a simpleton-第19章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


strikes　into　a　child　of　twelve　hung　about　her　still；　and　she　came
timidly　forward；　blushing　and　sparkling；　a　curious　contrast　in
color　and　mind　to　her　visitor；　for　Lady　Cicely　was　Languor　in
personher　hair　whitey…brown；　her　face　a　fine　oval；　but　almost
colorless；　her　eyes　a　pale　gray；　her　neck　and　hands　incomparably
white　and　beautifula　lymphatic　young　lady；　a　live　antidote　to
emotion。　　However；　Rosa's　beauty；　timidity；　and　undisguised
affectionateness　were　something　so　different　from　what　she　was　used
to　in　the　world　of　fashion；　that　she　actually　smiled；　and　held　out
both　her　hands　a　little　way。　　Rosa　seized　them；　and　pressed　them；
they　left　her；　and　remained　passive　and　limp。

〃O　Lady　Cicely；〃　said　Rosa；　〃how　kind　of　you　to　come。〃

〃How　kind　of　you　to　send　to　me；〃　was　the　polite；　but　perfectly　cool
reply。　　〃But　how　you　are　gwown；　andmay　I　say　impwoved？You　la
petite　Lusignan！　　It　is　incwedible；〃　lisped　her　ladyship；　very
calmly。

〃I　was　only　a　child；〃　said　Rosa。　　〃You　were　always　so　beautiful　and
tall；　and　kind　to　a　little　monkey　like　me。　　Oh；　pray　sit　down；　Lady
Cicely；　and　talk　of　old　times。〃

She　drew　her　gently　to　the　sofa；　and　they　sat　down　hand　in　hand；
but　Lady　Cicely's　high…bred　reserve　made　her　a　very　poor　gossip
about　anything　that　touched　herself　and　her　family；　so　Rosa；　though
no　egotist；　was　drawn　into　talking　about　herself　more　than　she
would　have　done　had　she　deliberately　planned　the　conversation。　　But
here　was　an　old　school…fellow；　and　a　singularly　polite　listener；
and　so　out　came　her　love；　her　genuine　happiness；　her　particular
griefs；　and　especially　the　crowning　grievance；　no　society；　moped　to
death；　etc。

Lady　Cicely　could　hardly　understand　the　sentiment　in　a　woman　who　so
evidently　loved　her　husband。　　〃Society！〃　said　she；　after　due
reflection；　〃why；　it　is　a　boa。〃　　（And　here　I　may　as　well　explain
that　Lady　Cicely　spoke　certain　words　falsely；　and　others
affectedly；　and　as　for　the　letter　r；　she　could　say　it　if　she　made　a
hearty　effort；　but　was　generally　too　lazy　to　throw　her　leg　over
it。）　　〃Society！　　I'm　dwenched　to　death　with　it。　　If　I　could　only
catch　fiah　like　other　women；　and　love　somebody；　I　would　much　rather
have　a　tete…a…tete　with　him　than　go　teawing　about　all　day　and　all
night；　from　one　unintwisting　cwowd　to　another。　　To　be　sure；〃　said
she；　puzzling　the　matter　out；　〃you　are　a　beauty；　and　would　be　more
looked　at。〃

〃The　idea！　andoh　no！　no！　it　is　not　that。　　But　even　in　the　country
we　had　always　some　society。〃

〃Well；　dyar；　believe　me；　with　your　appeawance；　you　can　have　as　much
society　as　you　please；　but　it　will　boa　you　to　death；　as　it　does　me；
and　then　you　will　long　to　be　left　quiet　with　a　sensible　man　who
loves　you。〃

Said　Rosa；　〃When　shall　I　have　another　tete…a…tete　with　YOU；　I
wonder？　　Oh；　it　has　been　such　a　comfort　to　me。　　Bless　you　for
coming。　　ThereI　wrote　to　Cecilia；　and　Emily；　and　Mrs。　Bosanquet
that　is　now；　and　all　my　sworn　friends；　and　to　think　of　you　being
the　one　to　comeyou　that　never　kissed　me　but　once；　and　an　earl's
daughter　into　the　bargain。〃

Ha！　ha！　ha！〃Lady　Cicely　actually　laughed　for　once　in　a　way；　and
did　not　feel　the　effort。　　〃As　for　kissing；〃　said　she；　〃if　I　fall
shawt；　fawgive　me。　　I　was　nevaa　vewy　demonstwative。〃

〃No；　and　I　have　had　a　lesson。　　That　Florence　ColeFlorence　Whiting
that　was；　you　knowwas　always　kissing　me；　and　she　has　turned　out　a
traitor。　　I'll　tell　you　all　about　her。〃　　And　she　did。

Lady　Cicely　thought　Mrs。　Staines　a　little　too　unreserved　in　her
conversation；　but　was　so　charmed　with　her　sweetness　and　freshness
that　she　kept　up　the　acquaintance；　and　called　on　her　twice　a　week
during　the　season。　　At　first　she　wondered　that　her　visits　were　not
returned；　but　Rosa　let　out　that　she　was　ashamed　to　call　on　foot　in
Grosvenor　Square。

Lady　Cicely　shrugged　her　beautiful　shoulders　a　little　at　that；　but
she　continued　to　do　the　visiting；　and　to　enjoy　the　simple；　innocent
rapture　with　which　she　was　received。

This　lady's　pronunciation　of　many　words　was　false　or　affected。　　She
said　〃good　murning〃　for　〃good　morning；〃　and　turned　other　vowels　to
diphthongs；　and　played　two　or　three　pranks　with　her　〃r's。〃　　But　we
cannot　be　all　imperfection：　with　her　pronunciation　her　folly　came
to　a　full　stop。　　I　really　believe　she　lisped　less　nonsense　and　bad
taste　in　a　year　than　some　of　us　articulate　in　a　day。　　To　be　sure；
folly　is　generally　uttered　in　a　hurry；　and　she　was　too　deplorably
lazy　to　speak　fast　on　any　occasion　whatever。

One　day　Mrs。　Staines　took　her　up…stairs；　and　showed　her　from　the
back　window　her　husband　pacing　the　yard；　waiting　for　patients。
Lady　Cicely　folded　her　arms；　and　contemplated　him　at　first　with　a
sort　of　zoological　curiosity。　　Gentleman　pacing　back　yard；　like
hyena；　she　had　never　seen　before。

At　last　she　opened　her　mouth　in　a　whisper；　〃What　is　he　doing？〃

〃Waiting　for　patients。〃

〃Oh！　　Waitingforpatients？〃

〃For　patients　that　never　come；　and　never　will　come。〃

〃Cuwious！　　How　little　I　know　of　life。〃

〃It　is　that　all　day；　dear；　or　else　writing。〃

Lady　Cicely；　with　her　eyes　fixed　on　Staines；　made　a　motion　with　her
hand　that　she　was　attending。

〃And　they　won't　publish　a　word　he　writes。〃

〃Poor　man！〃

〃Nice　for　me；　is　it　not？〃

〃I　begin　to　understand；〃　said　Lady　Cicely　quietly；　and　soon　after
retired　with　her　invariable　composure。

Meantime；　Dr。　Staines；　like　a　good　husband；　had　thrown　out
occasional　hints　to　Mrs。　Lucas　that　he　had　a　wife；　beautiful；
accomplished；　moped。　　More　than　that；　he　went　so　far　as　to　regret
to　her　that　Mrs。　Staines；　being　in　a　neighborhood　new　to　him；　saw
so　little　society；　the　more　so；　as　she　was　formed　to　shine；　and　had
not　been　used　to　seclusion。

All　these　hints　fell　dead　on　Mrs。　Lucas。　　A　handsome　and　skilful
doctor　was　welcome　to　her：　his　wifethat　was　quite　another　matter。

But　one　day　Mrs。　Lucas　saw　Lady　Cicely　Treherne's　carriage　standing
at　the　door。　　The　style　of　the　whole　turnout　impressed　her。　　She
wondered　whose　it　was。

On　another　occasion　she　saw　it　drive　up；　and　the　lady　get　out。　　She
recognized　her；　and　the　very　next　day　this　parvenue　said　adroitly；
〃Now；　Dr。　Staines；　really　you　can't　be　allowed　to　hide　your　wife　in
this　way。　　（Staines　stared。）　　Why　not　introduce　her　to　me　next
Wednesday？　　It　is　my　night。　　I　would　give　a　dinner　expressly　for
her；　but　I　don't　like　to　do　that　while　my　husband　is　in　Naples。〃

When　Staines　carried　the　invitation　to　his　wife；　she　was　delighted；
and　kissed　him　with　childish　frankness。

But　the　very　next　moment　she　became　thoughtful；　uneasy；　depressed。
〃Oh；　dear；　I've　nothing　to　wear。〃

〃Oh；　nonsense；　Rosa。　　Your　wedding　outfit。〃

〃The　idea！　I　can't　go　as　a　bride。　　It's　not　a　masquerade。〃

〃But　you　have　other　dresses。〃

〃All　gone　by；　more　or　less；　or　not　fit　for　such　parties　as　SHE
gives。　　A　hundred　carriages！〃

〃Bring　them　down；　and　let　me　see　them。〃

〃Oh　yes。〃　　And　the　lady；　who　had　nothing　to　wear；　paraded　a　very
fair　show　of　dresses。

Staines　saw　something　to　admire　in　all　of　them。　　Mrs。　Staines　found
more　to　object　to　in　each。

At　last　he　fell　upon　a　silver…gray　silk；　of　superlative　quality。

〃That！　　It　is　as　old　as　the　hills；〃　shrieked　Rosa。

〃It　looks　just　out　of　the　shop。　　Come；　tell　the　truth；　how　often
have　you　worn　it？〃

〃I　wore　it　before　I　was　married。〃

〃Ay；　but　how　often？〃

〃Twice。　　Three　times；　I　believe。〃

〃I　thought　so。　　It　is　good　as　new。〃

〃But　I　have　had　it　so　long　by　me。　　I　had　it　two　years　before　I　made
it　up。〃

〃What　does　that　matter？　　Do　you　think　the　people　can　tell　how　long
a　dress　has　been　lurking　in　your　wardrobe？　　This　is　childish；　Rosa。
There；　with　this　dress　as　good　as　new；　and　your　beauty；　you　will　be
as　much　admired；　and　perhaps　hated；　as　your　heart　can　desire。〃

〃I　am　afraid　not；〃　said　Rosa　naively。　　〃Oh；　how　I　wish　I　had　known
a　week　ago。〃

〃I　am　very　thankful　you　did　not；〃　said　Staines　dryly。

At　ten　o'clock　Mrs。　Staines　was　nearly　dressed；　at　a　quarter　past
ten　she　demanded　ten　minutes；　at　half…past　ten　she　sought　a
reprieve；　at　a　quarter　to　eleven；　being　assured　that　the　street　was
full　of　carriages；　which　had　put　down　at　Mrs。　Lucas's；　she
consented　to　emerge；　and　in　a　minute　they　were　at　the　house。

They　were　shown　first　into　a　cloak…room；　and　then　into　a　tea…room；
and　then　mounted　the　stairs。　　One　servant　took　their　names；　and
bawled　them　to　another　four　yards　off；　he　to　another　about　as　near；
and　so　on；　and　they　edged　themselves　into　the　room；　not　yet　too
crowded　to　move　in。

They　had　not　taken　many　steps；　on　the　chance　of　finding　their
hostess；　when　a　slight　buzz　arose；　and　seemed　to　follow　them。

Rosa　wondered　what　that　was；　but　only　for　a　moment；　she　observed　a
tall；　stout；　aquiline　woman　fix　an　eye　of　bitter；　diabolical；
malignant　hatred　on　her；　and　as　she　advanced；　ugly　noses　were
cocked　disdainfully；　and　scraggy　shoulders　elevated　at　the　risk　of
sending　the　bones　through　the　leather；　and　a　titter　or　two　shot
after　her。　　A　woman's　instinct　gave　her　the　key　at　once；　the　sexes
had　complimented　her　at　sight；　each　in　their　way；　the　men　with
respectful　admiration；　the　women；　with　their　inflammable　jealousy
and　ready　hatred　in　another　of　the　quality　they　value　most　in
themselves。　　But　the　country　girl　was　too　many　for　them：　she　would
neither　see　nor　bear；　but　moved　sedately　on；　and　calmly　crushed
them　with　her　Southern　beauty。　　Their　dry；　powdered　faces　could　not
live　by　the　side　of　her　glowing　skin；　with　nature's　delicate　gloss
upon　it；　and　the　rich　blood　mantling　below　it。　　The　got…up
beauties；　i。e。；　the　majority；　seemed　literally　to　fade　and　wither
as　she　passed。

Mrs。　Lucas　got　to　her；　suppressed　a　slight　maternal　pang；　having
daughters　to　marry；　and　took　her　line　in　a　moment；　here　was　a　decoy
duck。　　Mrs。　Lucas　was　all　graciousness；　made　acquaintance；　and　took
a　little　turn　with　her；　introducing　her　to　one　or　two　persons；
among　the　rest；　to　the　malignant　woman；　Mrs。　Barr。　　Mrs。　Barr；　on
this；　ceased　to　look　daggers　and　substituted　icicles；　but　on　the
hateful　beauty　moving　away；　dropped　the　icicles；　and　resumed　the
poniards。

The　rooms　filled；　the　heat　became　oppressive；　and　the　mixed　odors
of　flowers；　scents；　and　perspiring　humanity；　sickening。　　Some；
unable　to　bear　it；　trickled　out　of　the　room；　and　sat　all　down　the
stairs。

Rosa　began　to　feel　faint。　　Up　came　a　tall；　sprightly　girl；　whose
pertness　was　redeemed　by　a　certain　bonhomie；　and　said；　〃Mrs。
Staines；　I　believe？　　I　am　to　make　myself　agreeable　to　you。　　That　is
the　order　from　headquarters。〃

〃Miss　Lucas；〃　said　Staines。

She　jerked　a　little　off…hand　bow　to　him；　and　said；　〃Will　you　trust
her　to　me　for　five　minutes？〃

〃Certainly。〃　　But　he　did　not　much　like　it。

Miss　Lucas　carried　her　off；　and　told　Dr。　Staines；　over　her
shoulder；　now　he　could　flirt　to　his　heart's　content。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　he　dryly。　　〃I'll　await　your　return。〃

〃Oh；　there　are　some　much　greater　flirts　here　than　I　am；〃　said　the
ready　Miss　Lucas；　and　whispering　something　in　Mrs。　Staines's　ear；
suddenly　glided　with　her　behind　a　curtain；　pressed　a　sort　of　button
fixed　to　a　looking…glass　door。　　The　door　opened；　and　behold　they
were　in　a　delicious　place；　for　which　I　can　hardly　find　a　word；
since　it　was　a　boudoir　and　a　conser