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1、THEFROZENDEEPTHEFROZENDEEPbyWilkieCollins1THEFROZENDEEPFirstSceneTheBall-roomChapter1.Thedateisbetweentwentyandthirtyyearsago.TheplaceisanEnglishsea-port.Thetimeisnight.Andthebusinessofthemomentis--dancing.TheMayorandCorporationofthetownaregivingagrandball,in
2、celebrationofthedepartureofanArcticexpeditionfromtheirport.Theshipsoftheexpeditionaretwoinnumber--the_Wanderer_andthe_Sea-mew_.Theyaretosail(insearchoftheNorthwestPassage)onthenextday,withthemorningtide.HonortotheMayorandCorporation!Itisabrilliantball.Theband
3、iscomplete.Theroomisspacious.ThelargeconservatoryopeningoutofitispleasantlylightedwithChineselanterns,andbeautifullydecoratedwithshrubsandflowers.Allofficersofthearmyandnavywhoarepresentweartheiruniformsinhonoroftheoccasion.Amongtheladies,thedisplayofdresses(
4、asubjectwhichthemendon'tunderstand)isbewildering--andtheaverageofbeauty(asubjectwhichthemendounderstand)isthehighestaverageattainable,inallpartsoftheroom.Forthemoment,thedancewhichisinprogressisaquadrille.Generaladmirationselectstwooftheladieswhoaredancingasi
5、tsfavoriteobjects.Oneisadarkbeautyintheprimeofwomanhood--thewifeofFirstLieutenantCrayford,ofthe_Wanderer_.Theotherisayounggirl,paleanddelicate;dressedsimplyinwhite;withnoornamentonherheadbutherownlovelybrownhair.ThisisMissClaraBurnham--anorphan.SheisMrs.Crayf
6、ord'sdearestfriend,andsheistostaywithMrs.Crayfordduringthelieutenant'sabsenceintheArcticregions.Sheisnowdancing,2THEFROZENDEEPwiththelieutenanthimselfforpartner,andwithMrs.CrayfordandCaptainHelding(commandingofficerofthe_Wanderer_)forvis-a-vis--inplainEnglish
7、,foroppositecouple.TheconversationbetweenCaptainHeldingandMrs.Crayford,inoneoftheintervalsofthedance,turnsonMissBurnham.ThecaptainisgreatlyinterestedinClara.Headmiresherbeauty;buthethinkshermanner--forayounggirl--strangelyseriousandsubdued.Issheindelicateheal
8、th?Mrs.Crayfordshakesherhead;sighsmysteriously;andanswers,"In_very_delicatehealth,CaptainHelding.""Consumptive?""Notintheleast.""Iamgladtohearthat.Sheisacharmingcreature,Mrs.Crayford.Shei
