The “Philadelphia” was now not far from Liverpool, proceeding1 with infinite caution through the submarine and mine-haunted waters. In great letters her name was painted on either side and never did the Stars and Stripes float more conspicuously2 overhead.
Dressed for the arrival in England, Barbara and Nona were standing3 side by side at a little distance from their fellow passengers. Mildred was seated with the newspaper correspondent and his mother, and Eugenia was talking with a good deal of interest to the English banker.
Nona did not answer the other girl’s speech immediately. She had frowned, started to say something and then evidently changed her mind. Both she and Barbara[98] looked absurdly young and girlish for the work ahead of them. Moreover, in their different ways they were typically American, although their types were not the familiar ones known to most Europeans.
Barbara had the vivacity4, the alertness and the “goaheadiveness” of the western girl. And in spite of being only a miniature physical edition of these traits of character she was not miniature in any other sense. Nona was more difficult to explain. She appeared so exactly what she had been brought up to be and yet she might surprise one by unexpected characteristics. She was almost too refined in her manner and aspect; it gave her a look of delicacy5 and diffidence. And in some ways Nona was shy. Nevertheless, there was a possibility that she might have the strength and mettle6 which one is supposed to find in a thoroughbred horse.
“Don’t worry, Barbara dear, at least not more than you can help. It has been[99] dreadful to have Lady Dorian a prisoner for these last few days, yet Captain Miller8 has been as polite as he could be under the circumstances. You see, as soon as the men discovered that the explosion on the ship had been intentional9, there had to be a scapegoat10. And you know Lady Dorian is mysterious. She won’t say what her real name is and she won’t surrender the odd iron box of papers that she is carrying with her. Besides, the accident did start either inside or near her stateroom. The small safe which must have contained the explosive was found not far away.”
Nona paused. Though Barbara had listened politely enough she now shrugged11 her shoulders, saying reproachfully, “Why, Nona, how odd you are! Actually you talk as if you believed Lady Dorian guilty! Always before you have been her staunchest champion. Besides, she seems to have taken a great fancy to you. Now if Mildred had been speaking I should have understood. She has been so influenced by Mrs. Curtis, or by her son; but——”
“Oh, no, I don’t think Lady Dorian guilty; the idea is ridiculous,” Nona whispered. “So far as we have been able to judge, she is one of the gentlest people in the world. The box of papers may prove that she is sacrificing herself for her country in some strange way. She won’t be able to keep them hidden once she lands. Captain Miller says that they will have to be given up to the proper authorities. He did not insist upon her relinquishing14 them upon his ship, because he had as much as he could do to get us ashore15 in safety. Besides, Lady Dorian is a woman. Captain Miller says an Irishman had best leave such a situation alone. I am not sure he really suspects her.”
At this moment, hearing footsteps near, Nona Davis turned from looking out toward the sea.
Approaching the place where they stood was the woman about whom they had just been talking. She was dressed in dark-blue cloth with a small hat of the same[101] shade trimmed in a single darker feather. Behind her came her maid carrying a long coat, and on either side of her were two of the ship’s officers. They were entirely16 respectful, although never getting any distance away. However, they need not have been fearful, because the woman’s hands were locked together with a small steel chain.
She seemed pale and ill and yet, oddly enough, neither frightened nor ashamed.
But the sight of her handcuffs had set Barbara’s cheeks flaming indignantly. Yet they aroused an odd point of view. Could Nona be right in her suggestion that people commit strange crimes in the name of country in times of war, crimes from which their souls would have shrunk in horror during peace? No, guilt12 of any kind was impossible to imagine in connection with their new friend. In a sense Lady Dorian had become their friend, since she and Nona had been helping17 to care for her. Lady Dorian had been ill ever since the night of the explosion and the accusation18 following upon it.
[102]
However, while she had been thinking, Nona, who was usually slower in her movements, had crossed over and slipped her arm inside the older woman’s.
They made a queer, effective picture standing together. Barbara was conscious of it before joining them.
They were both women of refinement19, who looked as if they should be sheltered from every adversity. Nona was dressed in shabby black, since all the money she had was being devoted20 to her expenses. Lady Dorian’s costume suggested wealth. Nona was delicately pretty, with promise of beauty to come, while the older woman was at the zenith of her loveliness. Nevertheless, something they had in common. Barbara’s western common sense asserted itself. “Perhaps it is because they both belong to ‘first families,’” she thought wickedly, and wondered if this were a good or evil fortune. Certainly until she reached them, Nona and Lady Dorian were as completely alone as if the ship’s deck had been a desert island.
Five minutes before several dozen persons[103] had been loitering in the neighborhood, impatiently watching and praying to be landed as soon as possible. But as Lady Dorian advanced they had retreated. Perhaps they had meant it kindly21, for it is a painful shock to see a fellow being a prisoner. Lady Dorian had been mistrusted, but she had not yet been condemned22. Suspicion is not evidence.
However, the little group did not remain alone for long, for soon after both girls beheld23 Eugenia Peabody walking resolutely24 toward them. She happened to have been born a determined25 character, and her nursing had developed rather than diminished her determination.
Instantly Barbara and Nona became aware of Eugenia’s intention and longed to frustrate26 it. But they both felt powerless, because Eugenia did not speak or even look at them. Her dark eyes were leveled straight at Lady Dorian. She appeared righteous and severe, but at the same time impressive.
Moreover, as soon as she began talking the older woman flushed and for the first time the tears came into her eyes.
[104]
“I don’t wish to be rude or unkind, Lady Dorian,” Eugenia remarked stiffly, “but I do ask you to cease any suggestion of intimacy27 with Miss Meade or Miss Davis. They have told you, of course, that we are now on our way to nurse the wounded British soldiers. Well, I am not for an instant accusing you of being a spy or having anything to do with the accident aboard our steamer; nevertheless, you are strongly suspected. Certainly you can see for yourself how young and inexperienced Barbara Meade and Nona Davis both are. They are in my charge and must not start their work of nursing under any cloud. By and by if you are cleared and we should happen to meet again, why then of course if you liked you could be friendly. Now——”
Eugenia stopped, but there was no doubting what she meant. Although Barbara and Nona were both furiously angry at her interference and sorry for their new friend, nevertheless there was that tiresome28 conviction they had so often felt since sailing—Eugenia, though trying, was frequently right.
[105]
Evidently Lady Dorian thought so too. Instinctively29 she lifted her hands as though intending to offer one of them to Miss Peabody. But finding this impossible she dropped her dark lashes30 to hide her emotion and then answered as serenely31 as possible:
“You are entirely right, Miss Peabody, and I am to blame for not having thought before of what you have just said to me. Please believe that I did not think. Miss Davis and Miss Meade have been very good to me and their sympathy and care have helped me endure these last three days. I don’t know many American girls, but not for a great deal would I allow my acquaintance to make things difficult for them. It would be a poor return. I shall be arrested as soon as we arrive in Liverpool, so I think we had best say farewell at once.”
Lady Dorian attempted no denial and no explanation. As she finished her speech she glanced first at Nona and then at Barbara and let her eyes say her farewells; then she stepped back a few feet nearer her guards.
[106]
Deliberately32 Nona followed her. Apparently33 unconscious of the presence of any one else she lifted up her face and touched her lips to the older woman’s.
“I believe in you implicitly,” she murmured. “Yes, I know there are many things you do not wish to explain at present, and of course I really know nothing in the world about you. Only I feel sure that we shall some day meet again.”
Nona’s faith proved unfortunate. For the first time Lady Dorian showed signs of breaking down. But the next moment, smiling, she indicated a curious scroll34 pin that was caught in the lace of her dress.
“Will you take that, please,” she whispered, “and keep it until you have better reason for your faith in me?”
Following Eugenia, Barbara glanced curiously35 at Nona Davis. She was not easy to comprehend. After all, she it was who had emphasized all the reasons for doubting their new friend and then declared her belief in her entire innocence36. It was merely that her faith did not depend on outward circumstances. Barbara wondered[107] if she herself were equally as convinced. Then her conflicting sensations annoyed her. As usual, she began quarreling with Eugenia Peabody.
“If you are taking us to join Mildred and the Curtis family, Eugenia, then frankly37 I prefer other society. Nona and I had decided38 that we wished to be by ourselves when we first see the coasts of England. But so long as you feel you must be so terribly careful about chaperoning us I would like to say that we know nothing about Brooks39 Curtis or Mrs. Curtis except what they have told us, and Mildred Thornton has been almost exclusively in their society for the past few days.” Barbara tried to smile, but she looked very tiny and forlorn. She was homesick and the parting with Lady Dorian had been disturbing. Besides, Mildred was Dick Thornton’s sister and she had more or less promised Dick to try and look after her. Could anything much more disastrous40 occur than to have Mildred become interested in an unknown and presumably poor newspaper reporter? Certainly Brooks Curtis showed[108] no signs of being either rich or famous in spite of his mother’s claims for him. Then the thought of Mrs. Thornton’s anger made Barbara wish to sigh and smile at the same time.
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1
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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4
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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6
mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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7
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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8
miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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10
scapegoat
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| n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊 | |
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11
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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12
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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13
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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14
relinquishing
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃 | |
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15
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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16
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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17
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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22
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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23
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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24
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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frustrate
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| v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦 | |
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27
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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28
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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29
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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30
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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31
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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32
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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33
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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34
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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35
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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36
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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37
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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38
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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39
brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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40
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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