A Sister to Evangeline by Sir Charles G. D. Roberts
Chapter XXXV
The Court in the Cabin
It is marvel to us now how the next hours of suspense did pass. Yet passthey did, and in a joy that was fairly certitude; for I could not doubtthe witness of my inmost soul. At length I saw that Marc believed also.His grave, dark face grew luminous as he said, after long balancing ofthe matter:
“Her eyes, my Paul, have opened at the last instant, and she has chosenexile with thee! Even so would Prudence have done. And seeing how thou,my comrade, lovest her, I am ready to believe she may be almost suchanother as Prudence. Wherefore she is here, _quod erat demonstrandum_!”
Even as he spoke, a soldier came down the ladder and stood before us.
“I am bidden to say,” said he, “that Mademoiselle de Lamourie desires tosee Captain de Mer and Captain Grande on deck; and I am ordered byLieutenant Shafto to fetch you at once.”
With such haste as was possible—it is not easy when handcuffed to climbladders—we made our way on deck, and straight came Yvonne running tomeet us, both small hands outstretched. Her eyes sank into mine for justone heart-beat—and that look said, “I love you.” Then her guarded facegrew maidenly impartial.
“My friends! My dear friends!” she cried; but stopped as if she had beenstruck. Our hands had not gone forth to meet hers. Her eyes fell uponour fetters. She turned slowly toward Captain Eliphalet and LieutenantShafto, who had followed close behind her. Flame gathered in her eyes,and a dark flush of indignation went over her face. She pointed at ourhandcuffs.
“This to my friends—in my presence!” she cried. “Of a truth yourcourtesy is tempered, gentlemen!”
With an angry exclamation Captain Eliphalet sprang forward to remove theoffending irons; but the exquisite lieutenant was too quick for him. Ata sign the guard who had brought us slipped them off, and stood holdingthem behind his back, while his officer was left free to make apologies.
These were abundant, and of such a tone as to leave no doubt of theirsincerity. Moreover, by his manner, he included Marc and myself in hisexpressions of regret, which proved sound policy on his part, and wentfar to win his pardon from Yvonne.
“Believe me, mademoiselle,” he concluded, “it was never for one momentintended that these gentlemen, your friends, officers in the Frencharmy, and therefore, though my enemies, yet honoured members of my ownprofession, should thus obtrude upon your gentle eyes those chains, withwhich not their fault, but the chances of our profession have for aseason embarrassed them.”
This was so apt and so elegant a conclusion that Captain Eliphalet felthimself urged to some great things, if he would not be quite eclipsed inhis guest’s entrancing eyes.
“Indeed, mademoiselle,” he made haste to say, “as these gentlemen areyour friends and kinsmen, and you have dared so splendidly for theirsake, they may say good-by to the irons for the rest of the voyage, ifthey will but give their word of honour that they will in no way usetheir liberty to the detriment of my duties and responsibilities, nor tofree any of the other prisoners.
He turned to us with a very hearty air. Yvonne looked radiant withsatisfaction. Lieutenant Shafto’s face dropped—for he doubtless thoughtour continued freedom would much limit his privileges with Yvonne. But Ispoke up at once, forestalling Marc.
“I need hardly assure you, Monsieur le Capitaine, that we do from ourhearts appreciate your most generous courtesy. But beyond the few hoursof freedom which we dare hope you may grant us each day, for thepriceless solace of our fair kinswoman’s company, we cannot inconscience accept a favour that would too enviably distinguish us fromour fellows.”
Captain Eliphalet looked unaffectedly astonished. Yvonne looked hurt anddisappointed for a moment; then her face changed, and I saw that herswift brain was drawing intricate inferences from this strange rejectionof parole—to which Marc had assented in a word. As for the elegant Mr.Shafto, however, he was frankly delighted.
“Right soldierly said, gentlemen!” he exclaimed. “A good officer standsby his men. I am honoured in meeting you!” and with a very precisecivility he shook hands with us in turn.
“But it is very cold here, is it not?” cried Yvonne, with a littleshiver, pulling her cloak close. “Let me invite you all to my cabin.”
This invitation she gave with a flying radiance of look at CaptainEliphalet, wherewith he stood a millionfold rewarded.
In the cabin I was not greatly astonished, though more than greatlypleased, to find Mother Pêche. The undisguised triumph in her eyes said,“Didn’t I tell you?”—and in involuntary response to the challenge Ithrust my hand into my breast and felt the little deerskin pouchcontaining the tress of hair and the mystic stone. She smiled at thegesture.
I pressed the dear old witch’s hand, and said in a low voice:
“In all my life to come I cannot thank you enough. But isn’t itwonderful? I’m in fear each moment of waking, and to find it a dream.”
“She _is_ a dream, Master Paul!” said the old dame. “And see how all mendream when they look upon her!”
With a jealous pang I realized the truth of what she said; and thereuponI made haste to Yvonne’s side, where I saw Marc, Shafto, and CaptainEliphalet all hanging devoutly upon her words. I was but a dull additionto the sprightly circle, for I was wondering how I should manage to geta word with her.
Had I but known her better I need not have wondered. Presently she brokeoff in the midst of a sparkling tirade, laid her hand upon my arm, andsaid:
“Will you pardon me, gentlemen, but I have a brief word awaiting the earof Captain Grande,” and calmly she walked me off to the cabin door.
“I presumed, perhaps too hastily, that you still wanted me, dear,” waswhat she said.
I dared not look straight at her, for I knew that if I did so my facewould be a flaunting proclamation of my worship. I could but say, in avoice that strove for steadiness:
“Beloved, beloved! have you done all this for me?”
A happy mirth came into her voice as she answered:
“No, Paul, not quite all for you! I had to think a little of a certaingood man, madly bent on marrying a woman who would, alas! (I know it toowell) have made him a most unpleasant wife. George Anderson will neverknow what I saved him from. But _you_ may, Paul! Aren’t you a little bitafraid?”
I am well aware that in this supreme moment I betrayed no originalitywhatever. I could only repeat myself, in expressions which I need notset down. Trite as they were, however, she forgave them.
“We have so much to talk about, dear,” she said, “but not now. We mustgo back to the others; and I must take your cousin Marc aside as I havedone with you, so that this won’t look too strange. Does _he_ likeme—approve of me?” she asked anxiously.
“Second only to his little Puritan he loves you,” said I. “He knowseverything.”
Then, just as we turned back to the others, I whispered in her ear:
“Be prepared for events to-night!”
She gave me a startled look, understanding at once. Then indeed, as now,whatever is in my mind she is apt to read as if it were an open book.
“So soon? Oh, be careful for my sake!”
I could give no answer, for by this, the cabin being small, we werequite returned from our privacy.
For perhaps two hours Yvonne entertained us, not only conversing herselfwith a gracious wit that struck but to illumine, never to wound, butcalling forth a responsive alertness in her cavaliers. Captain Eliphaletbegan to wonder at his own readiness of repartee and compliment.Lieutenant Shafto forgot the perfect propriety of his ruffles, engrossedfor once in another than himself. Even my imperturbable Marc yielded insome measure to the resistless bewilderment, and played the gallant witha quaint, fatherly air that pleasured me. I, only, was the silent one. Icould but listen, intoxicated, speaking when I could not escape it, andmy ears averse to all words but those coming from her lips.
By and by—I was vexed that his discretion should bring the mom
“This situation, gentlemen,” said Marc, with a smile of carelessamusement, “which your courtesy does so sweeten for us, is certainly notwithout the relish of strangeness.”
“It shall be made as little strange as lies in our power to make it,sir,” replied Captain Eliphalet heartily; and we parted with allexpressions of esteem; not till their backs were turned upon us did weextend our wrists for the irons, which the discreet guard had kepthidden under the flap of his great-coat.