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when you came in。〃
〃Is Miss Burnham with her？〃
〃No； sir； Miss Burnham is down on the beach with the passengers。
I heard the young lady asking after you； sir。〃
〃Asking after me？〃 Crayford considered with himself as he
repeated the words。 He added； in lower and graver tones； 〃You had
better tell Miss Burnham you have seen me here。〃
The man made his salute and went out。 Crayford took a turn in the
boat…house。
Rescued from death in the Arctic wastes； and reunited to a
beautiful wife； the lieutenant looked； nevertheless；
unaccountably anxious and depressed。 What could he be thinking
of？ He was thinking of Clara。
On the first day when the rescued men were received on board the
_Amazon_； Clara had embarrassed and distressed； not Crayford
only； but the other officers of the Expedition as well； by the
manner in which she questioned them on the subject of Francis
Aldersley and Richard Wardour。 She had shown no signs of dismay
or despair when she heard that no news had been received of the
two missing men。 She had even smiled sadly to herself； when
Crayford （out of compassionate regard for her） declared that he
and his comrades had not given up the hope of seeing Frank and
Wardour yet。 It was only when the lieutenant had expressed
himself in those terms and when it was hoped that the painful
subject had been dismissedthat Clara had startled every one
present by announcing that she had something still to say in
relation to Frank and Wardour； which had not been said yet。
Though she spoke guardedly； her next words revealed suspicions of
foul play lurking in her mindexactly reflecting similar
suspicions lurking in Crayford's mindwhich so distressed the
lieutenant； and so surprised his comrades； as to render them
quite incapable of answering her。 The warnings of the storm which
shortly afterward broke over the vessel were then visible in sea
and sky。 Crayford made them his excuse for abruptly leaving the
cabin in which the conversation had taken place。 His brother
officers； profiting by his example； pleaded their duties on deck；
and followed him out。
On the next day； and the next； the tempest still ragedand the
passengers were not able to leave their state…rooms。 But now；
when the weather had moderated and the ship had anchorednow；
when officers and passengers alike were on shore； with leisure
time at their disposalClara had opportunities of returning to
the subject of the lost men； and of asking questions in relation
to them which would make it impossible for Crayford to plead an
excuse for not answering her。 How was he to meet those questions？
How could he still keep her in ignorance of the truth？
These were the reflections which now troubled Crayford； and which
presented him； after his rescue； in the strangely inappropriate
character of a depressed and anxious man。 His brother officers；
as he well knew； looked to him to take the chief responsibility。
If he declined to accept it； he would instantly confirm the
horrible suspicion in Clara's mind。 The emergency must be met；
but how to meet itat once honorably and mercifullywas more
than Crayford could tell。 He was still lost in his own gloomy
thoughts when his wife entered the boat…house。 Turning to look at
her； he saw his own perturbations and anxieties plainly reflected
in Mrs。 Crayford's face。
〃Have you seen anything of Clara？〃 he asked。 〃Is she still on the
beach？〃
〃She is following me to this place；〃 Mrs。 Crayford replied。 〃I
have been speaking to her this morning。 She is just as resolute
as ever to insist on your telling her of the circumstances under
which Frank is missing。 As things are； you have no alternative
but to answer her。〃
〃Help me to answer her； Lucy。 Tell me； before she comes in； how
this dreadful suspicion first took possession of her。 All she
could possibly have known when we left England was that the two
men were appointed to separate ships。 What could have led her to
suspect that they had come together？〃
〃She was firmly persuaded； William； that they _would_ come
together when the Expedition left England。 And she had read in
books of Arctic travel； of men left behind by their comrades on
the march； and of men adrift on ice…bergs。 With her mind full of
these images and forebodings； she saw Frank and Wardour （or
dreamed of them） in one of her attacks of trance。 I was by her
side； I heard what she said at the time。 She warned Frank that
Wardour had discovered the truth。 She called out to him； 'While
you can stand； keep with the other men； Frank！〃
〃Good God！〃 cried Crayford； 〃I warned him myself； almost in those
very words； the last time I saw him！〃
〃Don't acknowledge it； William！ Keep her in ignorance of what you
have just told me。 She will not take it for what it isa
startling coincidence； and nothing more。 She will accept it as
positive confirmation of the faith； the miserable superstitious
faith； that is in her。 So long as you don't actually know that
Frank is dead； and that he has died by Wardour's hand； deny what
she saysmislead her for her own sakedispute all her
conclusions as I dispute them。 Help me to raise her to the better
and nobler belief in the mercy of God！〃 She stopped； and looked
round nervously at the doorway。 〃Hush！〃 she whispered。 〃Do as I
have told you。 Clara is here。〃
Chapter 17。
Clara stopped at the doorway； looking backward and forward
distrustfully between the husband and wife。 Entering the
boat…house； and approaching Crayford； she took his arm； and led
him away a few steps from the place in which Mrs。 Crayford was
standing。
〃There is no storm now； and there are no duties to be done on
board the ship；〃 she said； with the faint； sad smile which it
wrung Crayford's heart to see。 〃You are Lucy's husband； and you
have an interest in me for Lucy's sake。 Don't shrink on that
account from giving me pain： I can bear pain。 Friend and brother！
will you believe that I have courage enough to hear the worst？
Will you promise not to deceive me about Frank？〃
The gentle resignation in her voice； the sad pleading in her
look； shook Crayford's self…possession at the outset。 He answered
her in the worst possible manner； he answered evasively。
〃My dear Clara；〃 he said； 〃what have I done that you should
suspect me of deceiving you？〃
She looked him searchingly in the face； then glanced with renewed
distrust at Mrs。 Crayford。 There was a moment of silence。 Before
any of the three could speak again； they were interrupted by the
appearance of one of Crayford's brother officers； followed by two
sailors carrying a hamper between them。 Crayford instantly
dropped Clara's arm； and seized the welcome opportunity of
speaking of other things。
〃Any instructions from the ship； Steventon？〃 he asked；
approaching the officer。
〃Verbal instructions only；〃 Steventon replied。 〃The ship will
sail with the flood…tide。 We shall fire a gun to collect the
people； and send another boat ashore。 In the meantime here are
some refreshments for the passengers。 The ship is in a state of
confusion； the ladies will eat their luncheon more comfortably
here。〃
Hearing this； Mrs。 Crayford took _her_ opportunity of silencing
Clara next。
〃Come； my dear；〃 she said。 〃Let us lay the cloth before the
gentlemen come in。〃
Clara was too seriously bent on attaining the object which she
had in view to be silenced in that way。 〃I will help you
directly；〃 she answeredthen crossed the room and addressed
herself to the officer； whose name was Steventon。
〃Can you spare me a few minutes？〃 she asked。 〃I have something to
say to you。〃
〃I am entirely at your service； Miss Burnham。〃
Answering in those words； Steventon dismissed the two sailors。
Mrs。 Crayford looked anxiously at her husband。 Crayford whispered
to her； 〃Don't be alarmed about Steventon。 I have cautioned him；
his discretion is to be depended on。〃
Clara beckoned to Crayford to return to her。
〃I will not keep you long；〃 she said。 〃I will promise not to
distress Mr。 Steventon。 Young as I am； you shall both find that I
am capable of self…control。 I won't ask you to go back to the
story of your past sufferings； I only want to be sure that I am
right about one thingI mean about what happened at the time
when the exploring party was dispatched in search of help。 As I
understand it； you cast lots among yourselves who was to go with
the party； and who was to remain behind。 Frank cast the lot to
go。〃 She paused； shuddering。 〃And Richard Wardour；〃 she went on；
〃cast the lot to remain behind。 On your honor； as officers and
gentlemen； is this the truth？〃
〃On my honor；〃 Crayford answered； 〃it is the truth。〃
〃On my honor；〃 Steventon repeated； 〃it is the truth。〃
She looked at them； carefully considering her next words； before
she spoke again。
〃You both drew the lot to stay in the huts；〃 she said； addressing
Crayford and Steventon。 〃And you are both here。 Richard Wardour
drew the lot to stay； and Richard Wardour is not here。 How does
his name come to be with Frank's on the list of the missing？〃
The question was a dangerous one to answer。 Steventon left it to
Crayford to reply。 Once again he answered evasively。
〃It doesn't follow； my dear；〃 he said； 〃that the t