Duke, who wasin no especial hurry to arrive in New York. His affairs were largeenough to keep, and he had given himself plenty of time. Butnevertheless his affairs were the object in view; and though he did notlike to talk about those things, even with Barker, the fate of Claudiusand Margaret as compared with the larger destinies of the Green SwashMining Company were as the humble and unadorned mole-hill to the gloriesof the Himalaya. People had criticised the Duke's financial career inEngland. Why had he sold that snuffbox that Marie Therese gave to hisancestor when--well, you know when? Why had he converted thoseworm-eaten manuscripts, whereon were traced many valuable things in avariety of ancient tongues, into coin of the realm? And why had heturned his Irish estates into pounds, into shillings, yea, and intopence. Pence--just think of it! He had sold his ancestral lands for_pence_; that was what it came to. These and many other things thescoffers scoffed, with a right good-will. But none save the Duke couldtell how many broad fields of ripening grain, and vine-clad hills, andclean glistening miles of bright rail, and fat ore lands sodden withwealth of gold and silver and luscious sulphurets--none save the Dukecould tell how much of these good things the Duke possessed in thatgreat land beyond the sea, upon which if England were bodily set down itwould be as hard to find as a threepenny bit in a ten-acre field. Butthe Duke never told. He went about his business quietly, for he said inhis heart, "Tush! I have children to be provided for; and if anythinghappens to the old country, I will save some bacon for them in the new,and they may call themselves dukes or farmers as far as I am concerned;but they shall not lack a few hundred thousand acres of homestead in thehour of need, neither a cow or two or a pig."
The breeze held well, on the whole, and old Sturleson said they werehaving a wonderful run, which was doubtless an effort on the part ofnature to atone for the injury she had done. But the days flew by, andyet they were not at their voyage's end. At last, as they sat sunningthemselves in the fair September weather, Sturleson came to them, hisbright quadrant, with its coloured glasses sticking out in alldirections, in his hand, and told the Duke he thought that by to-morrowafternoon they would sight the Hook. The party were all together, as ithappened, and there was a general shout, in which, however, Claudiusjoined but faintly. He longed for contrary winds, and he wished thatSandy Hook and all its appurtenances, including New York and the UnitedStates, would sink gently down to the bottom of the sea. He knew, andSturleson had told him, that with unfavourable weather they might be atsea a month, and he was one of the two who voted to go to Bermuda whenthe accident occurred.
That evening, as the sun was going down to his tossing bed of goldenwaves, all canopied with softest purple, Margaret stood leaning over thetaffrail. Every stitch of canvas was out--t
opsails, gaff-topsails,staysails, and jibs--and the good yacht bounded with a will to thebright west. But the dark woman looked astern to where the billowsrolled together, forgetting what precious burden they had borne.Claudius stole to her side and stood a moment looking at her face.
"So it is over," he said at last.
"Nearly over. It has been very pleasant," said she.
"It has been more than pleasant. It has been divine--for me."
"Hush!" said Margaret softly; "remember." There was silence, save forthe rushing of the rudder through the dark-blue foam. Again Claudiusspoke, softly, and it seemed to her that the voice was not his, butrather that it came up mystically from the water below.
"Are you sorry it is over?" he asked--or the voice of the mighty deepwelling up with its burden of truth.
"Yes, I am very sorry," she answered, whether she would or no. The sunsank down, and the magic after-glow shone in the opposite sky, tingingship and sails and waves.
"I am very sorry too," he said; and he sighed and looked asterneastwards, and thought of the golden hours he had spent on that broadtrack stretching away behind. Margaret leaned down, resting her chin onher hands, and presently she unfolded them, and her fingers stoleupwards and covered her face, and she bent her head. There was a mightybeating in Claudius's breast, and a thousand voices in the air cried tohim to speak and to say what was in his heart to say. But he would not,for he had given the woman at his side the promise of his faith. At lastshe looked up and turned toward him. They were alone on the deck in thefaintness of the gathering twilight.
"Claudius, you have kept your promise truly and well. Keep it--keep italways." She held out her ungloved hand.
"Always, my queen and my lady," and he kissed the white fingers once.
"Hullo!" shouted the Duke, emerging from the cuddy. "Upon my word! Why,it's dinner time."