“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 answered—then 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 thing—I 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.”