a simpleton-第20章

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were　in　a　delicious　place；　for　which　I　can　hardly　find　a　word；
since　it　was　a　boudoir　and　a　conservatory　in　one：　a　large　octagon；
the　walls　lined　from　floor　to　ceiling　with　looking…glasses　of
moderate　width；　at　intervals；　and　with　creepers　that　covered　the
intervening　spaces　of　the　wall；　and　were　trained　so　as　to　break　the
outline　of　the　glasses　without　greatly　clouding　the　reflection。
Ferns；　in　great　variety；　were　grouped　in　a　deep　crescent；　and　in
the　bight　of　this　green　bay　were　a　small　table　and　chairs。　　As
there　were　no　hot…house　plants；　the　temperature　was　very　cool；
compared　with　the　reeking　oven　they　had　escaped；　and　a　little
fountain　bubbled；　and　fed　a　little　meandering　gutter　that　trickled
away　among　the　ferns；　it　ran　crystal　clear　over　little　bright
pebbles　and　shells。　　It　did　not　always　run；　you　understand；　but
Miss　Lucas　turned　a　secret　tap；　and　started　it。

〃Oh；　how　heavenly！〃　said　Rosa；　with　a　sigh　of　relief；　〃and　how　good
of　you　to　bring　me　here！〃

〃Yes；　by　rights　I　ought　to　have　waited　till　you　fainted。　　But　there
is　no　making　acquaintance　among　all　those　people。　　Mamma　will　ask
such　crowds；　one　is　like　a　fly　in　a　glue…pot。〃

Miss　Lucas　had　good　nature；　smartness；　and　animal　spirits；　hence
arose　a　vivacity　and　fluency　that　were　often　amusing；　and　passed
for　very　clever。　　Reserve　she　had　none；　would　talk　about　strangers；
or　friends；　herself；　her　mother；　her　God；　and　the　last　buffoon…
singer；　in　a　breath。　　At　a　hint　from　Rosa；　she　told　her　who　the
lady　in　the　pink　dress　was；　and　the　lady　in　the　violet　velvet；　and
so　on；　for　each　lady　was　defined　by　her　dress；　and；　more　or　less；
quizzed　by　this　show…woman；　not　exactly　out　of　malice；　but　because
it　is　smarter　and　more　natural　to　decry　than　to　praise；　and　a
little　medisance　is　the　spice　to　gossip；　belongs　to　it；　as　mint
sauce　to　lamb。　　So　they　chatted　away；　and　were　pleased　with　each
other；　and　made　friends；　and　there；　in　cool　grot；　quite　forgot　the
sufferings　of　their　fellow…creatures　in　the　adjacent　Turkish　bath；
yclept　society。　　It　was　Rosa　who　first　recollected　herself。　　〃Will
not　Mrs。　Lucas　be　angry　with　me；　if　I　keep　you　all　to　myself？〃

〃Oh　no；　but　I'm　afraid　we　must　go　into　the　hot…house　again。　　I　like
the　greenhouse　best；　with　such　a　nice　companion。〃

They　slipped　noiselessly　into　the　throng　again；　and　wriggled　about；
Miss　Lucas　presenting　her　new　friend　to　several　ladies　and
gentlemen。

Presently　Staines　found　them；　and　then　Miss　Lucas　wriggled　away；
and　in　due　course　the　room　was　thinned　by　many　guests　driving　off
home；　or　to　balls；　and　other　receptions；　and　Dr。　Staines　and　Mrs。
Staines　went　home　to　the　Bijou。　　Here　the　physician　prescribed　bed；
but　the　lady　would　not　hear　of　such　a　thing　until　she　had　talked　it
all　over。　　So　they　compared　notes；　and　Rosa　told　him　how　well　she
had　got　on　with　Miss　Lucas；　and　made　a　friendship。　　〃But　for　that；〃
said　she；　〃I　should　be　sorry　I　went　among　those　people；　such　a
dowdy。〃

〃Dowdy！〃　said　Staines。　　〃Why；　you　stormed　the　town；　you　were　the
great　success　of　the　night；　and；　for　all　I　know；　of　the　season。〃
The　wretch　delivered　this　with　unbecoming　indifference。

〃It　is　too　bad　to　mock　me；　Christie。　　Where　were　your　eyes？〃

〃To　the　best　of　my　recollection；　they　were　one　on　each　side　of　my
nose。〃

〃Yes；　but　some　people　are　eyes　and　no　eyes。〃

〃I　scorn　the　imputation；　try　me。〃

〃Very　well。　　Then　did　you　see　that　lady　in　sky…blue　silk；
embroidered　with　flowers；　and　flounced　with　white　velvet；　and　the
corsage　point　lace；　and　oh；　such　emeralds？〃

〃I　did；　a　tall；　skinny　woman；　with　eyes　resembling　her　jewels　in
color；　though　not　in　brightness。〃

〃Never　mind　her　eyes；　it　is　her　dress　I　am　speaking　of。　　Exquisite；
and　what　a　coiffure！　　Well；　did　you　see　HER　in　the　black　velvet；
trimmed　so　deep　with　Chantilly　lace；　wave　on　wave；　and　her　head…
dress　of　crimson　flowers；　and　such　a　riviere　of　diamonds；　oh；　dear！
oh；　dear！〃

〃I　did；　love。　　The　room　was　an　oven；　but　her　rubicund　face　and
suffocating　costume　made　it　seem　a　furnace。〃

〃Stuff！　　Well；　did　you　see　the　lady　in　the　corn…colored　silk；　and
poppies　in　her　hair？〃

〃Of　course　I　did。　　Ceres　in　person。　　She　made　me　feel　hot；　too；　but
I　cooled　myself　a　bit　at　her　pale；　sickly　face。〃

〃Never　mind　their　faces；　that　is　not　the　point。〃

〃Oh；　excuse　me；　it　is　always　a　point　with　us　benighted　males；　all
eyes　and　no　eyes。〃

〃Well；　then；　the　lady　in　white；　with　cherry…velvet　bands；　and　a
white　tunic　looped　with　crimson；　and　headdress　of　white　illusion；　a
la　vierge；　I　think　they　call　it。〃

〃It　was　very　refreshing；　and　adapted　to　that　awful　atmosphere。　　It
was　the　nearest　approach　to　nudity　I　ever　saw；　even　amongst
fashionable　people。〃

〃It　was　lovely；　and　then　that　superb　figure　in　white　illusion　and
gold；　with　all　those　narrow　flounces　over　her　slip　of　white　silk
glacee；　and　a　wreath　of　white　flowers；　with　gold　wheat　ears　amongst
them；　in　her　hair；　and　oh！　oh！　oh！　her　pearls；　oriental；　and　as　big
as　almonds！〃

〃And　oh！　oh！　oh！　her　nose！　reddish；　and　as　long　as　a　woodcock's。〃

〃Noses！　noses！　stupid！　　That　is　not　what　strikes　you　first　in　a
woman　dressed　like　an　angel。〃

〃Well；　if　you　were　to　run　up　against　that　one；　as　I　nearly　did；　her
nose　WOULD　be　the　thing　that　would　strike　you　first。　　Nose！　it　was
a　rostrum！　the　spear…head　of　Goliah。〃

〃Now；　don't；　Christopher。　　This　is　no　laughing　matter。　　Do　you　mean
you　were　not　ashamed　of　your　wife？　　I　was。〃

〃No；　I　was　not；　you　had　but　one　rival；　a　very　young　lady；　wise
before　her　age；　a　blonde；　with　violet　eyes。　　She　was　dressed　in
light　mauve…colored　silk；　without　a　single　flounce；　or　any　other
tomfoolery　to　fritter　away　the　sheen　and　color　of　an　exquisite
material；　her　sunny　hair　was　another　wave　of　color；　wreathed　with　a
thin　line　of　white　jessamine　flowers　closely　woven；　that　scented
the　air。　　This　girl　was　the　moon　of　that　assembly；　and　you　were　the
sun。〃

〃I　never　even　saw　her。〃

〃Eyes　and　no　eyes。　　She　saw　you；　and　said；　'Oh；　what　a　beautiful
creature！'　for　I　heard　her。　　As　for　the　old　stagers；　whom　you
admire　so；　their　faces　were　all　clogged　with　powder；　the　pores
stopped　up；　the　true　texture　of　the　skin　abolished。　　They　looked
downright　nasty；　whenever　you　or　that　young　girl　passed　by　them。
Then　it　was　you　saw　to　what　a　frightful　extent　women　are　got　up　in
our　day；　even　young　women；　and　respectable　women。　　No；　Rosa；　dress
can　do　little　for　you；　you　have　beautyreal　beauty。〃

〃Beauty！　　That　passes　unnoticed；　unless　one　is　well　dressed。〃

〃Then　what　an　obscure　pair　the　Apollo　Belvidere　and　the　Venus　de
Medicis　must　be。〃

〃Oh！　they　are　dressedin　marble。〃

Christopher　Staines　stared　first；　then　smiled。

〃Well　done；〃　said　he；　admiringly。　　〃That　IS　a　knockdown　blow。　　So
now　you　have　silenced　your　husband；　go　you　to　bed　directly。　　I
can't　afford　you　diamonds；　so　I　will　take　care　of　that　little
insignificant　trifle；　your　beauty。〃

Mrs。　Staines　and　Mrs。　Lucas　exchanged　calls；　and　soon　Mrs。　Staines
could　no　longer　complain　she　was　out　of　the　world。　　Mrs。　Lucas
invited　her　to　every　party；　because　her　beauty　was　an　instrument　of
attraction　she　knew　how　to　use；　and　Miss　Lucas　took　a　downright
fancy　to　her；　drove　her　in　the　park；　and　on　Sundays　to　the
Zoological　Gardens；　just　beginning　to　be　fashionable。

The　Lucases　rented　a　box　at　the　opera；　and　if　it　was　not　let　at　the
library　by　six　o'clock；　and　if　other　engagements　permitted；　word
was　sent　round　to　Mrs。　Staines；　as　a　matter　of　course；　and　she　was
taken　to　the　opera。　　She　began　almost　to　live　at　the　Lucases；　and
to　be　oftener　fatigued　than　moped。

The　usual　order　of　things　was　inverted；　the　maiden　lady　educated
the　matron；　for　Miss　Lucas　knew　all　about　everybody　in　the　Park；
honorable　or　dishonorable；　all　the　scandals；　and　all　the
flirtations；　and　whatever　she　knew；　she　related　point…blank。　　Being
as　inquisitive　as　voluble；　she　soon　learned　how　Mrs。　Staines　and
her　husband　were　situated。　　She　took　upon　her　to　advise　her　in　many
things；　and　especially　impressed　upon　her　that　Dr。　Staines　must
keep　a　carriage；　if　he　wanted　to　get　on　in　medicine。　　The　piece　of
advice　accorded　so　well　with　Rosa's　wishes；　that　she　urged　it　on
her　husband　again　and　again。

He　objected　that　no　money　was　coming　in；　and　therefore　it　would　be
insane　to　add　to　their　expenses。　　Rosa　persisted；　and　at　last
worried　Staines　with　her　importunity。　　He　began　to　give　rather
short　answers。　　Then　she　quoted　Miss　Lucas　against　him。　　He　treated
the　authority　with　marked　contempt；　and　then　Rosa　fired　up　a
little。　　Then　Staines　held　his　peace；　but　did　not　buy　a　carriage　to
visit　his　no　patients。

So　at　last　Rosa　complained　to　Lady　Cicely　Treherne；　and　made　her
the　judge　between　her　husband　and　herself。　　Lady　Cicely　drawled　out
a　prompt　but　polite　refusal　to　play　that　part。　　All　that　could　be
elicited　from　her；　and　that　with　difficulty；　was；　〃Why　quall　with
your　husband　about　a　cawwige；　he　is　your　best　fwiend。〃

〃Ah；　that　he　is；〃　said　Rosa；　〃but　Miss　Lucas　is　a　good　friend；　and
she　knows　the　world。　　We　don't；　neither　Christopher　nor　I。〃

So　she　continued　to　nag　at　her　husband　about　it；　and　to　say　that　he
was　throwing　his　only　chance　away。

Galled　as　he　was　by　neglect；　this　was　irritating；　and　at　last　he
could　not　help　telling　her　she　was　unreasonable。　　〃You　live　a　gay
life；　and　I　a　sad　one。　　I　consent　to　this；　and　let　you　go　about
with　these　Lucases；　because　you　were　so　dull；　but　you　should　not
consult　them　in　our　private　affairs。　　Their　interference　is
indelicate　and　improper。　　I　will　not　set　up　a　carriage　till　I　have
patients　to　visit。　　I　am　sick　of　seeing　our　capital　dwindle；　and　no
income　created。　　I　will　never　set　up　a　carriage　till　I　have　taken　a
hundred…guinea　fee。〃

〃Oh！　　Then　we　shall　go　splashing　through　the　mud　all　our　days。〃

〃Or　ride　in　a　cab；〃　said　Christopher；　with　a　quiet　doggedness　that
left　no　hope　of　his　yielding。

One　afternoon　Miss　Lucas　called　for　Mrs。　Staines　to　drive　in　the
Park；　but　did　not　come　up…stairs；　it　was　an　engagement；　and　she
knew　Mrs。　Staines　would　be　ready；　or　nearly。　　Mrs。　Staines；　not　to
keep　her　waiting；　came　down　rather　hastily；　and　in　the　very　passage
whipped　out　of　her　pocket　a　little　glass；　and　a　little　powder　puff；
and　puffed　her　face　all　over　in　a　trice。　　She　was　then　going　out；
but　her　husband　called　her　into　the　study。　　〃Rosa；　my　dear；〃　said
he；　〃you　were　going　out　with　a　dirty　face。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　she；　〃give　me　a　glass。〃

〃There　is　no　need　of　that。　　All　you　want　is　a　basin　and　some　nice
rain…water。　　I　keep　a　little　reservoir　of　it。〃

He　then　handed　her　the　same　with　great　politeness。　　She　looked　in
his　eye；　and　saw　he　was　not　to　be　trifled　with。　　She　complied　like
a　lamb；　and　the　heavenly　color　and　velvet　gloss　that　resulted　were
admirable。

He　kissed　her　and　said；　〃Ah！　now　you　are　my　Rosa　again。　　Oblige　me
by　handing　over　that　powder…puff　to　me。〃　　She　looked　vexed；　but
complied。　　〃When　you　come　back　I　will　tell　you　why。〃

〃You　are　a　pest；〃　said　Mrs。　Staines；　and　so　joined　her　friend；　rosy
with　rain…water　and　a　rub。

〃Dear　me；　how　handsome　you　look　to…day！〃　was　Miss　Lucas's　first
remark。

Rosa　never　dreamed　that　rain…water　and　rub　could　be　the　cause　of
her　looking　so　well。