Doctor Claudius, A True Story

with her she would like nothing better. And Miss Skeat, too, would she like to c

d be of more use to the ladies than he could ever be. Mr. Barker had no idea of getting wet, and the sudden headache of the Countess, combined with the absence of Claudius from her side, interested him. He meant to stay below and watch the events of the mornin

y was of an even lead colour, but it was hard to tell at first whether it was raining or not. The Duke's face gleamed

de near the gangway. Claudius came towards them, holding on by the pins an

mind me, my brother will be back in a moment

epared for conversation under difficulties. Meanwhile the Duke brought out Miss Skeat, who rattled inside her tarpaulin

away to the men at the wheel; whereat they grinned, and

made fast; and the men at the wheel held her off onc

necessity be obliged to help her across and touch her hand; and he inwardly blessed her wisdom in staying below. The others might have

ese two women that he liked-in different ways. The English girl was so solidly enthusiastic, and the Scotch gentlewo

r, you would have said she must be the daughter of some robust and hardworking settler, accustomed from her youth to face rain and snow and sunshine in ready reliance on her inborn strength. She did not suggest dukes and duchesses in the least. Alas! the generation of those ruddy English boys and girls is growing rarer day by day, and a mealy-faced, over-cerebrated people are springing up, who with their children again, in trying to rival the brain-work of foreigners with larger skulls and more in them, forget that their English forefathers have always done everything by sheer strength and bloodshed, and can as easily hope to accomplish anything by skill as a whale can expect to dance upon the tight rope. They would do better, thought Lady Victoria, to give it up, to ab

ke a sailor," sai

ed, "and I think I shall ado

gloomy enough to do murder in the first degree this morning-but the picture of the exquisite and comfort-loving Mr. Barker, with his patent-leather shoes and his elaborate travelling apparatus, leading a band of black-browed ruffians to desperate deeds

hed Lady Victoria; "he would be always getting

said her brother, "

eet wet. There is no harm in that, and it is cle

is what you mean. But he will wet his feet

was not very fond of Mr. Barker, and she thought poorly of the Duke's financial enterprises in America. It was not a bit l

n't talk any more about

u can talk about th

well do that. There is a good

t her face to catch the fine salt spray on her cheek. Just then a little water broke over the side abaft the gangway, and the vessel rose and fell to the sweep of a big wave. The water ran along over the flush deck, as if hun

Duke to his sister, "but you would be much better

Once below, Claudius felt how near he was to Margaret, who was doubtless in the ladies' cabin. He could reach his own quarters without entering that sanctum, of course, but as he still held Miss Skeat's arm to steady her to the door, he c

m as she lay in a huge arm-chair. She could not see him as she was, and his

turning her head, for she was worki

good time? How d

-companion, who was divesting herse

ng suddenly, for as she mentioned his name she looked naturally towards the door, supposing him to be standing there, an

out Dr. Claudi

got down, and I was going to say Dr. Claudius gave m

it, and that she was a discreet woman. He wondered what it could be. Claudius would not look like that unless something were wrong, he thought, and he would certainly come back in five minutes if everything were right. He had not seen him at breakfast. He took out his watch softly and let it drop on his book, face upwards. Meanwhile he talked to the two ladies about the weather, and listened to Miss Skeat's rapturous accoun

ected, he put a bold face on it, stepped on the deck and slammed the door behind him. Lady Victoria was somewhat surprised to see him tread the slippery deck with perfect confidence and ease, for she thought he was something of a "duffer." But Barker knew how to do most things more or less, and he managed to bow and take off his sou'wester with considerable gra

began, addressing Lady Victoria. "You s

es

ner; the atmosphere downs

ad neuralgia," s

lgia comes and goes very suddenly

came up again he said he would go forward," answered sh

ere he is, just going up the bridg

for a nor'-easter, eh? Rather be your size, Barker

companions to laugh at his joke, Mr. Barker glided easily from the rail, and began his journey to the bridge, which he accomplished without any apparent difficulty. When he had climbed the little ladder he

ked Claudius; "you are we

the row?" The captain was on the other side

is time to be aware that roundabout methods of extracting informat

u have never been away from her before since we weighed anchor. Now, something has happened, and if I can do anything, tell me, and I will do it, right away." It is a good old plan, that one of trying to satisfy one's curiosity under pret

happened, as you say; and thanks for your offer of

you are

rha

great deal, for I ha

es

ow I am as secre

ite

you to the C

now

ed to think that my action shoul

ure you

little more into your confidence, and let me help

ought," sai

not tell me what

d to make the railings shake. He was evidently on the point of losing his temper, and Barker re

ius, I did not me

please-do not ask me any more questions a

s, or Claudius, who was so rarely excited, would hardly have behaved as he had done. He made a few remarks about the weather, which had certainly not improved since morning; and then, resolving

t the deuce is the matter

ure. My sister thi

I don't either, but I can

g in the spray and wind, and he g

four he marries he

r virtuously, "or I would take you in hundreds. You must be crazy. Can't you

much interested. "You may be righ

e, on board, and she has refused him, and now he has to

d the Duke. "He won't stay on the bri

o a game? It is beastly dirty weather to be on the deck watch." And so they pushed forward to the smoking

little, and she was glad to see that her exhibition of displeasure on the previous night had been sufficient to keep him away. Had he been as tactless as she had at first thought, he would surely have sought an early opportunity of speaking to her alone, and the rest of the party were so much used to seeing them spend their mornings together that such an opportunity would not have been lacking, had he wished it. And if he had misund

e must sit next to her and help her under all the difficulties that arise under the circumstances. It would have been easy, too, for them both to see that the eyes of the other four were upon them, had either of them suspected it. Claudius held himself up to the full of his great heigh

u do, Dr.

to hear you had a headache t

tter." They all sat d

self. As Mr. Barker was generally not very talkative at table, though frequently epigrammatic, his sudden eloquence was calculated to engage the attention of the party. Claudius and Margaret were glad of the rattling talk that delivered them from the burden of saying anything especial, and they both laughed quite naturally at Barker's odd wit. They were grateful to him for what he did, and Claudius entertained some faint hope that he might go on in the same strain for the rest of the voyage. But Margaret pondered these things. She saw quickly that Barker had perceived that some embarrassment existed, and was spending his best strength in trying to make the meal a particularly gay one. But she could not u

f the party were congratulating themselves on the happy termination of the meal, when, just as the Duke was speaking, there was a heavy lurch, and a tremendous sea broke over their heads. Then came a fearful whirring sound

ne noticed it. Miss Skeat clutched her silver fruit-knife till her knuckles shone again, and she set her teeth. Mr. Barker, who had a glass of wine in the "fiddle" before

en sat holding to the table

e moment. Claudius put out his left hand and Margaret her right, and those two hands met just below the table and clasped each other, and in that instant each turned round to the other and looked the other in the face

ckly withdrew her hand and looked a

he. "If you will all sit still, I will go and see

nd the table. Lady Victoria was palpably scared and Miss Skeat was silent. As for Margaret, she was confused and troubled. The accident of her seizing Claudius's hand, as she had done, was a thousand times more serious than any accident to the ship. The Doctor could not help stealing a glance at

said cheerfully. "But it is a

bout it," said

ns of locomotion. We have

ing to do about

e done. We must sail for i

our fault,"

ot. It happens eve

, who was completely reassured. "I think it will be lovely."

te. Shall we make for Bermuda, which is actually nearer, but which is four or five

o do both, why not let the la

e much more amusing to vote. We will write

ot vote," said the Duke, "for we m

were three votes for New

r New York, and he wondered who the two could have been who wanted to go to Bermuda. Probably Miss Skeat and Lady Victoria. Had

yacht was a good sea-boat, and when she fairly heeled over on the port-tack and began to cut the waves again, the ladies downstairs agreed that sailing was much pleasanter and steadier than steam, and that the next time they crossed in a yacht they would like to sail all the way. But in spite of their courage, and notwithstanding that they were greatly reassured by the explanations of M

d; "shall I have the pleasure

and they were parted for the night. Barker had gone into the engine-room, now quiet and strange; the useless machinery stood still as it had been stopped when the loss

"we are in for it thi

not cause you any serious inconvenience, for I suppos

he added, fearing he had been awkward in thus addressing Claudius directly, "becaus

with a smile. "What do you say to going on deck and

Hook in a week. On the other hand, they might not; but it is always well to take a cheerful view of things. People who cross the Atlantic in yachts are very different from the regular crowds that go backwards and forwards in the great lines. They are seldom in a hurry, and have generally made a good many voyages before. Perhaps the Duke himself, in his quality of host, was the most uncomfortable man on board. He did not see h

where Claudius got his manners. He never does anyth

rs ago, and that he is about thirty. He go

n," said the Duke; "but they all have titles, just

ively, "I never heard

Sweden, and he is not in the least like a respectable Swedish burgher. Did you not tel

d gentleman say he had a nephew. But he was a

silent man too,

ed into the doll

ould fall in love with the Countess Margaret. Only, it was very uncomfortable; and he did not know exactly what he should do with them for the next ten days. Perhaps he ought to devote himself to the Countess, and thus effectually prevent any approaches that Claudius might meditate. Yes-that was probably his duty. He wished he might ask counsel of his sister; but then she did not know, and it s

le of late, and not at all the night before; so he lay down and went over the sce

power, put in her bosom by the unartistic beast, man, to make her grind her breathless way whither he would, and whither she would not? Not the meanest mud-scow or harbour tug but would rather have a little mast and a bit of canvas in the fresh salt breeze than all the hundreds of land-born horse-powers and fire-driven cranks and rods that a haste-lovi

might touch those gleaming sails. But the wind roared at them in his wrath and drove them away, so that they sank back, afraid to fight with him; and he took the ship in his strong arms,

r; dark cheeks flushed with soft resting; hands laid together lovingly, as though, in the quiet night, the left hand would learn at last what good work the right hand has wrought; the fringe of long eyelashes drooping with th

avely; and the north-easter laughed and sang as