Mrs. Crayford rose excitedly to her feet.

“Write!” she exclaimed.  “I will do better than write.  The journey to London is no great matter—­and my housekeeper here is to be trusted to take care of Clara in my absence.  I will see my father to-night!  He shall make good use of his interest at the Admiralty—­you may rely on that.  Oh, my dear doctor, what a prospect it is!  My husband!  Clara!  What a discovery you have made—­what a treasure you are!  How can I thank you?”

“Compose yourself, my dear madam.  Don’t make too sure of success.  We may consider Miss Burnham’s objections as disposed of beforehand.  But suppose the Lords of the Admiralty say No?”

“In that case, I shall be in London, doctor; and I shall go to them myself.  Lords are only men; and men are not in the habit of saying No to me.”

So they parted.

In a week from that day, her majesty’s ship Amazon sailed for North America.  Certain privileged persons, specially interested in the Arctic voyagers, were permitted to occupy the empty state-rooms on board.  On the list of these favored guests of the ship were the names of two ladies—­Mrs. Crayford and Miss Burnham.

Fifth Scene

The Boat-House.

Chapter 16.

Once more the open sea—­the sea whose waters break on the shores of Newfoundland!  An English steamship lies at anchor in the offing.  The vessel is plainly visible through the open doorway of a large boat-house on the shore—­one of the buildings attached to a fishing-station on the coast of the island.

The only person in the boat-house at this moment is a man in the dress of a sailor.  He is seated on a chest, with a piece of cord in his hand, looking out idly at the sea.  On the rough carpenter’s table near him lies a strange object to be left in such a place—­a woman’s veil.

What is the vessel lying at anchor in the offing?

The vessel is the Amazon—­dispatched from England to receive the surviving officers and men of the Arctic Expedition.  The meeting has been successfully effected, on the shores of North America, three days since.  But the homeward voyage has been delayed by a storm which has driven the ship out of her course.  Taking advantage, on the third day, of the first returning calm, the commander of the Amazon has anchored off the coast of Newfoundland, and has sent ashore to increase his supplies of water before he sails for England.  The weary passengers have landed for a few hours, to refresh themselves after the discomforts of the tempest.  Among them are the two ladies.  The veil left on the table in the boat-house is Clara’s veil.

And who is the man sitting on the chest, with the cord in his hand, looking out idly at the sea?  The man is the only cheerful person in the ship’s company.  In other words—­John Want.

Still reposing on the chest, our friend, who never grumbles, is surprised by the sudden appearance of a sailor at the boat-house door.