a simpleton-第13章

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The　rents　of　houses　equal　to　that　in　Harewood　Square　were　three
hundred　pounds　a　year　at　least；　and　a　premium　to　boot。

Christopher　told　him　these　were　quite　beyond　the　mark。　　〃Very
well；〃　said　the　agent。　　〃Then　I'll　show　you　a　Bijou。〃

Rosa　clapped　her　hands。　　〃That　is　the　thing　for　us。　　We　don't　want
a　large　house；　only　a　beautiful　one；　and　in　Mayfair。〃

〃Then　the　Bijou　will　be　sure　to　suit　you。〃

He　took　them　to　the　Bijou。

The　Bijou　had　a　small　dining…room　with　one　very　large　window　in　two
sheets　of　plate　glass；　and　a　projecting　balcony　full　of　flowers；　a
still　smaller　library；　which　opened　on　a　square　yard　enclosed。
Here　were　a　great　many　pots；　with　flowers　dead　or　dying　from
neglect。　　On　the　first　floor　a　fair…sized　drawing…room；　and　a　tiny
one　at　the　back：　on　the　second　floor；　one　good　bedroom；　and　a
dressing…room；　or　little　bedroom：　three　garrets　above。

Rosa　was　in　ecstasies。　　〃It　is　a　nest；〃　said　she。

〃It　is　a　bank…note；〃　said　the　agent；　stimulating　equal　enthusiasm；
after　his　fashion。　　〃You　can　always　sell　the　lease　again　for　more
money。〃

Christopher　kept　cool。　　〃I　don't　want　a　house　to　sell；　but　to　live
in；　and　do　my　business；　I　am　a　physician：　now　the　drawing…room　is
built　over　the　entrance　to　a　mews；　the　back　rooms　all　look　into　a
mews：　we　shall　have　the　eternal　noise　and　smell　of　a　mews。　　My
wife's　rest　will　be　broken　by　the　carriages　rolling　in　and　out。
The　hall　is　fearfully　small　and　stuffy。　　The　rent　is　abominably
high；　and　what　is　the　premium　for；　I　wonder？〃

〃Always　a　premium　in　Mayfair；　sir。　　A　lease　is　property　here：　the
gentleman　is　not　acquainted　with　this　part；　madam。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　he　is；〃　said　Rosa；　as　boldly　as　a　six　years'　wife：　〃he
knows　everything。〃

〃Then　he　knows　that　a　house　of　this　kind　at　a　hundred　and　thirty
pounds　a　year　in　Mayfair　is　a　bank…note。〃

Staines　turned　to　Rosa。　　〃The　poor　patients；　where　am　I　to　receive
them？〃

〃In　the　stable；〃　suggested　the　house　agent。

〃Oh！〃　said　Rosa；　shocked。

〃Well；　then；　the　coach…house。　　Why；　there's　plenty　of　room　for　a
brougham；　and　one　horse；　and　fifty　poor　patients　at　a　time：　beggars
musn't　be　choosers；　if　you　give　them　physic　gratis；　that　is　enough：
you　ain't　bound　to　find　'em　a　palace　to　sit　down　in；　and　hot　coffee
and　rump　steaks　all　round；　doctor。〃

This　tickled　Rosa　so　that　she　burst　out　laughing；　and　thenceforward
giggled　at　intervals；　wit　of　this　refined　nature　having　all　the
charm　of　novelty　for　her。

They　inspected　the　stables；　which　were　indeed　the　one　redeeming
feature　in　the　horrid　little　Bijou；　and　then　the　agent　would　show
them　the　kitchen；　and　the　new　stove。　　He　expatiated　on　this　to　Mrs。
Staines。　　〃Cook　a　dinner　for　thirty　people；　madam。〃

〃And　there's　room　for　them　to　eat　itin　the　road；〃　said　Staines。

The　agent　reminded　him　there　were　larger　places　to　be　had；　by　a
very　simple　process；　viz。；　paying　for　them。

Staines　thought　of　the　large；　comfortable　house　in　Harewood　Square。
〃One　hundred　and　thirty　pounds　a　year　for　this　poky　little　hole？〃
he　groaned。

〃Why；　it　is　nothing　at　all　for　a　Bijou。〃

〃But　it　is　too　much　for　a　bandbox。〃

Rosa　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm；　with　an　imploring　glance。

〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃I'll　submit　to　the　rent；　but　I　really　cannot　give
the　premium；　it　is　too　ridiculous。　　He　ought　to　bribe　me　to　rent
it；　not　I　him。〃

〃Can't　be　done　without；　sir。〃

〃Well；　I'll　give　a　hundred　pounds　and　no　more。〃

〃Impossible；　sir。〃

〃Then　good　morning。　　Now；　dearest；　just　come　and　see　the　house　at
Harewood　Square；eighty…five　pounds　and　no　premium。〃

〃Will　you　oblige　me　with　your　address；　doctor？〃　said　the　agent。

〃Dr。　Staines；　Morley's　Hotel。〃

And　so　they　left　Mayfair。

Rosa　sighed　and　said；　〃Oh；　the　nice　little　place；　and　we　have　lost
it　for　two　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Two　hundred　pounds　is　a　great　deal　for　us　to　throw　away。〃

〃Being　near　the　Coles　would　soon　have　made　that　up　to　you：　and　such
a　cosey　little　nest。〃

〃Well　the　house　will　not　run　away。〃

〃But　somebody　is　sure　to　snap　it　up。　　It　is　a　Bijou。〃　　She　was
disappointed；　and　half　inclined　to　pout。　　But　she　vented　her
feelings　in　a　letter　to　her　beloved　Florry；　and　appeared　at　dinner
as　sweet　as　usual。

During　dinner　a　note　came　from　the　agent；　accepting　Dr。　Staine's
offer。　　He　glozed　the　matter　thus：　he　had　persuaded　the　owner　it
was　better　to　take　a　good　tenant　at　a　moderate　loss；　than　to　let
the　Bijou　be　uninhabited　during　the　present　rainy　season。　　An
assignment　of　the　leasewhich　contained　the　usual　covenantswould
be　prepared　immediately；　and　Dr。　Staines　could　have　possession　in
forty…eight　hours；　by　paying　the　premium。

Rosa　was　delighted；　and　as　soon　as　dinner　was　over；　and　the　waiters
gone；　she　came　and　kissed　Christopher。

He　smiled；　and　said；　〃Well；　you　are　pleased；　that　is　the　principal
thing。　　I　have　saved　two　hundred　pounds；　and　that　is　something。　　It
will　go　towards　furnishing。〃

〃La！　yes；〃　said　Rosa；　〃I　forgot。　　We　shall　have　to　get　furniture
now。　　How　nice！〃　　It　was　a　pleasure　the　man　of　forecast　could　have
willingly　dispensed　with；　but　he　smiled　at　her；　and　they　discussed
furniture；　and　Christopher；　whose　retentive　memory　had　picked　up　a
little　of　everything；　said　there　were　wholesale　upholsterers　in　the
City　who　sold　cheaper　than　the　West…end　houses；　and　he　thought　the
best　way　was　to　measure　the　rooms　in　the　Bijou；　and　go　to　the　city
with　a　clear　idea　of　what　they　wanted；　ask　the　prices　of　various
necessary　articles；　and　then　make　a　list；　and　demand　a　discount　of
fifteen　per　cent　on　the　whole　order；　being　so　considerable；　and
paid　for　in　cash。

Rosa　acquiesced；　and　told　Christopher　he　was　the　cleverest　man　in
England。

About　nine　o'clock　Mrs。　Cole　came　in　to　condole　with　her　friend；
and　heard　the　good　news。　　When　Rosa　told　her　how　they　thought　of
furnishing；　she　said；　〃Oh　no；　you　must　not　do　that；　you　will　pay
double　for　everything。　　That　is　the　mistake　Johnnie　and　I　made；　and
after　that　a　friend　of　mine　took　me　to　the　auction…rooms；　and　I　saw
everything　soldoh；　such　bargains；　half；　and　less　than　half；　their
value。　　She　has　furnished　her　house　almost　entirely　from　sales；　and
she　has　the　loveliest　things　in　the　worldsuch　ducks　of　tables；
and　jardinieres；　and　things；　and　beautiful　rare　chinaher　house
swarms　with　itfor　an　old　song。　　A　sale　is　the　place。　　And　then　so
amusing。〃

〃Yes；　but；〃　said　Christopher；　〃I　should　not　like　my　wife　to
encounter　a　public　room。〃

〃Not　alone；　of　course；　but　with　me。　　La！　Dr。　Staines；　they　are　too
full　of　buying　and　selling　to　trouble　their　heads　about　us。〃

〃Oh；　Christopher；　do　let　me　go　with　her。　　Am　I　always　to　be　a
child？〃

Thus　appealed　to　before　a　stranger；　Staines　replied　warmly；　〃No；
dearest；　no；　you　cannot　please　me　better　than　by　beginning　life　in
earnest。　　If　you　two　ladies　together　can　face　an　auction…room；　go
by　all　means；　only　I　must　ask　you　not　to　buy　china　or　ormulu；　or
anything　that　will　break　or　spoil；　but　only　solid；　good　furniture。〃

〃Won't　you　come　with　us？〃

〃No；　or　you　might　feel　yourself　in　leading…strings。　　Remember　the
Bijou　is　a　small　house；　choose　your　furniture　to　fit　it；　and　then
we　shall　save　something　by　its　being　so　small。〃

This　was　Wednesday。　　There　was　a　weekly　sale　in　Oxford　Street　on
Fridays；　and　the　ladies　made　the　appointment　accordingly。

Next　day；　after　breakfast；　Christopher　was　silent　and　thoughtful
awhile；　and　at　last　said　to　Rosa；　〃I'll　show　you　I　don't　look　on
you　as　a　child；　I'll　consult　you　in　a　delicate　matter。〃

Rosa's　eyes　sparkled。

〃It　is　about　my　Uncle　Philip。　　He　has　been　very　cruel；　he　has
wounded　me　deeply；　he　has　wounded　me　through　my　wife。　　I　never
thought　he　would　refuse　to　come　to　our　marriage。〃

〃And　did　he？　　You　never　showed　me　his　letter。〃

〃You　were　not　my　wife　then。　　I　kept　an　affront　from　you；　but　now；
you　see；　I　keep　nothing。〃

〃Dear　Christie！〃

〃I　am　so　happy；　I　have　got　over　that　stingalmost；　and　the　memory
of　many　kind　acts　comes　back　to　me；　and　I　don't　know　what　to　do。
It　seems　ungrateful　not　to　visit　himit　seems　almost　mean　to
call。〃

〃I'll　tell　you；　take　me　to　see　him　directly。　　He　won't　hate　us
forever；　if　he　sees　us　often。　　We　may　as　well　begin　at　once。
Nobody　hates　me　long。〃

Christopher　was　proud　of　his　wife's　courage　and　wisdom。　　He　kissed
her；　begged　her　to　put　on　the　plainest　dress　she　could；　and　they
went　together　to　call　on　Uncle　Philip。

When　they　got　to　his　house　in　Gloucester　Place；　Portman　Square；
Rosa's　heart　began　to　quake；　and　she　was　right　glad　when　the
servant　said　〃Not　at　home。〃

They　left　their　cards　and　address；　and　she　persuaded　Christopher　to
take　her　to　the　sale…room　to　see　the　things。

A　lot　of　brokers　were　there；　like　vultures；　and　one　after　another
stepped　forward　and　pestered　them　to　employ　him　in　the　morning。
Dr。　Staines　declined　their　services　civilly　but　firmly；　and　he　and
Rosa　looked　over　a　quantity　of　furniture；　and　settled　what　sort　of
things　to　buy。

Another　broker　came　up；　and　whenever　the　couple　stopped　before　an
article；　proceeded　to　praise　it　as　something　most　extraordinary。
Staines　listened　in　cold；　satirical　silence；　and　told　his　wife；　in
French；　to　do　the　same。　　Notwithstanding　their　marked　disgust；　the
impudent；　intrusive　fellow　stuck　to　them；　and　forced　his　venal
criticism　on　them；　and　made　them　uncomfortable；　and　shortened　their
tour　of　observation。

〃I　think　I　shall　come　with　you　to…morrow；〃　said　Christopher；　〃or　I
shall　have　these　blackguards　pestering　you。〃

〃Oh；　Florry　will　send　them　to　the　right…about。　　She　is　as　brave　as
a　lion。〃

Next　day　Dr。　Staines　was　sent　for　into　the　City　at　twelve　to　pay
the　money　and　receive　the　lease　of　the　Bijou；　and　this　and　the
taking　possession　occupied　him　till　four　o'clock；　when　he　came　to
his　hotel。

Meantime；　his　wife　and　Mrs。　Cole　had　gone　to　the　auction…room。

It　was　a　large　room；　with　a　good　sprinkling　of　people；　but　not
crowded　except　about　the　table。　　At　the　head　of　this　tablefull
twenty　feet　longwas　the　auctioneer's　pulpit；　and　the　lots　were
brought　in　turn　to　the　other　end　of　the　table　for　sight　and　sale。

〃We　must　try　and　get　a　seat；〃　said　the　enterprising　Mrs。　Cole；　and
pushed　boldly　in；　the　timid　Rosa　followed　strictly　in　her　wake；　and
so　evaded　the　human　waves　her　leader　clove。　　They　were　importuned
at　every　step　by　brokers　thrusting　catalogues　on　them；　with　offers
of　their　services；　yet　they　soon　got　to　the　table。　　A　gentleman
resigned　one　chair；　a　broker　another；　and　they　were　seated。

Mrs。　Staines　let　down　half　her　veil；　but　Mrs。　Cole　surveyed　the
company　point…blank。

The　broker　who　had　given　up　his　seat；　and　now　stood　behind　Rosa；
offered　her　his　catalogue。　　〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　Rosa；　〃I　have
one；〃　and　she　produced　it；　and　studied　it；　yet　managed　to　look
furtively　at　the　company。

There　were　not　above　a　dozen　private　persons　visible　from　where
Rosa　sat；　perhaps　as　many　more　in　the　whole　room。　　They　were　easily
distinguishable　by　their　cleanly　appearance：　the　dealers；　male　or
female；　were　more　or　less　rusty；　greasy；　dirty；　aquiline。　　Not　even
the　amateurs　were　brightly　dressed；　that　fundamental　error　was
confined　to　Mesdames　Cole　and　Staines。　　The　experienced；　however
wealthy；　do　not　hunt　bargains　in　silk　and　satin。