Dr. Staines forgot nothing. He made his will in duplicate, leaving all
to his wife; he left one copy at Doctors' Commons and another with his
lawyer; inventoried all his furniture and effects in duplicate, too;
wrote to Uncle Philip, and then called on him to seek a reconciliation.
Unfortunately, Dr. Philip was in Scotland. At last this sad pair went
down to Plymouth together, there to meet Lord Tadcaster and go on board
H.M.S. Amphitrite, lying out at anchor, under orders for the Australian
Station.
They met at the inn, as appointed; and sent word of their arrival on
board the frigate, asking to remain on shore till the last minute.
Dr. Staines presented his patient to Rosa; and after a little while drew
him apart and questioned him professionally. He then asked for a private
room. Here he and Rosa really took leave; for what could the poor things
say to each other on a crowded quay? He begged her forgiveness, on his
knees, for having once spoken harshly to her, and she told him, with
passionate sobs, he had never spoken harshly to her; her folly it was
had parted them.
Poor wretches! they clung together with a thousand vows of love and
constancy. They were to pray for each other at the same hours: to think
of some kind word or loving act, at other stated hours; and so they
tried to fight with their suffering minds against the cruel separation;
and if either should die, the other was to live wedded to memory, and
never listen to love from other lips; but no! God was pitiful; He would
let them meet again ere long, to part no more. They rocked in each
other's arms; they cried over each other--it was pitiful.
At last the cruel summons came; they shuddered, as if it was their
death-blow. Christopher, with a face of agony, was yet himself, and
would have parted then: and so best. But Rosa could not. She would see
the last of him, and became almost wild and violent when he opposed it.
Then he let her come with him to Milbay Steps; but into the boat he
would not let her step.
The ship's boat lay at the steps, manned by six sailors, all seated,
with their oars tossed in two vertical rows. A smart middy in charge
conducted them, and Dr. Staines and Lord Tadcaster got in, leaving Rosa,
in charge of her maid, on the quay.
“Shove off”--“Down”--“Give way.”
Each order was executed so swiftly and surely that, in as many seconds,
the boat was clear, the oars struck the water with a loud splash, and
the husband was shot away like an arrow, and the wife's despairing cry
rang on the stony quay, as many a poor woman's cry had rung before.
In half a minute the boat shot under the stern of the frigate.
They were received on the quarter-deck by Captain Hamilton: he
introduced them to the officers--a torture to poor Staines, to have his
mind taken for a single instant from his wife--the first lieutenant came
aft, and reported, “Ready for making sail, sir.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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