Driven to Bay. A novel

Front matter

VOL. III. a « A NO VE L. BY FLORENCE MARRYAT, AUTHOR OF 'LOVE'S CONFLICT,' ' MY OWN CHILD,' 'THE MASTER PASSION,' 'SPIDERS OF SOCIETY,' ETC, etc. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: F. V. WHITE & CO., 31 SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND, W.C. 1887. \_All Rights reserved.] EDINBURGH COLSTON AND COMPANY PRINTERS CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. A Private Farce, i II. Grace and Godfrey, 20 III. Iris and Vernon, 39 IV. The House Amidships, .... 56 V. Face to Face, 72 VI. The Rendezvous, 88 VII. The Murder, 108 VIII. Missing, 125 IX. Mr Fowler, 142 X. Drifting Back, 157 XI. A Change 175 XII. Exposure, 192 XIII. A Lee Shore, 209 XIV. Shipwrecked, 224 XV. Farrell's Revenge, "SELECT" NOVELS. Crown 8vo, doth, 35. 6d. each. AT ALL BOOKSELLERS AND BOOKSTALLS. By FLORENCE MARRYAT. HER WORLD AGAINST A LIE. PEERESS AND PLAYER.

FACING THE FOOTLIGHTS. A BROKEN BLOSSOM. THE HEIR-PRESUMPTIVE. THE HEART OF JANE WARNER. UNDER THE LILIES AND ROSES. MY OWN CHILD. MY SISTER THE ACTRESS. By ANNIE THOMAS (Mrs Pender Cudlip). HER SUCCESS. I JENIFER. JENIFER. KATE VALLIANT. I ALLERTON TOWERS. FRIENDS AND LOVERS. By LADY CONSTANCE HOWARD. MATED WITH A CLOWN. ONLY A VILLAGE MAIDEN. MOLLIE DARLING. SWEETHEART AND WIFE. By MRS HOUSTOUN, Author of "Recommended to Mercy." Barbara's warning. By MRS ALEXANDER FRASER. THE MATCH OF THE SEASON. I A FATAL PASSION. A PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY. By IZA DUFFUS HARDY. ONLY A LOVE STORY. I NOT EASILY JEALOUS. LOVE, HONOUR AND OBEY. By JEAN MIDDLEMASS. POISONED ARROWS. By MRS H. LOVETT CAMERON. IN A GRASS COUNTRY. I A DEAD PAST. A NORTH COUNTRY MAID. By DORA RUSSELL. I By LADY VIOLET GREVILLE. out of eden.

I keith's wife. By NELLIE FORTESCUE HARRISON, Author of " So Runs my Dream.' FOR ONE MAN'S PLEASURE. By EDMUND LEATHES. THE ACTOR'S WIFE. By HARRIETT JAY. A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE. COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTKRS, K.DINKUKGH.

Chapter I

A PRIVATE FARCE. ISS VERE was not only a clever woman, and a woman of the world, she was an excessively warm-hearted and generous wo man, — one who, with a large mind, could take pleasure in little things, and espe cially if they gave pleasure to others. All this was plainly typified by the interest she took in the Pandora's theatricals, and the trouble she put herself to VOL. III. A concerning them. She gained nothing by the act. She had reaped her own laurels on the public boards, and wanted no applause from private individuals. She was busy, moreover, with study for the New Zealand tour, and had no more time than was necessary for her own work. Yet she laid it all aside to coach her fellow-passengers in their parts ; to design their dresses ; to suggest the rough scenery, and even to superintend some of the preparations.

The sailors had rigged up a temporary stage in the steerage, where they had been giving some uncouth performances themselves ; and when the ladies and gentlemen pro posed to act, Captain Robarts had given leave for it to be draped with the ship's flags to form a proscenium, whilst some of the men were told off to daub back canvases to serve as scenery for the different acts. It was difficult to place ' The Rivals ' on such a stage with any effect, but the difficulty seemed to enhance the excitement attendant on the amusement ; and what with the ladies' energy and Miss Vere's suggestions, the dresses promised to be marvellous, con sidering the drawbacks placed in their way. For a week previous to the per formance, the good-natured actress had always one or more of the aspirants for histrionic honours closeted with her in her private cabin, whilst she drilled them in tone and gesture until they were perfect in their parts.

And with no one had she taken more trouble than with Harold Greenwood. The poor little man had been so palpably ' sent to Coven try ' by his fellow-passengers, since the fright he had given them, that his forlorn condition had excited Miss Vere's com passion, and she had shown him all the more kindness in consequence. But she little knew the damage she was doing. Ever since their first meeting, Mr Green wood had secretly worshipped the fascin ating actress. She was just the sort of woman to attract a man of his calibre. Love invariably loves a contrast. She was bie, and he was small. She was strong and energetic, and he was weak and incapable. She was full of mirth and humour, and he was romantically and sentimentally inclined. His nature un consciously bowed before her strength and ability, and he mistook the feeling for something different ; for magnetism, if it be not love itself, is quite as power ful, and more binding than the master passion.

Had Mr Greenwood's fancy stopped there, it would have done no harm to anybody ; but, unfortunately, he mistook Miss Vere's good-natured at tempts to make him forget the contre temps which every one else seemed determined he should remember, for a direct interest in his own puny little person, and plumed his feathers accord ingly. His conceit and self-satisfaction became so offensively apparent, after the actress had invited him to her cabin, and coached him there, in some unim portant part for which she had cast him, just as a salve for his wounded vanity, that Jack Blythe, whom he chose as a confidant, felt inclined to kick him into the sea. The subject alone would have been a source of irritation to Blythe, without the mode in which Harold Greenwood conveyed it to him. Poor Jack was not in a humour just then to receive love confidences from a suc cessful suitor.

He was suffering terribly from the disappointment he had ex perienced, and it took all his time to cast the devils of jealousy and envy out of him, and bring his mind forcibly to bear upon his duty. And the intense conceit of Harold Greenwood would have been sufficient to stir the wrath of a man less irritably disposed than Vernon Blythe. ' Out of the way, there ! ' he called sharply, on the morning of the theatri cals, as a coil of rope came whizzing along the deck about the legs of Mr Greenwood, causing the little man to jump a couple of feet in the air, to avoid being thrown down by it. ' Dear me ! ' he ejaculated, ' you might have given me warning, Mr Blythe. You are all so awfully sudden in your movements on board ship, don't you know. One never has a moment to one's self. And it's really most important that I should not be disturbed this morning !

I'm studying my part for this evening, don't you know ? You haven't forgotten the theatricals, eh ? ' ' We can't think of theatricals, or any other rubbish, when there's work to be done,' replied Jack, somewhat roughly. ' If you want to study, you'd better go below. There'll be more rope coming along by-and-by.' ' No, thank you. I'm quite what Miss Vere calls " word perfect," don't you know ? A grand woman, Miss Vere, isn't she now ? Dear creature ! what hours of happiness we have had together in her cabin, preparing for these thea tricals. You'd envy me, Mr Blythe, if I told you all that has passed be tween us.' ' Perhaps I might. But I don't know what right you have, Mr Greenwood, to speak of any lady in such ambiguous terms. The more you have received from a woman, the less you should say.' ' Ah ! but this is no secret, don't you know ?

Everybody will hear it soon. It will all be settled this evening.' Jack looked at the pigmy with un feigned surprise. ' What the d — 1 ! ' he exclaimed. ' You don't mean to tell me there's anything serious in it ? ' Mr Greenwood looked quite offended. ' Serious, Mr Blythe. Why don't you ask me at once if I'm a man of honour, or not ? Do you suppose I'd let any woman get talked about just for my own amusement ? I've been brought up disferent from that, don't you know ? and whatever gentlemen may be accustomed to do in the merchant service — ' 'Here! just stow that about the ser vice, will you ? ' interrupted Jack quickly. ' There are as good men in the merchant service as out of it, and please to re member, when you speak of it, that I'm one of them. And, at all events, we sha'n't go to you to teach us how to treat a woman.' ' Oh, dear !

Mr Blythe, I meant no offence. I was only speaking at random, don't you know ? But you seemed to think it strange I should have any in tentions with respect to Miss Vere, eh ? Well, of course I know I shall have trouble with my own family about it, because we've never done anything of the sort before — married an actress, don't you know ? But I'm of age,' said Mr Greenwood, drawing himself up to his full height, ' and in these affairs I ask leave of no one.' ' Except the lady, I presume,' replied Jack dryly. ' Except the lady, Mr Blythe, as you say. But the women — God bless them — are not hard to please.' ' I should think not,' said the young officer, glancing at Harold Greenwood critically ; ' and this lady, therefore, I am to presume, has already succumbed ? ' ' Oh, yes,' replied Mr Greenwood, titter ing ; ' she has succumbed — decidedly suc cumbed.

I had not made up my own mind concerning it until this morning, but she made up hers a fortnight ago. Oh, I've had plenty of encouragement, don't you know ? The only thing that has kept me back a little, is the fact of her being an actress ; but I shall make it a proviso that she gives up the stage.' ' I should think she would give up anything for you,' remarked Jack ironi cally. ' Well, I generally find them pretty amenable,' returned Harold Greenwood, with the most ineffable conceit. ' There is a little girl in England now that is most doosidly gone on me, don't you know ? She would have followed me to New Zealand if I hadn't prevented her, — hid in the hold or the steerage — 'pon my soul she would, only to be near me, and to see me, don't you know ? They're very faithful creatures, women are, when they really love.

Don't you think so ? ' ' I really cannot boast of your unlimited experience,' replied Jack. ' No one has ever hidden in the hold, or the steerage, I am afraid, just to catch a glimpse of me.' 1 Really. Well, I suppose it depends very much on a fella himself, don't you know ? But the women always said I had a way with me.' ' And when are you going to exercise your " way " on Miss Vere ? ' ' This evening. Oh, yes, it's quite settled between us that I shall speak this evening. She's expecting it, don't you know ? But we've been so busy the last fortnight studying our parts, I thought it best not to unsettle our minds by thinking of other things. But this evening it'll be all right. I suppose you'll be coming down to the theatricals, Mr Blythe, eh ?' ' Oh, yes, I hope to be there.' ' Then, when they're over, I shall have the pleasure of introducing you to the future Mrs Greenwood.

It'll be all set tled by then, don't you know ? Oh, she's a glorious creature. Such eyes — such a mouth — such splendid hair, and such a beautiful figure ! I do hope my people won't make a jolly row about her being an actress. But if they do, I've made up my mind to go on the stage too, and play her lovers. I don't think I should like any other fella to play her lover. It would make me so horribly jealous, and when I'm jealous, I'm as bad as Othello, don't you know ? ' ' Dear me ! ' said Jack, ' you must be very dangerous. I shouldn't like to be the woman you caught tripping.' ' By Jove! I'd kill her, don't you know?' replied Greenwood ; ' but don't let's talk of anything so horrid. Emily — that's Miss Vere, you know — will never give me any cause for jealousy — I'm sure of that. She loves me too well.

If you'd seen her this morning when we went through our scene together, you'd have been ready to die of envy.' ' Well, I congratulate you,' said Jack. ' She's a very handsome woman, and a very clever one, and a mine of gold into the bargain. If you win her, you'll be a lucky fellow. But don't count your chickens before they're hatched.' Harold Greenwood was indignant at the suggestion. ' Don't count my chickens before they're hatched ! ' he repeated. ' But they are hatched, Mr Blythe, don't you know ? ' ' All the better for you, my boy,' laughed Jack, as he walked away. That afternoon at dinner time Mr Coffin was on duty, and Blythe took his place at the table. As he did so, he glanced with some curiosity at the upper end, where Miss Vere, the Vansittarts, and the Leytons were all clustered about the captain.

Harold Greenwood was sit ting opposite the actress, devouring her with his eyes, and listening open-mouthed to every word she said. As his glance met that of Vernon Blythe, he nodded to him in a self-satisfied manner, and threw a significant look across the table, as much as to say, ' Now, you will see, don't you know ?' and Vernon, in consequence, kept his ears open for all that went on between them. Miss Vere appeared to be in ex cellent spirits, and quite looking forward to the evening's amusement. 'My little "Julia" here, is simply perfect,' she said to Captain Lovell, as she laid a kindly hand on Alice Leyton's shoulder, ' and when you see her in her short-waisted frock, I expect you all to lose your hearts.' 'Oh, Miss Vere! how can you talk so ? ' exclaimed Alice. ' When I hear you speak, I shall be ashamed to open my mouth.' ' That's nonsense, dear,' replied the actress. ' If you could play as well as I do, who have been so many years on the stage, my time and labour would have been completely wasted.

But you are an excellent little actress, for an amateur, and if you had had my training, you would play quite as well.' ' You say that to encourage me,' said Alice. ' And why shouldn't I encourage you ? I assure you I am very proud of my " scratch " company, and feel sure we are going to have a most enjoyable evening. Mr Greenwood will distinguish himself for one, I know.' ' I shall do my best to please you, Miss Vere, in every way, before the evening's over, don't you know?' replied Harold Greenwood, with a knowing glance, which almost amounted to a wink, at Vernon Blythe. ' That's right,' she said cheerfully. * Captain Robarts, I hope you mean to honour us by your attendance ? ' 1 Certainly, Miss Vere, unless the ship claims my attention elsewhere. But you'll have a good audience without me.

Every body is looking forward to it with the greatest expectation. The steward told me there was quite a disturbance amongst the steerage passengers when they heard that they were all invited to attend.' ' Poor dears ! ' sighed Miss Vere softly. ' I remember once when my husband and I were — ■' But here she was interrupted by Alice Leyton. ' Miss Vere,' she exclaimed, loud enough for all the table to hear, ' do you know what you said ? ' ' What did I say?' asked the actress, smiling. ' Your husband ! Are you really married ? ' At that question, the curiosity of all the passengers was aroused, and none more so than that of Vernon Blythe. The actress glanced up and down the table at the expectant faces, in amused surprise. '■Married !' she echoed, laughing mer rily. ' I thought all the world knew as much as that.

Why, of course I'm married. Do I look like an old maid ? What horrible suspicions have attached themselves to me ! I've been married for the last ten years. I have five children,' she added, in a faltering voice, ' at home.' ' Five children ! ' repeated Alice. ' Oh, Miss Vere, do tell me about them. What are their names, and are they boys or girls ? ' 1 Not now, dear,' said her friend, as she dashed her hand across her eyes. ' Come to my cabin to-morrow, and you shall see all their photographs. But if I talk of them now — well, not to put too fine a point upon it, I shall begin to cry, and spoil my looks for to-night' ' How can you make up your mind to leave them ? ' said Alice stupidly. ' I am obliged to make up my mind to it. I leave them for their sakes as well as for my own. But my heart is very much divided, you know.

It is half in England, and half in New Zealand. My husband is my business manager, and pre ceded me there by three months. I shall meet him when we arrive at Canterbury, and that thought is quite enough to counterbalance the pain of parting with my children.' Poor Harold Greenwood had been fid geting so dreadfully on his seat during this conversation, that he attracted the actress's attention. ' You mustn't be offended, Mr Green wood,' she continued, smiling with her beautiful eyes still wet with unshed tears, VOL. III. B ' if I tell you that why I took a fancy to you is because there is something in your face, and the colour of your hair, that re minds me of my eldest boy. Dear little fellow ! he went to school for the first time when I left England, and I thought we should both have broken our hearts.

If Mr Perkins were only with me — ' ' Is Mr Perkins your husband ? ' in quired Alice. Miss Vere burst out laughing. ' Yes, my dear ! It is really true ; but for Heaven's sake don't pursue the subject. / am Mrs Perkins. But I keep it a secret of blood and death. Please never call me anything but Emily Vere, or I shall not answer to the name. And now it must be time to go and see after our dresses. Mr Greenwood ! didn't 1 promise to be your lady's-maid to-night ? If you find any difficulty in arranging your costume, come to my cabin, and I will try and imagine you are my little boy, and play " nurse " to you — ' ' No, no, thank you ! ' stammered Harold Greenwood, as he tried to make his escape from table. ' I shall be all right, don't you know ? ' But Jack Blythe was not sufficiently magnanimous to let the humiliated wretch pass him, without standing a jest at his own expense. ' I say, old fellow,' he called out, as Greenwood tried to slink by his chair, ' don't you forget your promise to me of this morning.

You'll be sure to in troduce me to the future Mrs Green wood as soon as the theatricals are over, won't you ? For the chickens are all hatched, you know, and the business is as good as settled already.' But the unhappy Mr Greenwood would not even attempt to say a word in his own defence. Wrenching his coat sleeve from the grasp of Vernon Blythe, he rushed to his berth, and was seen no more till he appeared upon the stage.

Chapter II. Grace And Godfrey

ODFREY HARLAND and Grace Vansittart were neither of them included in the amateur company that was to perform that evening on board the Pandora. Parts had been allotted to both of them at first, but Miss Vansittart, who had no idea of acting, found so much difficulty in learning her lines and taking up her positions, that she had voted the whole concern a bore, and thrown up her engagement in consequence. Upon which Mr Harland had thought it politic to follow suit. He knew that Grace would not like to sit out and watch him making mimic love to another woman, so he told her that he preferred sitting out as well ; and she was only too delighted at his apparent devotion to refuse to accept it. It was an old story between them. The woman was so deeply in love as to be blind to the arts by which the man led her to believe that he shared her feelings.

And it was Godfrey Harland's policy to be more than usually attentive to Miss Vansittart at this period. He saw plainly that something had gone wrong with the older folks. They were still polite ; but all the cordiality with which they had first greeted him had died away. Mr Vansittart's manner had become distant and cool, whilst the old lady avoided him on every possible occasion. He began seriously to fear that they were only keeping up appearances until they arrived at Tabbakooloo, and that some disagreeable surprise awaited him there. It therefore behoved him to make all the running he could with the daughter before they reached their des tination, so that there might be no chance of her acquiescing in the de cision of her parents, if that decision proved to be against him. He was quite unprincipled enough (as Will Farrell had suggested) to get the girl into his power, so that there should be no turning back for her.

The little stage on which the comedy was to be represented, consisted of a few planks raised in the steerage, with a row of footlights before them, which, to do honour to this grand occasion, had been surmounted above and around with the Union Jack and other flags, in the form of a proscenium. The auditorium, which was filled with chairs, benches, chests, barrels, and any other articles capable of being used as seats, was left in complete darkness, the only light being an oil lamp hung in the entry to guide the feet of the audience. A rope tied across the upper end distinguished the ' stalls,' reserved for the saloon passengers, from the ' pit,' which was given over indiscriminately to the rest of the ship's company. All had been cordially invited to attend, and the place was crammed for some time before the hour of commencement ; but Will Farrell had been before everybody else, and secured seats for Iris and Maggie and himself on the benches that stood nearest to the reserved portion of the arena.

Iris had, of course, informed Maggie of the confidence that had taken place between herself and Mr Farrell, and the women were equally anxious to see what the evening would reveal to them. No one who was not expecting to see her would have recognised Iris Harland. She had pleaded an attack of toothache as an excuse for wrapping up her head in a black woollen shawl, and had so enveloped her features that they would have scarcely been visible, even had there been light enough to distinguish them. A few minutes before the representation commenced, the captain appeared, followed by the saloon passengers, who, with a good deal of laughing and talking, took their seats, and Iris shrank back as she saw her husband conduct Miss Vansittart to the chairs just in front of her, so that there were but a couple of feet between them.

He threw a careless glance behind him as he took his seat ; but seeing only a couple of dowdy - looking steerage passengers, as he imagined, did not give them a second thought throughout the evening. Grace Vansittart was looking flushed and handsome, though dressed in an extravagant fashion for a performance on board ship, and Godfrey Harland was most attentive in folding her crimson shawl about her shoulders, and seeing that she had something to rest her feet upon. ' Do keep it on, my darling,' Iris heard him say in French, as Grace threw the wrap rather impatiently from her. 'There is a horrid draught in this place, and you know you have a slight cold. For my sake keep it on.' ' I was sure he'd bring her here,' whispered Farrell to Iris. ' All the old people, you see, get as close as they can to the stage, so that they may see and hear the better.

But his object is neither to be seen nor heard. Can you understand the lingo they're talking, Miss Douglas ? ' Iris nodded her head. ' Oh ! well, then, it's all right. But I was afraid he was going to trick us. He is a deep 'un, and no mistake.' ' Hush, Will,' said Maggie, ' the play's going to begin.' At that juncture all eyes turned to the stage, and divers were the opinions as to whether Miss Vere's short-waisted dress of sunflower hue, tied with a sash under her arms, or Miss Leyton's soft white muslin, became her best. The acting went smoothly, and the majority of the audience were intensely interested in the comedy and its exponents. But for some there, a more thrilling drama, the in cidents of which were interwoven with their very lives, was being enacted in the auditorium. Will Farrell had no personal interest in Godfrey Harland's infidelity to his wife, but he hated the man as he hated hell, and longed to see him exposed on every point.

Maggie, too, had her reasons for wishing to be revenged on him; and Iris felt intuitively that in some unknown way the happiness or misery of her whole future life lay in the discovery of that evening. As she listened to her husband's conversation with Miss Van sittart, she was convinced of one thing — that she loved him no longer. Not a particle of jealousy or regret assailed her as she heard him pouring his tale of love into another woman's ear. All she felt was an intense surprise that she should ever have believed in, or fancied she cared for, him. He seemed to appear before her for the first time in his true colours. Had she seen him long ago, she thought, as she did then, she never could have married him. And while Iris thought thus, another face rose up before her — the pleading, earnest eyes of Vernon Blythe gazed in to hers, and she felt the tears of regret rise to dim her sight.

But she brushed them hurriedly away. She would not have had Farrell and Maggie think she was weeping at what she saw before her, for all the world. Besides, she wanted to keep her mind clear, in order not to lose a word of what was passing between her husband and Miss Vansittart. And as she listened she knew that all that had been told her was true, and Godfrey designed to ruin another life as he had done hers. 'In a few more weeks,' he whispered, when the curtain, amidst much applause, had descended on the first act of the ' Rivals,' ' we shall be in New Zealand, Grace. Shall you be glad or sorry when our voyage is at an end ? ' He still spoke in French, which he had acquired fluently whilst knocking about in the Southern States of America, and Grace, fresh from her boarding school, retained sufficient knowledge of the language to understand and answer him. ' Why should I be sorry ? ' she replied to his question. ' We shall be as much together then as we are now, shall we not?' ' Ah, that is the doubt that worries me,' said Harland ; ' will your parents permit a free intercourse between us ?

You know how few opportunities for meeting occur on land to what they do on board ship ; and unless I am received as your accepted suitor — ' ' But you must be received as my accepted suitor ! I will have no one else,' interrupted Grace determinately. ' My dearest, if it depended only on you, I know what my happy fate would be. But it is this horrid £ s. d., Grace ! I am so poor. Your father is certain to look for money, in exchange for his daughter's hand.' ' Well, I don't know that, Godfrey ! Papa has often told me he is rich enough to be able to afford to let me choose for myself. And I have chosen ! If he doesn't like it, it can't be helped ! But I have chosen you! ' My sweet girl ! You will not be per suaded to give me up, then, Grace ? ' ' Not for worlds ! How could I ? ' ' But if, on arriving at Tabbakooloo, your father should absolutely refuse to consent to our engagement, what then ? ' ' I shall marry you without his consent !