a simpleton-第10章

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with　a　showy　dogcart。　　〃Ah！〃　thought　Phoebe；　〃he　has　won　a　little
money　at　play　or　pigeon…shooting；　so　now　he　has　no　need　of　me。〃

She　took　the　lodgings　opposite　him；　but　observed　nothing　till　this
very　morning；　when　she　saw　him　throw　off　his　dressing…gown　all　in　a
hurry　and　fling　on　his　coat。　　She　tied　on　her　bonnet　as　rapidly；
and　followed　him；　until　she　discovered　the　object　of　his　pursuit。
It　was　a　surprise　to　her；　and　a　puzzle；　to　see　another　man　step　in；
as　if　to　take　her　part。　　But　as　Reginald　still　followed　the
loitering　pair；　she　followed　Reginald；　till　he　turned　and　found　her
at　his　heels；　white　and　lowering。

She　confronted　him　in　threatening　silence　for　some　time；　during
which　he　prepared　his　defence。

〃So　it　is　a　LADY　this　time；〃　said　she；　in　her　low；　rich　voice；
sternly。

〃Is　it？〃

〃Yes；　and　I　should　say　she　is　bespokethat　tall；　fine…built
gentleman。　　But　I　suppose　you　care　no　more　for　his　feelings　than
you　do　for　mine。〃

〃Phoebe；〃　said　the　egotist；　〃I　will　not　try　to　deceive　you。　　You
have　often　said　you　are　my　true　friend。〃

〃And　I　think　I　have　proved　it。〃

〃That　you　have。　　Well；　then；　be　my　true　friend　now。　　I　am　in　love
really　in　lovethis　time。　　You　and　I　only　torment　each　other；　let
us　part　friends。　　There　are　plenty　of　farmers　in　Essex　that　would
jump　at　you。　　As　for　me；　I'll　tell　you　the　truth；　I　have　run
through　every　farthing；　my　estate　mortgaged　beyond　its　valuetwo
or　three　writs　out　against　methat　is　why　I　slipped　down　here。　　My
only　chance　is　to　marry　Money。　　Her　father　knows　I　have　land；　and
he　knows　nothing　about　the　mortgages；　she　is　his　only　daughter。
Don't　stand　in　my　way；　that　is　a　good　girl；　be　my　friend；　as　you
always　were。　　Hang　it　all；　Phoebe；　can't　you　say　a　word　to　a　fellow
that　is　driven　into　a　corner；　instead　of　glaring　at　me　like　that？
There！　I　know　it　is　ungrateful；　but　what　can　a　fellow　do？　　I　must
live　like　a　gentleman　or　else　take　a　dose　of　prussic　acid；　you
don't　want　to　drive　me　to　that。　　Why；　you　proposed　to　part；　last
time；　yourself。〃

She　gave　him　one　majestic；　indescribable　look；　that　made　even　his
callous　heart　quiver；　and　turned　away。

Then　the　scamp　admired　her　for　despising　him；　and　could　not　bear　to
lose　her。　　He　followed　her；　and　put　forth　all　those　powers　of
persuading　and　soothing；　which　had　so　often　proved　irresistible。
But　this　time　it　was　in　vain。　　The　insult　was　too　savage；　and　his
egotism　too　brutal；　for　honeyed　phrases　to　blind　her。

After　enduring　it　a　long　time　with　a　silent　shudder；　she　turned　and
shook　him　fiercely　off　her　like　some　poisonous　reptile。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　kill　you？　　I'd　liever　kill　myself　for　loving
such　a　thing　as　THOU。　　Go　thy　ways；　man；　and　let　me　go　mine。〃　　In
her　passion　she　dropped　her　cultivation　for　once；　and　went　back　to
the　THOU　and　THEE　of　her　grandam。

He　colored　up　and　looked　spiteful　enough；　but　he　soon　recovered　his
cynical　egotism；　and　went　off　whistling　an　operatic　passage。

She　crept　to　her　lodgings；　and　buried　her　face　in　her　pillow；　and
rocked　herself　to　and　fro　for　hours　in　the　bitterest　agony　the
heart　can　feel；　groaning　over　her　great　affection　wasted；　flung
into　the　dirt。

While　she　was　thus；　she　heard　a　little　commotion。　　She　came　to　the
window　and　saw　Falcon；　exquisitely　dressed；　drive　off　in　his
dogcart；　attended　by　the　acclamations　of　eight　boys。　　She　saw　at　a
glance　he　was　gone　courting；　her　knees　gave　way　under　her；　and；
such　is　the　power　of　the　mind；　this　stalwart　girl　lay　weak　as　water
on　the　sofa；　and　had　not　the　power　to　go　home；　though　just　then　she
had　but　one　wish；　one　hopeto　see　her　idol's　face　no　more；　nor
hear　his　wheedling　tongue；　that　had　ruined　her　peace。

The　exquisite　Mr。　Falcon　was　received　by　Rosa　Lusignan　with　a
certain　tremor　that　flattered　his　hopes。　　He　told　her；　in　charming
language；　how　he　had　admired　her　at　first　sight；　then　esteemed　her；
then　loved　her。

She　blushed　and　panted；　and　showed　more　than　once　a　desire　to
interrupt　him；　but　was　too　polite。　　She　heard　him　out　with　rising
dismay；　and　he　offered　her　his　hand　and　heart。

But　by　this　time　she　had　made　up　her　mind　what　to　say。　　〃O　Mr。
Falcon！〃　she　cried；　〃how　can　you　speak　to　me　in　this　way？　　Why；　I
am　engaged。　　Didn't　you　know？〃

〃No；　I　am　sure　you　are　not；　or　you　would　never　have　given　me　the
encouragement　you　have。〃

〃Oh；　all　engaged　young　ladies　flirta　little；　and　everybody　here
knows　I　am　engaged　to　Dr。　Staines。〃

〃Why；　I　never　saw　him　here。〃

Rosa's　tact　was　a　quality　that　came　and　went；　so　she　blushed；　and
faltered　out；　〃We　had　a　little　tiff；　as　lovers　will。〃

〃And　you　did　me　the　honor　to　select　me　as　cat's…paw　to　bring　him　on
again。　　Was　not　that　rather　heartless？〃

Rosa's　fitful　tact　returned　to　her。

〃Oh；　sir；　do　not　think　so　ill　of　me。　　I　am　not　heartless；　I　am　only
unwise；　and　you　are　so　superior　to　the　people　about　you；　I　could
not　help　appreciating　you；　and　I　thought　you　knew　I　was　engaged；
and　so　I　was　less　on　my　guard。　　I　hope　I　shall　not　lose　your
esteem；　though　I　have　no　right　to　anything　more。　　Ah！　I　see　by　your
face　I　have　behaved　very　ill：　pray　forgive　me。〃

And　with　this　she　turned　on　the　waters　of　the　Nile；　better　known　to
you；　perhaps；　as　〃crocodile　tears。〃

Falcon　was　a　gentleman　on　the　surface；　and　knew　he　should　only　make
matters　worse　by　quarrelling　with　her。　　So　he　ground　his　teeth；　and
said；　〃May　your　own　heart　never　feel　the　pangs　you　have　inflicted。
I　shall　love　you　and　remember　you　till　my　dying　day。〃

He　bowed　ceremoniously　and　left　her。

〃Ay；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃I　WILL　remember　you；　you　heartless　jilt；
and　the　man　you　have　jilted　me　for。　　Staines　is　his　dd　name；　is
it？〃

He　drove　back　crestfallen；　bitter；　and；　for　once　in　his　life；
heart…sick；　and　drew　up　at　his　lodgings。　　Here　he　found　attendants
waiting　to　receive　him。

A　sheriff's　officer　took　his　dogcart　and　horse　under　a　judgment；
the　disturbance　this　caused　collected　a　tiny　crowd；　gaping　and
grinning；　and　brought　Phoebe's　white　face　and　eyes　swollen　with
weeping　to　the　window。

Falcon　saw　her　and　brazened　it　out。　　〃Take　them；〃　said　he；　with　an
oath。　　〃I'll　have　a　better　turn…out　by　to…morrow；　breakfast…time。〃

The　crowd　cheered　him　for　his　spirit。

He　got　down；　lit　a　cigar；　chaffed　the　officer　and　the　crowd；　and
was；　on　the　whole；　admired。

Then　another　officer；　who　had　been　hunting　him　in　couples　with　the
other；　stepped　forward　and　took　HIM；　for　the　balance　of　a　judgment
debt。

Then　the　swell's　cigar　fell　out　of　his　mouth；　and　he　was　seriously
alarmed。　　〃Why；　Cartwright；〃　said　he；　〃this　is　too　bad。　　You
promised　not　to　see　me　this　month。　　You　passed　me　full　in　the
Strand。〃

〃You　are　mistaken；　sir；〃　said　Cartwright；　with　sullen　irony。　　〃I've
got　a　twin…brother；　a　many　takes　him　for　me；　till　they　finds　the
difference。〃　　Then；　lowering　his　voice；　〃What　call　had　you　to　boast
in　your　club　you　had　made　it　right　with　Bill　Cartwright；　and　he'd
never　see　you？　　That　got　about；　and　so　I　was　bound　to　see　you　or
lose　my　bread。　　There's　one　or　two　I　don't　see；　but　then　they　are
real　gentlemen；　and　thinks　of　me　as　well　as　theirselves；　and
doesn't　blab。〃

〃I　must　have　been　drunk；〃　said　Falcon　apologetically。　　〃More　likely
blowing　a　cloud。　　When　you　young　gents　gets　a…smoking　together；
you'd　tell　on　your　own　mothers。　　Come　along；　colonel；　off　we　go　to
Merrimashee。〃

〃Why；　it　is　only　twenty…six　pounds。　　I　have　paid　the　rest。〃

〃More　than　that；　there's　the　costs。〃

〃Come　in；　and　I'll　settle　it。〃

〃All　right；　sir。　　Jem；　watch　the　back。〃

〃Oh；　I　shall　not　try　that　game　with　a　sharp　hand　like　you；
Cartwright。〃

〃You　had　better　not；　sir；〃　said　Cartwright；　but　he　was　softened　a
little　by　the　compliment。

When　they　were　alone；　Falcon　began　by　saying　it　was　a　bad　job　for
him。

〃Why；　I　thought　you　was　a…going　to　pay　it　all　in　a　moment。〃

〃I　can't；　but　I　have　got　a　friend　over　the　way　that　could；　if　she
chose。　　She　has　always　got　money；　somehow。〃

〃Oh；　if　it　is　a　she；　it　is　all　right。〃

〃I　don't　know。　　She　has　quarrelled　with　me；　but　give　me　a　little
time。　　Here！　have　a　glass　of　sherry　and　a　biscuit；　while　I　try　it
on。〃

Having　thus　muffled　Cartwright；　this　man　of　the　world　opened　his
window　and　looked　out。　　The　crowd　had　followed　the　captured
dogcart；　so　he　had　the　street　to　himself。　　He　beckoned　to　Phoebe；
and　after　considerable　hesitation　she　opened　her　window。

〃Phoebe；〃　said　he；　in　tones　of　tender　regret；　admirably　natural　and
sweet；　〃I　shall　never　offend　you　again；　so　forgive　me　this　once。　　I
have　given　that　girl　up。〃

〃Not　you；〃　said　Phoebe；　sullenly。

〃Indeed　I　have。　　After　our　quarrel；　I　started　to　propose　to　her；
but　I　had　not　the　heart；　I　came　back　and　left　her。〃

〃Time　will　show。　　If　it　is　not　her；　it　will　be　some　other；　you
false；　heartless　villain。〃

〃Come；　I　say；　don't　be　so　hard　on　me　in　trouble。　　I　am　going　to
prison。〃

〃So　I　suppose。〃

〃Ah！　but　it　is　worse　than　you　think。　　I　am　only　taken　for　a　paltry
thirty　pounds　or　so。〃

〃Thirty…three；　fifteen；　five；〃　suggested　Cartwright；　in　a　muffled
whisper；　his　mouth　being　full　of　biscuit。

〃But　once　they　get　me　to　a　sponging…house；　detainers　will　pour　in；
and　my　cruel　creditors　will　confine　me　for　life。〃

〃It　is　the　best　place　for　you。　　It　will　put　a　stop　to　your
wickedness；　and　I　shall　be　at　peace。　　That's　what　I　have　never
known；　night　or　day；　this　three　years。〃

〃But　you　will　not　be　happy　if　you　see　me　go　to　prison　before　your
eyes。　　Were　you　ever　inside　a　prison？　　Just　think　what　it　must　be
to　be　cooped　up　in　those　cold　grim　cells　all　alone；　for　they　use　a
debtor　like　a　criminal　now。〃

Phoebe　shuddered；　but　she　said；　bravely；　〃Well；　tell　THEM　you　have
been　a…courting。　　There　was　a　time　I'd　have　died　sooner　than　see　a
hair　of　your　head　hurt；　but　it　is　all　over　now；　you　have　worn　me
out。〃

Then　she　began　to　cry。

Falcon　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　　〃It　is　no　more　than　I　deserve；〃　said
he。　　〃I'll　pack　up　my　things；　and　go　with　the　officer。　　Give　me　one
kind　word　at　parting；　and　I'll　think　of　it　in　my　prison；　night　and
day。〃

He　withdrew　from　the　window　with　another　deep　sigh；　told
Cartwright；　cheerfully；　it　was　all　right；　and　proceeded　to　pack　up
his　traps。

Meantime　Phoebe　sat　at　her　window　and　cried　bitterly。　　Her　words
had　been　braver　than　her　heart。

Falcon　managed　to　pay　the　trifle　he　owed　for　the　lodgings；　and
presently　he　came　out　with　Cartwright；　and　the　attendant　called　a
cab。　　His　things　were　thrown　in；　and　Cartwright　invited　him　to
follow。　　Then　he　looked　up；　and　cast　a　genuine　look　of　terror　and
misery　at　Phoebe。　　He　thought　she　would　have　relented　before　this。

Her　heart　gave　way；　I　am　afraid　it　would；　even　without　that　piteous
and　mute　appeal。　　She　opened　the　window；　and　asked　Mr。　Cartwright
if　he　would　be　good　enough　to　come　and　speak　to　her。

Cartwright　committed　his　prisoner　to　the　subordinate；　and　knocked
at　the　door　of　Phoebe's　lodgings。　　She　came　down　herself　and　let
him　in。　　She　led　the　way　upstairs；　motioned　him　to　a　seat；　sat　down
by　him；　and　began　to　cry　again。　　She　was　thoroughly　unstrung。

Cartwright　was　human；　and　muttered　some　words　of　regret　that　a　poor
fellow　must　do　his　duty。

〃Oh；　it　is　not　that；〃　sobbed　Phoebe。　　〃I　can　find　the　money。