CHAPTER XV.
AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE.
Full little know'st thou, that hast not tried, How strange it is in "steam-boat" long to bide,-- To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares, To eat thy heart through comfortless despairs, To speed to-day--to be put back to-morrow-- To feed on hope--to pine with fear and sorrow.
Spenser.
As Harry and Laura grew older, they were gradually treated like friendsand companions by Lady Harriet and Major Graham, who improved theirminds by frequent interesting conversations, in which knowledge andprinciple were insensibly instilled into their minds, not by formalinstruction, but merely by mentioning facts, or expressing opinions andsentiments such as naturally arose out of the subjects under discussion,and accustoming the young people themselves to feel certain that theirown remarks and thoughts were to be heard with the same interest asthose of any other person. No surprise was expressed, if they appearedmore acute or more amusing than might have been expected,--no angrycontempt betrayed itself if they spoke foolishly, unless it weresomething positively wrong; and thus Major Graham and Lady Harrietsucceeded in making that very difficult transition from treatingchildren as toys, to becoming their confidential friends, and mosttrusted, as well as most respected and beloved associates.
Frank had been upwards of five years cruizing on various stationsabroad, and many officers who had seen him, gave such agreeable reportsto Major Graham of his admirable conduct on several occasions, and ofhis having turned out so extremely handsome and pleasing, that LadyHarriet often wished, with tears in her eyes, it were possible she mightlive to see him once again, though her own daily increasing infirmitiesrendered that hope every hour more improbable. She was told that hespoke of her very frequently, and said once when he met an aged personat the Cape, "I would give all I possess on earth, and ten times more,if I had it, to see my dear grandmother as well, and to meet her oncemore." This deeply affected Lady Harriet, who was speaking one day withunusual earnestness of the comfort it gave, whatever might be the willof Providence in respect to herself, that Frank seemed so happy, andliked his profession so well, when the door flew open, and Andrewhastened into the room, his old face perfectly wrinkled with delight,while he displayed a letter in his hand, saying in a tone of breathlessagitation, as he delivered it to Major Graham, "The post-mark isPortsmouth, Sir!"
Lady Harriet nearly rose from her seat with an exclamation of joy, butunable for the exertion, she sunk back, covering her face with herhands, and listening in speechless suspense to hear whether Frank hadindeed returned. Harry and Laura eagerly looked over Major Graham'sshoulder, and Andrew lingered anxiously at the door, till this welcomeletter was hurriedly torn open and read. The direction was certainlyFrank's writing, though it seemed very different from usual, but thecontents filled Major Graham with a degree of consternation and alarm,which he vainly endeavoured to conceal, for it informed him that, duringa desperate engagement with some slave-ships off the coast of Africa,Frank had been most severely wounded, from which he scarcely recoveredbefore a violent attack of fever reduced him so extremely, that thedoctors declared his only chance of restoration was to be invalided homeimmediately; "therefore," added he, "you must all unite a prayer for myrecovery, with a thanksgiving for my return, and I can scarcely regretan illness that restores me to home. My heart is already with you all,but my frail shattered body must rest some days in London, as the voyagefrom Sierra Leone has been extremely fatiguing and tedious."
Lady Harriet made not a single remark when this letter was closed, buttears coursed each other rapidly down her aged cheeks, while she slowlyremoved her hands from her face, and gazed at Major Graham, who seatedhimself by her side, in evident agitation, and calling back Andrew whenhe was leaving the room, he said, in accents of unusual emotion, "DesireJohn to inquire immediately whether any steam-boat sails for Londonto-day."
"You are right!" said Lady Harriet, feebly. "Oh! that I could accompanyyou! But bring him to me if possible. I dare not hope to go. Surely weshall meet at last. Now indeed I feel my own weakness, when I cannot flyto see him. But he will be quite able for the journey. Frank had anexcellent constitution,--he--he was--"
Lady Harriet's voice failed, and she burst into a convulsive agony oftears.
A few hours, and uncle David had embarked for London, where, after ashort passage, he arrived at his usual lodgings in St. James' Place; butsome days elapsed, during which he laboured in vain to discover thesmallest trace of Frank, who had omitted, in his hurried letter fromPortsmouth, to mention where he intended living in town. One evening,fatigued with his long and unavailing search, Major Graham sat down, atthe British Coffee-house, to take some refreshment before resuming hisinquiries, and was afterwards about to leave the room, when he observeda very tall interesting young man, exceedingly emaciated, who strolledlanguidly into the room, with so feeble a step, that he scarcely seemedable to support himself. The stranger took off his hat, sunk into aseat, and passed his fingers through the dark masses of curls that hungover his pale white forehead, his large eyes closed heavily withfatigue, his cheek assumed a hectic glow, and his head sunk upon hishand. In a low subdued voice he gave some directions to the waiter, andMajor Graham, after gazing for a moment with melancholy interest at thisapparently consumptive youth, was about to depart, when a turn of theyoung man's countenance caused him to start; he looked again moreearnestly--every fibre of his frame seemed suddenly to thrill withapprehension, and at last, in a voice of doubt and astonishment, heexclaimed, "Frank!"
The stranger sprung from his seat, gazed eagerly round the room, rushedinto the arms of Major Graham, and fainted.
Long and anxiously did uncle David watch for the restoration of Frank,while every means were used to revive him, and when at length he didregain his consciousness, no time was lost in conveying him to St.James' Place, where, after being confined to bed, and attended by SirAstley Cooper and Sir Henry Halford, during some days, they united inrecommending that he should be carried some miles out of town, to theneighbourhood of Hammersmith, for change of air, till the effect ofmedicine and diet could be fully tried. Frank earnestly entreated thathe might be taken immediately to his own home, but this the doctorspronounced quite impossible, privately hinting to Major Graham that itseemed very doubtful indeed whether he could ever be moved there at all,or whether he might survive above a few months.
"Home is anywhere that my own family live with me," said Frank in atone of resignation, when he heard a journey to Scotland pronouncedimpossible. "It is not where I am, but who I see, that signifies; andthis meeting with you, uncle David, did me more good than an ocean ofphysic. Oh! if I could only converse with grandmama for half-an-hour,and speak to dear Harry and Laura, it would be too much happiness. Iwant to see how much they are both grown, and to hear their merry laughagain. Perhaps I never may! But if I get worse, they must come here. Ihave many things to say! Why should they not set off now?--immediately!If I recover, we might be such a happy party to Scotland again. Forgrandmama, I know it is impossible; but will you write and ask her aboutHarry and Laura? The sooner the better, uncle David, because I oftenthink it probable----"
Frank coloured and hesitated; he looked earnestly at his uncle for somemoments, who saw what was meant, and then added,
"There is one person more, far distant, and little thinking of what isto come, who must be told. You have always been a father to me, uncleDavid, but he also would wish to be here now. Little as we have beentogether, I know how much he loves me."
Frank's request became no sooner known than it was complied with by LadyHarriet, who thought it better not to distress Harry and Laura, bymentioning the full extent of his danger, but merely said, that he feltimpatient for the meeting, and that they might prepare on the followingday, to embark under charge of old Andrew and her own maid Harrison, fora voyage to London, where she hoped they would find the dear invalidalready better; Laura was astonished at the agitation with which shespoke, and felt bewi
ldered and amazed by this sudden announcement. Sheand Harry had once or twice in their lives caught cold, and spent a dayin bed, confined to a diet of gruel and syrup, which always proved aninfallible remedy for the very worst attacks, and they had frequentlywitnessed the severe sufferings of their grandmama, from which, however,she always recovered, and which seemed to them the natural effects ofher extreme old age; but to imagine the possibility of Frank's lifebeing in actual danger, never crossed their thoughts for an instant,and, therefore, it was with a feeling of unutterable joy that they stoodon the deck of the Royal Pandemonium, knowing that they were nowactually going to meet Frank.
Nothing could be a greater novelty to both the young travellers than thescene by which they were now surrounded; trumpets were sounding--bellsringing--children crying--sailors, passengers, carriages, dogs, andbaggage all hurrying on board pell-mell, while a jet of steam camebellowing forth from the waste-pipe, as if it were struggling to get ridof the huge column of black smoke vomited forth by the chimney. Belowstairs they were still more astonished to find a large cabin, coveredwith gilding, red damask, and mirrors, where crowds of strange-lookingpeople, more than half sick, and very cross, were scolding and bustlingabout, bawling for their carpet bags, and trying to be of as muchconsequence as possible, while they ate and drank trash, to keep offsea-sickness, that might have made any one sick on shore--sipping brandyand water, or eating peppermint drops, according as the case required.Among those in the ladies' cabin, Laura and Harry were amused todiscover Miss Perceval, who had hastened into bed already, in case ofbeing ill, and was talking unceasingly to any one who would listen,besides ordering and scolding a poor sick maid, scarcely able to stand.Her head was enveloped in a most singular night-cap, ornamented with oldribbons and artificial flowers--she wore a bright yellow shawl, and hadtaken into the berth beside her, a little Blenheim spaniel--aparrot--and a cage of canary birds, the noisy inhabitants of which sungat the full pitch of their voices till the very latest hour of thenight, being kept awake by the lamp which swung from side to side, whilenothing could be compared to their volubility except the perpetualclamour occasioned by Miss Perceval herself.
"I declare these little narrow beds are no better than coffins! I neversaw such places! and the smell is like singed blankets and cabbagesboiled in melted oil! It is enough to make anybody ill! Mary! go andfetch me a cup of tea, and, do you hear! tell those people on deck notto make such a noise--it gives me a headache! Be sure you say that Ishall complain to the Captain. Reach me some bread and milk for theparrot,--fetch my smelling bottle,--go to the saloon for that book I wasreading,--and search again for the pocket-handkerchief I mislaid. Itcost ten guineas, and must be found. I hope no one has stolen it! Now domake haste with the tea! What are you dawdling there for? If you do notstop that noise on deck, Mary, I shall be exceedingly displeased! Someof those horrid people in the steerage were smoking too, but tell theCaptain that if I come up he must forbid them. It is a trick to make usall sick and save provisions. I observed a gun-case in the saloon too,which is a most dangerous thing, for guns always go off when you leastexpect. If any one fires, I shall fall into hysterics. I shall, indeed!What a creaking noise the vessel makes! I hope there is no danger of itssplitting! We ought not to go on sailing after dusk. The Captain mustpositively cast anchor during the night, that we may have no more ofthis noise or motion, but sleep in peace and quietness till morning."
Soon after the Royal Pandemonium had set sail, or rather set fire, thewind freshened, and the pitching of the vessel became so rough, thatHarry and Laura, with great difficulty, staggered to seats on the deck,leaving both Lady Harriet's servants so very sick below, that instead ofbeing able to attend on them, they gave nine times the trouble that anyother passenger did on board, and were not visible again during thewhole voyage. The two young travellers now sat down together, andwatched, with great curiosity, several groups of strangers on deck:ladies, half sick, trying to entertain gentlemen in seal-skin travellingcaps and pale cadaverous countenances, smoking cigars; others openingbaskets of provisions, and eating with good sea-faring appetite; whileone party had a carriage on the deck so filled with luxuries of everykind, that there seemed no end to the multitude of Perigord pies, Germansausages, cold fowls, pastry, and fruit that were produced during theevening. The owners had a table spread on the deck, and ate voraciously,before a circle of hungry spectators, which had such an appearance ofselfishness and gluttony, that both his young friends thoughtimmediately of Peter Grey.
As evening closed in, Harry and Laura began to feel very desolate thusfor the first time in their lives alone, while the wide waste of watersaround made the scene yet more forlorn. They had enjoyed unmingleddelight in talking over and over about their happy meeting with Frank,and planned a hundred times how joyfully they would rush into the house,and with what pleasure they would relate all that happened tothemselves, after hearing from his own mouth the extraordinaryadventures which his letters had described. Laura produced from herreticule several of the last she had received, and laughed again overthe funny jokes and stories they contained, inventing many new questionsto ask him on the subject, and fancying she already heard his voice, andsaw his bright and joyous countenance. But now the night had grown sodark and chilly, that both Harry and Laura felt themselves graduallybecoming cold, melancholy, and dejected. They made an effort to walkarm-in-arm up and down the deck, in imitation of the few otherpassengers who had been able to remain out of bed, and they tried stillto talk cheerfully, but in spite of every effort, their thoughts becamemournful. After clinging together for some time, and staggering up anddown, without feeling in spirits to speak, they were still shiveringlycold, yet unwilling to separate for the night, when Harry suddenly stoodstill, grasping Laura's arm with a look of startled astonishment, whichcaused her hastily to glance round in the direction where he was eagerlygazing, but nothing became visible except the dim outline of a woman'sfigure, rolled up in several enormous shawls, and with her bonnetslouched far over her face.
"I am certain it was her!" whispered Harry, in a tone of breathlessamazement; "almost certain!"
"Who?" asked Laura, eagerly.
Without answering, Harry sprung forward, and seized the unknown personby the arm, who instantly looked round.----IT WAS MRS. CRABTREE!
"I am sorry you observed me, Master Harry! I did not intend to troubleyou and Miss Laura during the voyage," said she, turning her face slowlytowards him, when, to his surprise, he saw that the traces of tears wereon her cheek, and her manner appeared so subdued, and altogether sodifferent from former times, that Laura could scarcely yet credit hersenses. "I shall not be at all in your way, children, but I ---- ---- Imust see Master Frank again. He was always too good for this world, andhe'll not be here long--Andrew told me all about it, and I could notstay behind. I wish we were all as well prepared, and then the sooner wedie the better."
Harry and Laura listened in speechless consternation to these words. Thevery idea of losing Frank had never before crossed their imaginationsfor a moment, and they could have wished to believe that what Mrs.Crabtree said was like the ravings of delirium, yet an irresistiblefeeling of awe and alarm rushed into their minds.
"Miss Laura! if you want any help in undressing, call to me at any time.I was sure that doited body Harrison could be of no service. She neverwas fit to take care of herself, and far less of such as you. It put mewild to think of your coming all this way with nobody fit to look afteryou, and then the distress that must follow."
"But surely, Mrs. Crabtree, you do not think Frank so very ill," askedLaura, making an effort to recover her voice, and speaking in a tone ofdeep anxiety; "he had recovered from the fever, but is only rather tooweak for travelling."
"Well, Miss Laura! grief always comes too soon, and I would have held mytongue had I thought you did not know the worst already. If I mightorder as in former days, it would be to send you both down directly, outof this heavy fog and cold wind."
"But you may order us, Mrs. Crabtree," sa
id Harry, taking her kindly bythe hand; "we are very glad to see you again! and I shall do whateveryou bid me! So you came all this way on purpose for us! How very kind!"
"Master Harry, I would go round the wide world to serve any one of you!who else have I to care for? But it was chiefly to see Master Frank. Letus hope the best, and pray to be prepared for any event that may come.All things are ordained for good, and we can only make the best of whathappens. The world must go round,--it must go round, and we can'tprevent it."
Harry and Laura hung their heads in dismay, for there was somethingagitated and solemn in Mrs. Crabtree's manner, which astonished andshocked them, so they hurried silently to bed; and Laura's pillow wasdrenched with tears of anxiety and distress that night, thoughgradually, as she thought of Frank's bright colour and sparkling eyes,his joyous spirits and unbroken health, it seemed impossible that allwere so soon to fade away, that the wind should have already passedover them, and they were gone, till by degrees her mind became morecalm; her hopes grew into certainties; she told herself twenty timesover, that Mrs. Crabtree must be entirely mistaken, and at last sunkinto a restless agitated slumber.
Next day the sun shone, the sky was clear, and every thing appeared sofull of life and joy, that Harry and Laura would have fancied the wholescene with Mrs. Crabtree a distressing dream, had they not been awakenedto recollection before six in the morning, by the sound of her voice,angrily rebuking Miss Perceval and other ladies, who with too goodreason, were grumbling at the hardship of sleeping, or rather vainlyattempting to sleep, in such narrow uncomfortable dog-holes. Laura heardMrs. Crabtree conclude an eloquent oration on the subject ofcontentment, by saying, "Indeed, ladies! many a brave man, andnoblemen's sons too, have laid their heads on the green grass, fightingfor you, so we should put up with a hard bed patiently for one night."
Miss Perceval turned angrily away, and summoned her maid to receive amultitude of new directions. "Mary, tell the Captain that when I lookedout last, there was scarcely any smoke coming out of the funnel, so I amsure he is saving fuel, and not keeping good enough fires to carry uson! I never knew such shabbiness! Tell the engineer, that I insist onhis throwing on more coals immediately. Bring me some hot water, as fastas possible! These towels are so coarse, I cannot, on any account, usethem. After being accustomed to such pocket-handkerchiefs as mine, atten guineas each, one does become particular. Can you not find a largerbasin? This looks like a soup-plate, and it seems impossible here to getenough of hot water to wash comfortably."
"She should be put into the boiler of the steam-boat," muttered Mrs.Crabtree. "I wish them animal-magnifying doctors would put the younglady to sleep till we arrive in London."
"Now!" continued Miss Perceval, "get me another cup of tea. The last wastoo sweet, the one before not strong enough, and the first half cold,but this is worse than any. Do remember to mention, that yesterday nightthe steward sent up a tin tea-pot, a thing I cannot possibly sufferagain. We must have the urn, too, instead of that black tea-kettle; anddesire him to prepare some butter-toast--I am not hungry, so threerounds will be enough. Let me have some green tea this time; and seethat the cream is better than last night, when I am certain it wasthickened with chalk or snails. The jelly, too, was execrable, for ittasted like sticking-plaster--I shall starve if better can't be had; andthe table-cloth looked like a pair of old sheets. Tell the steward allthis, and say, he must get my breakfast ready on deck in half an hour;but meantime, I shall sit here with a book while you brush my hair."
The sick persecuted maid seemed anxious to do all she was bid; so, afterdelivering as many of the messages as possible, she tried to stand upand do Miss Perceval's hair, but the motion of the vessel had greatlyincreased, and she turned as pale as death, apparently on the point ofsinking to the ground, when Laura, now quite dressed, quietly slippedthe brush out of her hand, and carefully brushed Miss Perceval's thinlocks, while poor Mary silently dropped upon a seat, being perfectlyfaint with sickness.
Miss Perceval read on, without observing the change of abigails, tillHarry, who had watched this whole scene from the cabin-door, made ahissing noise, such as grooms do when they currycomb a horse, whichcaused the young lady to look hastily round, when great was MissPerceval's astonishment to discover her new abigail, with a verypains-taking look, brushing her hair, while poor Mary lay more dead thanalive on the benches. "Well! I declare! was there ever anything soodd!" she exclaimed in a voice of amazement. "How very strange! What canbe the matter with Mary! There is no end to the plague of servants!"
"Or rather to the plague of mistresses!" thought Laura, while sheglanced from Miss Perceval's round, red bustling face, to the poorsuffering maid, who became worse and worse during the day, for therecame on what sailors call "a capful of wind," which gradually rose to a"stiff breeze," or, what the passengers considered a hurricane; and,towards night, it attained the dignity of a real undeniable "storm." Ascene of indescribable tumult then ensued. The Captain attempted to makehis voice heard above the roaring tempest, using a torrent ofunintelligible nautical phrases, and an incessant volley of veryintelligible oaths. The sailors flew about, and every plank in thevessel seemed creaking and straining, but high above all, the shrilltones of Miss Perceval were audibly heard, exclaiming,
"Are there enough of 'hands' on board? Is there any danger? Are you surethe boiler will not burst? I wish steam-boats had never been invented!People are sure to be blown up to the clouds, or sunk to the bottom ofthe ocean, or scalded to death like so many lobsters. I cannot standthis any longer! Stop the ship, and set me on shore instantly!"
Laura clung closer to Harry, and felt that they were like two merepigmies, amid the wide waste of waters, rolling and tossing around them,while his spirits, on the contrary, rose to the highest pitch ofexcitement with all he heard and saw, till at length, wishing to enjoymore of the "fun," he determined to venture above board. By the timeHarry's nose was on a level with the deck, he gazed around, and saw thatnot a person appeared visible except two sailors, both lashed to thehelm, while all was silent now, except the deafening noise made by thewild waves and the stormy blast, which seemed as if it would blow histeeth down his throat. Harry thought the two men looked no larger thanmice in such a scene, and stood, clinging to the bannisters, perfectlyentranced with astonishment and admiration at the novelty of all he saw,and thinking how often Frank must have been in such scenes, whensuddenly a wave washed quite over the deck, and he felt his arm graspedby Mrs. Crabtree, who desired him to come down immediately, in a tone ofauthority which he did not even yet feel bold enough to disobey;therefore, slowly and reluctantly he descended to the cabin, where theonly living thing that seemed well enough to move, was Miss Perceval'stongue.
"Steward!" she cried, in sharp angry accents. "Steward! here is waterpouring down the sky-lights like a shower-bath! Look at my band-boxswimming on the floor! Mary! Tiresome creature! don't you see that? Mybest bonnet will be destroyed! Send the Captain here! He must positivelystop that noise on deck; it is quite intolerable. My head aches, as ifit would burst like the boiler of a steam-boat! Stupid man! Can't he putinto some port, or cast anchor? How can he keep us all uncomfortable inthis way! Mary! Mary, I say! are you deaf? Steward! send one of thesailors here to take care of this dog! I declare poor Frisk is going tobe sick! Mary! Mary! This is insufferable! I wish the Captain would comeand help me to scold my maid! I shall certainly give you warning, Mary."
This awful threat had but little effect on one who thought herself onthe brink of being buried beneath the waves, besides being too sick tocare whether she died the next minute or not; and even Miss Perceval'svoice became drowned at last in the tremendous storm which ragedthroughout the night, during which the Captain rather increased Laura'spanic, if that were possible, by considerately putting his head into thecabin now and then to say, "Don't be afraid, ladies! There is nodanger!"
"But I must come up and see what you are about, Captain!" exclaimed MissPerceval.
"You had better be still, ma'am," replied Mrs. C
rabtree. "It is as wellto be drowned in bed as on deck."
Nothing gives a more awful idea of the helplessness of man, and thewrath of God, than a tempestuous sea during the gloom of midnight; andevery mind on board became awed into silence and solemnity during thiswar of elements, till at length, towards morning, while the hurricaneseemed yet raging with undiminished fury, Laura suddenly gave anexclamation of rapture, on hearing a sailor at the helm begin to singTom Bowling. "Now I feel sure the danger is over," said she, "otherwisethat man could not have the heart to sing! If I live a century, I shallalways like a sailor's song for the future."
It is seldom that any person's thankfulness after danger bears a fairproportion to the fear they felt while it lasted; but Harry and Laurahad been taught to remember where their gratitude was due, and felt itthe more deeply next day, when they entered the Yarmouth Roads, and wereshewn the masts of several vessels, appearing partly above the water,which had on various occasions, been lost in that wilderness of shoals,where so many melancholy catastrophes have occurred.
After sailing up the Thames, and duly staring at Greenwich hospital, thehulks, and the Tower of London, they landed at last; and having offeredMrs. Crabtree a place in the hackney coach, they hurried impatientlyinto it, eager for the happy moment of meeting with Frank. Harry, in hisardour, thought that no carriage had ever driven so slowly before. Hewished there had been a rail-road through the town; and far from wastinga thought upon the novelties of Holborn or Piccadilly, he and Lauragained no idea of the metropolis, more distinct than that of theIrishman who complained he could not see London for the quantity ofhouses. One only idea filled their hearts, and brightened theircountenances, while they looked at each other with a smile of delight,saying, "now, at last, we are going to see Frank!"