Читать книгу The Forger's Wife - Lang John - Страница 11

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WHAT was Captain Dent's astonishment on seeing Emily and her boxes alongside the Lady Jane Grey. The vessel was lying out in the stream, and no companion ladder was yet rigged. The chair was lowered, and Emily once more stood upon the deck, where all was in the same state of confusion that she beheld on embarking at Gravesend. When she told the Captain what had passed on the previous night, he could easily comprehend Mrs. White's sudden and serious illness. He was vexed that Emily had been so imprudent as to tell Mrs. White so much of her history, especially as she had been warned not to do so; but, poor creature, he thought she had enough agony of mind to bear already, without having her sufferings aggravated by any useless reproaches; and he therefore withheld them.

Emily's eyelids were red and swollen with weeping; her cheeks very pale, and her limbs so feeble, she could scarcely stand.

Captain Dent ordered Emily's boxes to be placed in one of the stern cabins, and caused to be removed from his own, a couch, a table, and an easy chair. The chief mate contributed a looking-glass and a toilet-table; and the second mate gave her some red damask curtains to keep out the glare of noon-day, and obstruct the view of persons approaching or leaving the ship.

"You must not tease me now," said the Captain to Emily in a gentle tone of voice, and with a cheering smile on his lips. "You must have some breakfast in your cabin, and then you must take a composing draught, and lie down. You had no sleep last night. At two o'clock we will dine, and then I will manage to go on shore with you, and devote myself to your service."

Emily, who was fairly exhausted with fatigue, felt like a child in the hands of the Captain, and promised to obey all his commands. She took the draught and slept soundly, through all the noise and bustle on board the ship.

* * * * * * *

Refreshed in mind and body, Emily awoke about one o'clock, and prepared for dinner. The dress she wore on this occasion was a very becoming one—a plain black silk, without any kind of ornament except a small topaz brooch, "Reginald's" first present to her. The people on board had never seen her look so well or so cheerful. She was still, perhaps, under the influence of the opiate—that is to say, the happy feeling which the drug often produces had not entirely departed.

Captain Dent and Emily landed at a place called Dawes's Battery, at about a quarter past three in the afternoon. Thence they proceeded, on foot, through the government domain, towards that part of the town where they were most likely to find a small furnished cottage to be let on moderate terms. On the way Captain Dent espied, at a distance, a gang of convicts heavily ironed, and guarded by some half-dozen soldiers, mending the roads. He immediately led his charge in another direction, to avoid them, for he feared it was just possible that "Reginald" might be one of that gang, and that Emily might recognise him, when an unpleasant scene would to a certainty ensue. Before Emily could be prevailed upon to look for a cottage, she wished the Captain to take her to the office which Mrs. White had mentioned—the office where she would learn her husband's address. The Captain objected to this, insomuch as he thought it would be more satisfactory for him to go alone to the office. Emily, however, was so earnest, so eloquent in her entreaties, indeed she so piteously implored him, that he was compelled to yield to her request. Accordingly, he shaped his course for the office of the Superintendent of Police, where the name, description, and character of every person who had been transported to Sydney, from the foundation of the colony up to that date, were duly registered. They arrived at and entered the office, Emily leaning on Captain Dent's arm. He wished to leave her below while he went upstairs, but she clung to him, and heard all that passed between himself and one of the clerks, whom he addressed across a counter, whereon were spread a number of books, like ledgers of colossal proportions.

"Could you give me any information," said Captain Dent, "respecting a person named Harcourt, or Roberts, who came out last year in the ship Medora?"

"No, sir," said the clerk, smiling; "I wish I could."

"A tall gentleman, sir, with dark eyes," said Emily, anxious to assist the clerk's memory.

"Oh, thank you, mum; I know the gentleman's description perfectly," said the clerk, "though I have not had the pleasure of seeing him."

"I thought you knew where every person who came to the colony in an unfortunate position was to be found?" said Captain Dent.

"We know where they ought to be found," replied the clerk; "but they don't always stop there."

At this moment a messenger brought into the office, and laid upon the counter, a huge load of placards, printed in monster type. The clerk withdrew one of these placards from a bundle labelled "Roberts, alias Harcourt," and handed it to Captain Dent. This placard contained the substance of the advertisement in the Gazette, and it was about to be posted on the walls of every court, police-office, prison, and market-place in every town in the colony, and upon many of the prominent trees on the sides of the high-roads.

Emily's eyes hastily scanned the placard; but she had not read the whole of it, when she clasped her hands, uttered a piercing shriek, and fell senseless on the floor!

* * * * * * *

In those days there were no vehicles for hire in the colony, and Captain Dent had to walk with, or rather to carry, his unfortunate charge through the streets. When they were on their way from the shore to the ship, Emily, having recovered from her swoon, stared wildly at the Captain, and then attempted to leap overboard; but the old man kept his arm tightly around her waist, and in spite of her struggles detained her in his grasp. The shock had been too much for her, and she was now insane. It was with the greatest difficulty that she was removed from the boat, and secured in the stern cabin.

In a few days Emily's insanity became less violent in character, and gradually it assumed that melancholy form from which it is so difficult to arouse the patient.

The Lady Jane Grey had suffered some injury on the voyage out, and it was necessary to heave her down to repair it. This rendered it impossible for Emily to remain any longer on board, and Captain Dent, therefore, hired for her a small furnished cottage at the end of a street called Castlereagh-street.

* * * * * * *

The Lady Jane Grey had been repaired, filled with oil, wool, &c., and Captain Dent was now ready to sail, via Cape Horn. Again the old man implored Emily to return with him to England. Her obstinacy, such he termed it, had severely tried his patience, and one evening he spoke of the convict Roberts as an incorrigible blackguard, who had married her under false pretences and a false name, and who, therefore, had no claim upon her affections. But Emily thought differently.

"Knowing as I do," said she, "that what you have just expressed, Captain Dent, was dictated by the kindest feelings, and remembering, as I do, how much gratitude I owe you, I cannot be angry; but I implore you not to speak again unfavourably of a man whom I have loved, whom I still love, and whom I shall continue to love, believing him to be innocent. So long as he may remain in this uncouth and cruel land, here also will I remain; and whatever may be his sufferings, he shall have that consolation which a wife's sympathy ought ever to afford. I would rather work beside him upon the roads, with fetters on my feet—share with him the coarsest food, and a bed of straw, than return to the home of my father or my friends, and partake of all the comforts, luxuries, and gaiety that once fell to my lot."

With tears in his eyes the old ship captain raised Emily's thin hand to his lips, and, kissing it affectionately, bade her "farewell."