Part 9 (2/2)
Father and daughter were then left alone in the cabin till the s.h.i.+p began to heave her anchor (she lay just at the mouth of the harbor), and then the boatswain was sent to give General Rolleston warning. Helen came up with him, pale and distressed. They exchanged a last embrace and General Rolleston went down the s.h.i.+p's side. Helen hung over the bulwarks and waved her last adieu, though she could hardly see him for her tears.
At this moment a four-oared boat swept alongside, and Mr. Hazel came on board again. He presented Hudson a written order to give the Rev. John Hazel a pa.s.sage in the small berth abreast the main hatches. It was signed ”For White & Co., James Seaton;” and was indorsed with a stamped acknowledgment of the pa.s.sage money, twenty-seven pounds.
Hudson and Wylie, the mate, put their heads together over this. The missionary saw them consulting, and told them he had mentioned their mysterious conduct to Messrs. White & Co., and that Mr. Seaton had promised to stop the s.h.i.+p if their authority was resisted. ”And I have paid my pa.s.sage money, and will not be turned out now except by force,”
said the reverend gentleman quietly.
Wylie's head was turned away from Mr. Hazel's, and on its profile a most gloomy, vindictive look; so much so that Mr. Hazel was startled when the man turned his front face to him with a jolly, genial air and said, ”Well, sir, the truth is, we seamen don't want pa.s.sengers aboard s.h.i.+ps of this cla.s.s; they get in our way whenever it blows a capful. However, since you are here, make yourself as comfortable as you can.”
”There, that is enough palaver,” said the captain, in his offensive way.
”Hoist the parson's traps aboard; and sheer off you. Anchor's apeak.”
He then gave his orders in stentorian roars; the anchor was hove up, catted and fished; one sail went up after another, the Proserpine's head came round, and away she bore for England with a fair wind.
General Rolleston went slowly and heavily home, and often turned his head and looked wistfully at the s.h.i.+p putting out wing upon wing and carrying off his child like a tiny prey.
To change the comparison, it was only a tender vine detached from a great st.u.r.dy elm. Yet the tree, thus relieved of its delicate enc.u.mbrance, felt bare; and a soft thing was gone, that, seeking protection, had bestowed warmth; had nestled and curled between the world's cold wind and that stalwart stem.
As soon as he got home he lighted a cigar and set to work to console himself by reflecting that it was but a temporary parting, since he had virtually resigned his post and was only waiting in Sydney till he should have handed his papers in order over to his successor and settled one or two private matters that could not take three months.
When he had smoked his cigar and reasoned away his sense of desolation, Nature put out her hand and took him by the breast and drew him gently upstairs to take a look at his beloved daughter's bedroom, by way of seeing the last of her.
The room had one window looking south and another west; the latter commanded a view of the sea. General Rolleston looked down at the floor, littered with odds and ends--the dead leaves of dress that fall about a lady in the great process of packing--and then gazed through the window at the flying _Proserpine._
He sighed and lighted another cigar. Before he had half finished it he stooped down and took up a little bow of ribbon that lay on the ground and put it quietly in his bosom. In this act he was surprised by Sarah Wilson, who had come up to sweep all such waifs and strays into her own box.
”La, sir,” said she, rather crossly, ”why didn't you tell me, and I'd have tidied the room. It is all hugger-mugger, with miss a-leaving.”
And with this she went to the washstand to begin. General Rolleston's eye followed her movements, and he observed the water in one of the basins was rather red. ”What!” said he, ”has she had an accident; cut her finger?”
”No, sir,” said Wilson.
”Her nose been bleeding, then?”
”No, sir.
”Not from her finger--nor--? Let me look.”
He examined the basin narrowly, and his countenance fell.
”Good Heavens!” said he. ”I wish I had seen this before; she should not have gone to-day. Was it the agitation of parting?”
”Oh, no, sir,” said Wilson; ”don't go to fancy that. Why, it is not the first time by a many.”
”Not the first!” faltered Rolleston. ”In Heaven's name, why was I never told of this?”
”Indeed, sir,” said Wilson, eagerly, ”you must not blame me, sir. It was as much as my place was worth to tell you. Miss is a young lady that will be obeyed; and she gave me strict orders not to let you know. But she is gone now. And I always thought it was a pity she kept it so dark; but, as I was saying, sir, she _would_ be obeyed.”
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