a simpleton-第2章

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love　you？〃

He　parted　lingeringly　from　her；　then　marched　away；　bold　with　love
and　hope；　to　demand　her　hand　in　marriage。

Rosa　leaned　back　in　her　chair；　and　quivered　a　little　with　new
emotions。　　Christopher　was　right；　she　was　not　capable　of　loving
like　him；　but　still　the　actual　contact　of　so　strong　a　passion　made
her　woman's　nature　vibrate。　　A　dewy　tear　hung　on　the　fringes　of　her
long　lashes；　and　she　leaned　back　in　her　chair　and　fluttered　awhile。

That　emotion；　almost　new　to　her；　soon　yielded；　in　her　girlish　mind；
to　a　complacent　languor；　and　that；　in　its　turn；　to　a　soft　reverie。
So　she　was　going　to　be　married！　　To　be　mistress　of　a　house；　settle
in　London　（THAT　she　had　quite　determined　long　ago）；　be　able　to　go
out　into　the　streets　all　alone；　to　shop；　or　visit；　have　a　gentleman
all　her　own；　whom　she　could　put　her　finger　on　any　moment　and　make
him　take　her　about；　even　to　the　opera　and　the　theatre；　to　give
dinner…parties　her　own　self；　and　even　a　little　ball　once　in　a　way；
to　buy　whatever　dresses　she　thought　proper；　instead　of　being
crippled　by　an　allowance；　have　the　legal　right　of　speaking　first　in
society；　even　to　gentlemen　rich　in　ideas　but　bad　starters；　instead
of　sitting　mumchance　and　mock…modest；　to　be　Mistress；　instead　of
Misscontemptible　title；　to　be　a　woman；　instead　of　a　girl；　and　all
this　rational　liberty；　domestic　power；　and　social　dignity　were　to
be　obtained　by　merely　wedding　a　dear　fellow；　who　loved　her；　and　was
so　nice；　and　the　bright　career　to　be　ushered　in　with　several
delights；　each　of　them　dear　to　a　girl's　very　soul：　presents　from
all　her　friends；　as　many　beautiful　new　dresses　as　if　she　was
changing　her　body　or　her　hemisphere；　instead　of　her　name；　eclat；
going　to　church；　which　is　a　good　English　girl's　theatre　of　display
and　temple　of　vanity；　and　there　tasting　delightful　publicity　and
whispered　admiration；　in　a　heavenly　long　veil；　which　she　could　not
wear　even　once　if　she　remained　single。

This　bright　variegated　picture　of　holy　wedlock；　and　its　essential
features；　as　revealed　to　young　ladies　by　feminine　tradition；　though
not　enumerated　in　the　Book　of　Common　Prayer　writ　by　grim　males；　so
entranced　her；　that　time　flew　by　unheeded；　and　Christopher　Staines
came　back　from　her　father。　　His　step　was　heavy；　he　looked　pale；　and
deeply　distressed；　then　stood　like　a　statue；　and　did　not　come　close
to　her；　but　cast　a　piteous　look；　and　gasped　out　one　word；　that
seemed　almost　to　choke　him；〃REFUSED！〃

Miss　Lusignan　rose　from　her　chair；　and　looked　almost　wildly　at　him
with　her　great　eyes。　　〃Refused？〃　said　she；　faintly。

〃Yes；〃　said　he；　sadly。　　〃Your　father　is　a　man　of　business；　and　he
took　a　mere　business　view　of　our　love：　he　asked　me　directly　what
provision　I　could　make　for　his　daughter　and　her　children。　　Well；　I
told　him　I　had　three　thousand　pounds　in　the　Funds；　and　a　good
profession；　and　then　I　said　I　had　youth；　health；　and　love；
boundless　love；　the　love　that　can　do；　or　suffer；　the　love　that　can
conquer　the　world。〃

〃Dear　Christopher！　　And　what　COULD　he　say　to　all　that？〃

〃He　ignored　it　entirely。　　There！　　I'll　give　you　his　very　words。　　He
said；　'In　that　case；　Dr。　Staines；　the　simple　question　is；　what　does
your　profession　bring　you　in　per　annum？'〃

〃Oh！　　There！　　I　always　hated　arithmetic；　and　now　I　abominate　it。〃

〃Then　I　was　obliged　to　confess　I　had　scarcely　received　a　hundred
pounds　in　fees　this　year；　but　I　told　him　the　reason；　this　is　such　a
small　district；　and　all　the　ground　occupied。　　London；　I　said；　was
my　sphere。〃

〃And　so　it　is；〃　said　Rosa；　eagerly；　for　this　jumped　with　her　own
little　designs。　　〃Genius　is　wasted　in　the　country。　　Besides；
whenever　anybody　worth　curing　is　ill　down　here；　they　always　send　to
London　for　a　doctor。〃

〃I　told　him　so；　dearest；〃　said　the　lover。　　〃But　he　answered　me
directly；　then　I　must　set　up　in　London；　and　as　soon　as　my　books
showed　an　income　to　keep　a　wife；　and　servants；　and　children；　and
insure　my　life　for　five　thousand　pounds〃

〃Oh；　that　is　so　like　papa。　　He　is　director　of　an　insurance　company；
so　all　the　world　must　insure　their　lives。〃

〃No；　dear；　he　was　quite　right　there：　professional　incomes　are　most
precarious。　　Death　spares　neither　young　nor　old；　neither　warm
hearts　nor　cold。　　I　should　be　no　true　physician　if　I　could　not　see
my　own　mortality。〃　　He　hung　his　head　and　pondered　a　moment；　then
went　on；　sadly；　〃It　all　comes　to　thisuntil　I　have　a　professional
income　of　eight　hundred　a　year　at　least；　he　will　not　hear　of　our
marrying；　and　the　cruel　thing　is；　he　will　not　even　consent　to　an
engagement。　　But；〃　said　the　rejected；　with　a　look　of　sad　anxiety；
〃you　will　wait　for　me　without　that；　dear　Rosa？〃

She　could　give　him　that　comfort；　and　she　gave　it　him　with　loving
earnestness。　　〃Of　course　I　will；　and　it　shall　not　be　very　long。
Whilst　you　are　making　your　fortune；　to　please　papa；　I　will　keep
fretting；　and　pouting；　and　crying；　till　he　sends　for　you。〃

〃Bless　you；　dearest！　　Stop！not　to　make　yourself　ill！　not　for　all
the　world。〃　　The　lover　and　the　physician　spoke　in　turn。

He　came；　all　gratitude；　to　her　side；　and　they　sat；　hand　in　hand；
comforting　each　other：　indeed；　parting　was　such　sweet　sorrow　that
they　sat；　handed；　and　very　close　to　one　another；　till　Mr。　Lusignan；
who　thought　five　minutes　quite　enough　for　rational　beings　to　take
leave　in；　walked　into　the　room　and　surprised　them。　　At　sight　of　his
gray　head　and　iron…gray　eyebrows；　Christopher　Staines　started　up
and　looked　confused；　he　thought　some　apology　necessary；　so　he
faltered　out；　〃Forgive　me；　sir；　it　is　a　bitter　parting　to　me；　you
may　be　sure。〃

Rosa's　bosom　heaved　at　these　simple　words。　　She　flew　to　her　father；
and　cried；　〃Oh；　papa！　papa！　you　were　never　cruel　before；〃　and　hid
her　burning　face　on　his　shoulder；　and　then　burst　out　crying；　partly
for　Christopher；　partly　because　she　was　now　ashamed　of　herself　for
having　taken　a　young　man's　part　so　openly。

Mr。　Lusignan　looked　sadly　discomposed　at　this　outburst：　she　had
taken　him　by　his　weak　point；　he　told　her　so。　　〃Now；　Rosa；〃　said　he；
rather　peevishly；　〃you　know　I　hatenoise。〃

Rosa　had　actually　forgotten　that　trait　for　a　single　moment；　but；
being　reminded　of　it；　she　reduced　her　sobs　in　the　prettiest　way；
not　to　offend　a　tender　parent　who　could　not　bear　noise。　　Under　this
homely　term；　you　must　know；　he　included　all　scenes；　disturbances；
rumpuses；　passions；　and　expected　all　men；　women；　and　things　in　Kent
Villa　to　go　smoothlyor　go　elsewhere。

〃Come；　young　people；〃　said　he；　〃don't　make　a　disturbance。　　Where's
the　grievance？　　Have　I　said　he　shall　never　marry　you？　　Have　I
forbidden　him　to　correspond？　or　even　to　call；　say　twice　a　year。
All　I　say　is；　no　marriage；　nor　contract　of　marriage；　until　there　is
an　income。〃　　Then　he　turned　to　Christopher。　　〃Now　if　you　can't　make
an　income　without　her；　how　could　you　make　one　with　her；　weighed
down　by　the　load　of　expenses　a　wife　entails？　　I　know　her　better
than　you　do；　she　is　a　good　girl；　but　rather　luxurious　and　self…
indulgent。　　She　is　not　cut　out　for　a　poor　man's　wife。　　And　pray
don't　go　and　fancy　that　nobody　loves　my　child　but　you。　　Mine　is　not
so　hot　as　yours；　of　course；　but　believe　me；　sir；　it　is　less
selfish。　　You　would　expose　her　to　poverty　and　misery；　but　I　say　no；
it　is　my　duty　to　protect　her　from　all　chance　of　them；　and；　in　doing
it；　I　am　as　much　your　friend　as　hers；　if　you　could　but　see　it。
Come；　Dr。　Staines；　be　a　man；　and　see　the　world　as　it　is。　　I　have
told　you　how　to　earn　my　daughter's　hand　and　my　esteem：　you　must
gain　both；　or　neither。〃

Dr。　Staines　was　never　quite　deaf　to　reason：　he　now　put　his　hand　to
his　brow　and　said；　with　a　sort　of　wonder　and　pitiful　dismay；　〃My
love　for　Rosa　selfish！　　Sir；　your　words　are　bitter　and　hard。〃
Then；　after　a　struggle；　and　with　rare　and　touching　candor；　〃Ay；　but
so　are　bark　and　steel；　yet　they　are　good　medicines。〃　　Then　with　a
great　glow　in　his　heart　and　tears　in　his　eyes；　〃My　darling　shall
not　be　a　poor　man's　wife；　she　who　would　adorn　a　coronet；　ay；　or　a
crown。　　Good…by；　Rosa；　for　the　present。〃　　He　darted　to　her；　and
kissed　her　hand　with　all　his　soul。　　〃Oh；　the　sacrifice　of　leaving
you；〃　he　faltered；　〃the　very　world　is　dark　to　me　without　you。　　Ah；
well；　I　must　earn　the　right　to　come　again。〃　　He　summoned　all　his
manhood；　and　marched　to　the　door。　　There　he　seemed　to　turn　calmer
all　of　a　sudden；　and　said　firmly；　yet　humbly；　〃I'll　try　and　show
you；　sir；　what　love　can　do。〃

〃And　I'll　show　you　what　love　can　suffer；〃　said　Rosa；　folding　her
beautiful　arms　superbly。

It　was　not　in　her　to　have　shot　such　a　bolt；　except　in　imitation；
yet　how　promptly　the　mimic　thunder　came；　and　how　grand　the　beauty
looked；　with　her　dark　brows；　and　flashing　eyes；　and　folded　arms！
much　grander　and　more　inspired　than　poor　Staines；　who　had　only
furnished　the　idea。

But　between　these　two　figures　swelling　with　emotion；　the
representative　of　common　sense；　Lusignan　pere；　stood　cool　and
impassive；　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　looked　on　both　lovers　as
a　couple　of　ranting　novices　he　was　saving　from　each　other　and
almshouses。

For　all　that；　when　the　lover　had　torn　himself　away；　papa's
composure　was　suddenly　disturbed　by　a　misgiving。　　He　stepped
hastily　to　the　stairhead；　and　gave　it　vent。　　〃Dr。　Staines；〃　said
he；　in　a　loud　whisper　（Staines　was　half　way　down　the　stairs：　he
stopped）。　　〃I　trust　to　you　as　a　gentleman；　not　to　mention　this；　it
will　never　transpire　here。　　Whatever　we　dono　noise！〃


CHAPTER　II。


Rosa　Lusignan　set　herself　pining　as　she　had　promised；　and　she　did
it　discreetly　for　so　young　a　person。　　She　was　never　peevish；　but
always　sad　and　listless。　　By　this　means　she　did　not　anger　her
parent；　but　only　made　him　feel　she　was　unhappy；　and　the　house　she
had　hitherto　brightened　exceeding　dismal。

By　degrees　this　noiseless　melancholy　undermined　the　old　gentleman；
and　he　well…nigh　tottered。

But　one　day；　calling　suddenly　on　a　neighbor　with　six　daughters；　he
heard　peals　of　laughter；　and　found　Rosa　taking　her　full　share　of
the　senseless　mirth。　　She　pulled　up　short　at　sight　of　him；　and
colored　high；　but　it　was　too　late；　for　he　launched　a　knowing　look
at　her　on　the　spot；　and　muttered　something　about　seven　foolish
virgins。

He　took　the　first　opportunity；　when　they　were　alone；　and　told　her
he　was　glad　to　find　she　was　only　dismal　at　home。

But　Rosa　had　prepared　for　him。　　〃One　can　be　loud　without　being　gay
at　heart；〃　said　she；　with　a　lofty；　languid　air。　　〃I　have　not
forgotten　your　last　words　to　HIM。　　We　were　to　hide　our　broken
hearts　from　the　world。　　I　try　to　obey　you；　dear　papa；　but；　if　I　had
my　way；　I　would　never　go　into　the　world　at　all。　　I　have　but　one
desire　nowto　end　my　days　in　a　convent。〃

〃Please　begin　them　first。　　A　convent！　　Why；　you'd　turn　it　out　of
window。　　You　are　no　more　fit　to　be　a　nun　thana　pauper。〃

Not　having　foreseen　this　facer；　Rosa　had　nothing　ready；　so　she
received　it　with　a　sad；　submissive；　helpless　sigh；　as　who　would
say；　〃Hit　me；　papa：　I　have　no　friend　now。〃　　So　then　he　was　sorry　he
had　been　so　clever；　and；　indeed；　there　is　one　provoking　thing　about
〃a　woman's　weakness〃it　is　invincible。

The　next　minute；　what　should　come　but　a　long　letter　from　Dr。
Staines；　detailing　his　endeavors　to　purchase　a　practice　in　London；
and　his　ill…success。　　Th