PAGE 8
The Rough Crossing
by
The deck was dark and drenched with wind and rain. The ship pounded through valleys, fleeing from black mountains of water that roared towards it. Looking out at the night, Eva saw that there was no chance for them unless she could make atonement, propitiate the storm. It was Adrian’s love that was demanded of her. Deliberately she unclasped her pearl necklace, lifted it to her lips–for she knew that with it went the freshest, fairest part of her life–and flung it out into the gale.
�
III
�
When Adrian awoke it was lunchtime, but he knew that some heavier sound than the bugle had called him up from his deep sleep. Then he realized that the trunk had broken loose from its lashings and was being thrown back and forth between a wardrobe and Eva’s bed. With an exclamation he jumped up, but she was unharmed–still in costume and stretched out in deep sleep. When the steward had helped him secure the trunk, Eva opened a single eye.
‘How are you?’ he demanded, sitting on the side of her bed.
She closed the eye, opened it again.
‘We’re in a hurricane now,’ he told her.’The steward says it’s the worst he’s seen in twenty years.’
‘My head,’ she muttered.’Hold my head.’
‘How?’
‘In front. My eyes are going out. I think I’m dying.’
‘Nonsense. Do you want the doctor?’
She gave a funny little gasp that frightened him; he rang and sent the steward for the doctor.
The young doctor was pale and tired. There was a stubble of beard upon his face. He bowed curtly as he came in and, turning to Adrian, said with scant ceremony:
‘What’s the matter?’
‘My wife doesn’t feel well.’
‘Well, what is it you want–a bromide?’
A little annoyed by his shortness, Adrian said: ‘You’d better examine her and see what she needs.’
‘She needs a bromide,’ said the doctor.’I’ve given orders that she is not to have any more to drink on this ship.’
‘Why not?’ demanded Adrian in astonishment.
‘Don’t you know what happened last night?’
‘Why, no, I was asleep.’
‘Mrs Smith wandered around the boat for an hour, not knowing what she was doing. A sailor was sent to follow her, and then the medical stewardess tried to get her to bed, and your wife insulted her.’
‘Oh, my heavens!’ cried Eva faintly.
‘The nurse and I had both been up all night with Steward Carton, who died this morning.’ He picked up his case.’I’ll send down a bromide for Mrs Smith. Good-bye.’
For a few minutes there was silence in the cabin. Then Adrian put his arm around her quickly.
‘Never mind,’ he said.’We’ll straighten it out.’
‘I remember now.’ Her voice was an awed whisper.’My pearls. I threw them overboard.’
‘Threw them overboard!’
‘Then I began looking for you.’
‘But I was here in bed.’
‘I didn’t believe it; I thought you were with that girl.’
‘She collapsed during dinner. I was taking a nap down here.’
Frowning, he rang the bell and asked the steward for luncheon and a bottle of beer.
‘Sorry, but we can’t serve any beer to your cabin, sir.’
When he went out Adrian exploded: ‘This is an outrage. You were simply crazy from that storm and they can’t be so high-handed. I’ll see the captain.’
‘Isn’t that awful?’ Eva murmured.’The poor man died.’
She turned over and began to sob into her pillow. There was a knock at the door.
‘Can I come in?’
The assiduous Mr Butterworth, surprisingly healthy and immaculate, came into the crazily tipping cabin.
‘Well, how’s the mystic?’ he demanded of Eva.’Do you remember praying to the elements in the bar last night?’
‘I don’t want to remember anything about last night.’
They told him about the stewardess, and with the telling the situation lightened; they all laughed together.