a simpleton-第1章

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A　Simpleton

by　Charles　Reade





PREFACE。


It　has　lately　been　objected　to　me；　in　studiously　courteous　terms　of
course；　that　I　borrow　from　other　books；　and　am　a　plagiarist。　　To
this　I　reply　that　I　borrow　facts　from　every　accessible　source；　and
am　not　a　plagiarist。　　The　plagiarist　is　one　who　borrows　from　a
homogeneous　work：　for　such　a　man　borrows　not　ideas　only；　but　their
treatment。　　He　who　borrows　only　from　heterogeneous　works　is　not　a
plagiarist。　　All　fiction；　worth　a　button；　is　founded　on　facts；　and
it　does　not　matter　one　straw　whether　the　facts　are　taken　from
personal　experience；　hearsay；　or　printed　books；　only　those　books
must　not　be　works　of　fiction。

Ask　your　common　sense　why　a　man　writes　better　fiction　at　forty　than
he　can　at　twenty。　　It　is　simply　because　he　has　gathered　more　facts
from　each　of　these　three　sources；experience；　hearsay；　print。

To　those　who　have　science　enough　to　appreciate　the　above
distinction；　I　am　very　willing　to　admit　that　in　all　my　tales　I　use
a　vast　deal　of　heterogeneous　material；　which　in　a　life　of　study　I
have　gathered　from　men；　journals；　blue…books；　histories；
biographies；　law　reports；　etc。　　And　if　I　could；　I　would　gladly
specify　all　the　various　printed　sources　to　which　I　am　indebted。
But　my　memory　is　not　equal　to　such　a　feat。　　I　can　only　say　that　I
rarely　write　a　novel　without　milking　about　two　hundred
heterogeneous　cows　into　my　pail；　and　that　〃A　Simpleton〃　is　no
exception　to　my　general　method；　that　method　is　the　true　method；　and
the　best；　and　if　on　that　method　I　do　not　write　prime　novels；　it　is
the　fault　of　the　man；　and　not　of　the　method。

I　give　the　following　particulars　as　an　illustration　of　my　method：

In　〃A　Simpleton；〃　the　whole　business　of　the　girl　spitting　blood；
the　surgeon　ascribing　it　to　the　liver；　the　consultation；　the　final
solution　of　the　mystery；　is　a　matter　of　personal　experience
accurately　recorded。　　But　the　rest　of　the　medical　truths；　both　fact
and　argument；　are　all　from　medical　books　far　too　numerous　to
specify。　　This　includes　the　strange　fluctuations　of　memory　in　a　man
recovering　his　reason　by　degrees。　　The　behavior　of　the　doctor's
first　two　patients　I　had　from　a　surgeon's　daughter　in　Pimlico。　　The
servant…girl　and　her　box；　the　purple…faced；　pig…faced　Beak　and　his
justice；　are　personal　experience。　　The　business　of　house…renting；
and　the　auction…room；　is　also　personal　experience。

In　the　nautical　business　I　had　the　assistance　of　two　practical
seamen：　my　brother；　William　Barrington　Reade；　and　Commander　Charles
Edward　Reade；　R。N。

In　the　South　African　business　I　gleaned　from　Mr。　Day's　recent
handbooks；　the　old　handbooks；　Galton's　〃Vacation　Tourist；〃　〃Philip
Mavor；　or；　Life　among　the　Caffres；〃　〃Fossor；〃　〃Notes　on　the　Cape　of
Good　Hope；〃　1821；　〃Scenes　and　Occurrences　in　Albany　and　Caffre…
land；〃　1827；　Bowler's　〃South　African　Sketches；〃　〃A　Campaign　in
South　Africa；〃　Lucas；　〃Five　Years　in　Caffre…land；〃　Mrs。　Ward；　etc。；
etc。；　etc。　　But　my　principal　obligation　on　this　head　is　to　Mr。
Boyle；　the　author　of　some　admirable　letters　to　the　Daily　telegraph；
which　he　afterwards　reprinted　in　a　delightful　volume。　　Mr。　Boyle
has　a　painter's　eye；　and　a　writer's　pen；　and　if　the　African　scenes
in　〃A　Simpleton〃　please　my　readers；　I　hope　they　will　go　to　the
fountain…head；　where　they　will　find　many　more。

As　to　the　plot　and　characters；　they　are　invented。

The　title；　〃A　Simpleton；〃　is　not　quite　new。　　There　is　a　French　play
called　La　Niaise。　　But　La　Niaise　is　in　reality　a　woman　of　rare
intelligence；　who　is　taken　for　a　simpleton　by　a　lot　of　conceited
fools；　and　the　play　runs　on　their　blunders；　and　her　unpretending
wisdom。　　That　is　a　very　fine　plot；　which　I　recommend　to　our　female
novelists。　　My　aim　in　these　pages　has　been　much　humbler；　and　is；　I
hope；　too　clear　to　need　explanation。

CHARLES　READE。



A　SIMPLETON。


CHAPTER　I。


A　young　lady　sat　pricking　a　framed　canvas　in　the　drawing…room　of
Kent　Villa；　a　mile　from　Gravesend；　she　was　making；　at　a　cost　of
time　and　tinted　wool；　a　chair　cover；　admirably　unfit　to　be　sat
uponexcept　by　some　severe　artist；　bent　on　obliterating　discordant
colors。　　To　do　her　justice；　her　mind　was　not　in　her　work；　for　she
rustled　softly　with　restlessness　as　she　sat；　and　she　rose　three
times　in　twenty　minutes；　and　went　to　the　window。　　Thence　she　looked
down；　over　a　trim　flowery　lawn；　and　long；　sloping　meadows；　on　to
the　silver　Thames；　alive　with　steamboats　ploughing；　white　sails
bellying；　and　great　ships　carrying　to　and　fro　the　treasures　of　the
globe。　　From　this　fair　landscape　and　epitome　of　commerce　she
retired　each　time　with　listless　disdain；　she　was　waiting　for
somebody。

Yet　she　was　one　of　those　whom　few　men　care　to　keep　waiting。　　Rosa
Lusignan　was　a　dark　but　dazzling　beauty；　with　coal…black　hair；　and
glorious　dark　eyes；　that　seemed　to　beam　with　soul　all　day　long；　her
eyebrows；　black；　straightish；　and　rather　thick；　would　have　been
majestic　and　too　severe；　had　the　other　features　followed　suit；　but
her　black　brows　were　succeeded　by　long　silky　lashes；　a　sweet　oval
face；　two　pouting　lips　studded　with　ivory；　and　an　exquisite　chin；
as　feeble　as　any　man　could　desire　in　the　partner　of　his　bosom。
Personstraight；　elastic；　and　rather　tall。　　Mindnineteen。
Accomplishmentsnumerous；　a　poor　French　scholar；　a　worse　German；　a
worse　English；　an　admirable　dancer；　an　inaccurate　musician；　a　good
rider；　a　bad　draughtswoman；　a　bad　hairdresser；　at　the　mercy　of　her
maid；　a　hot　theologian；　knowing　nothing；　a　sorry　accountant；　no
housekeeper；　no　seamstress；　a　fair　embroideress；　a　capital
geographer；　and　no　cook。

Collectively；　viz。；　mind　and　body；　the　girl　we　kneel　to。

This　ornamental　member　of　society　now　glanced　at　the　clock　once
more；　and　then　glided　to　the　window　for　the　fourth　time。　　She
peeped　at　the　side　a　good　while；　with　superfluous　slyness　or
shyness；　and　presently　she　drew　back；　blushing　crimson；　then　she
peeped　again；　still　more　furtively；　then　retired　softly　to　her
frame；　and；　for　the　first　time；　set　to　work　in　earnest。　　As　she
plied　her　harpoon；　smiling　now；　the　large　and　vivid　blush；　that　had
suffused　her　face　and　throat；　turned　from　carnation　to　rose；　and
melted　away　slowly；　but　perceptibly；　and　ever　so　sweetly；　and
somebody　knocked　at　the　street　door。

The　blow　seemed　to　drive　her　deeper　into　her　work。　　She　leaned　over
it；　graceful　as　a　willow；　and　so　absorbed；　she　could　not　even　see
the　door　of　the　room　open　and　Dr。　Staines　come　in。

All　the　better：　her　not　perceiving　that　slight　addition　to　her
furniture　gives　me　a　moment　to　describe　him。

A　young　man；　five　feet　eleven　inches　high；　very　square　shouldered
and　deep　chested；　but　so　symmetrical；　and　light　in　his　movements；
that　his　size　hardly　struck　one　at　first。　　He　was　smooth　shaved；
all　but　a　short；　thick；　auburn　whisker；　his　hair　was　brown。　　His
features　no　more　then　comely：　the　brow　full；　the　eyes　wide　apart
and　deep…seated；　the　lips　rather　thin；　but　expressive；　the　chin
solid　and　square。　　It　was　a　face　of　power；　and　capable　of
harshness；　but　relieved　by　an　eye　of　unusual　color；　between　hazel
and　gray；　and　wonderfully　tender。　　In　complexion　he　could　not
compare　with　Rosa；　his　cheek　was　clear；　but　pale；　for　few　young　men
had　studied　night　and　day　so　constantly。　　Though　but　twenty…eight
years　of　age；　he　was　literally　a　learned　physician；　deep　in
hospital　practice；　deep　in　books；　especially　deep　in　German
science；　too　often　neglected　or　skimmed　by　English　physicians。　　He
had　delivered　a　course　of　lectures　at　a　learned　university　with
general　applause。

As　my　reader　has　divined；　Rosa　was　preparing　the　comedy　of　a　cool
reception；　but　looking　up；　she　saw　his　pale　cheek　tinted　with　a
lover's　beautiful　joy　at　the　bare　sight　of　her；　and　his　soft　eye　so
divine　with　love；　that　she　had　not　the　heart　to　chill　him。　　She
gave　him　her　hand　kindly；　and　smiled　brightly　on　him　instead　of
remonstrating。　　She　lost　nothing　by　it；　for　the　very　first　thing　he
did　was　to　excuse　himself　eagerly。　　〃I　am　behind　time：　the　fact　is；
just　as　I　was　mounting　my　horse；　a　poor　man　came　to　the　gate　to
consult　me。　　He　had　a　terrible　disorder　I　have　sometimes　succeeded
in　arrestingI　attack　the　cause　instead　of　the　symptoms；　which　is
the　old　practiceand　so　that　detained　me。　　You　forgive　me？〃

〃Of　course。　　Poor　man！only　you　said　you　wanted　to　see　papa；　and
he　always　goes　out　at　two。〃

When　she　had　been　betrayed　into　saying　this；　she　drew　in　suddenly；
and　blushed　with　a　pretty　consciousness。

〃Then　don't　let　me　lose　another　minute；〃　said　the　lover。　　〃Have　you
prepared　him　forforwhat　I　am　going　to　have　the　audacity　to
say？〃

Rosa　answered；　with　some　hesitation；　〃I　MUST　havea　little。　　When
I　refused　Colonel　Brightyou　need　not　devour　my　hand　quitehe　is
forty。〃

Her　sentence　ended；　and　away　went　the　original　topic；　and
grammatical　sequence　along　with　it。　　Christopher　Staines　recaptured
them　both。　　〃Yes；　dear；　when　you　refused　Colonel　Bright〃

〃Well；　papa　was　astonished；　for　everybody　says　the　colonel　is　a
most　eligible　match。　　Don't　you　hate　that　expression？　　I　do。
Eligible！〃

Christopher　made　due　haste；　and　recaptured　her。　　〃Yes；　love；　your
papa　said〃

〃I　don't　think　I　will　tell　you。　　He　asked　me　was　there　anybody
else；　and　of　course　I　said　'No。'〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Oh；　that　is　nothing；　I　had　not　time　to　make　up　my　mind　to　tell　the
truth。　　I　was　taken　by　surprise；　and　you　know　one's　first　impulse
is　to　fibabout　THAT。〃

〃But　did　you　really　deceive　him？〃

〃No；　I　blushed；　and　he　caught　me；　so　he　said；　'Come；　now；　there
was。'〃

〃And　you　said；　'Yes；　there　is；'　like　a　brave　girl　as　you　are。〃

〃What；　plump　like　that？　　No；　I　was　frightened　out　of　my　wits；　like
a　brave　girl　as　I　am　not；　and　said　I　should　never　marry　any　one　he
could　disapprove；　and　thenoh；　then　I　believe　I　began　to　cry。
Christopher；　I'll　tell　you　something；　I　find　people　leave　off
teasing　you　when　you　crygentlemen；　I　mean。　　Ladies　go　on　all　the
more。　　So　then　dear　papa　kissed　me；　and　told　me　I　must　not　be
imprudent；　and　throw　myself　away；　that　was　all；　and　I　promised　him
I　never　would。　　I　said　he　would　be　sure　to　approve　my　choice；　and
he　said　he　hoped　so。　　And　so　he　will。〃

Dr。　Staines　looked　thoughtful；　and　said　he　hoped　so　too。　　〃But　now
it　comes　to　the　point　of　asking　him　for　such　a　treasure；　I　feel　my
deficiencies。〃

〃Why；　what　deficiencies？　　You　are　young；　and　handsome；　and　good；
and　ever　so　much　cleverer　than　other　people。　　You　have　only　to　ask
for　me；　and　insist　on　having　me。　　Come；　dear；　go　and　get　it　over。〃
She　added；　mighty　coolly；　〃There　is　nothing　so　DREADFUL　as
suspense。〃

〃I'll　go　this　minute；〃　said　he；　and　took　a　step　towards　the　door；
but　he　turned；　and　in　a　moment　was　at　her　knees。　　He　took　both　her
hands　in　his；　and　pressed　them　to　his　beating　bosom；　while　his
beautiful　eyes　poured　love　into　hers　point…blank。　　〃May　I　tell　him
you　love　me？　　Oh；　I　know　you　cannot　love　me　as　I　love　you；　but　I
may　say　you　love　me　a　little；　may　I　not？that　will　go　farther　with
him　than　anything　else。　　May　I；　Rosa；　may　I？a　little？〃

His　passion　mastered　her。　　She　dropped　her　head　sweetly　on　his
shoulder；　and　murmured；　〃You　know　you　may；　my　own。　　Who　would　not
love　you？〃

He　parted　lingeringly　from　her；　then　ma