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