a simpleton-第21章

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remark。

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

〃It　is　my　tiresome　husband；〃　said　she。　　〃He　objects　to　powder；　and
he　has　taken　away　my　puff。〃

〃And　you　stood　that？〃

〃Obliged　to。〃

〃Why；　you　poor…spirited　little　creature；　I　should　like　to　see　a
husband　presume　to　interfere　with　me　in　those　things。　　Here；　take
mine。〃

Rosa　hesitated　a　little。　　〃WellnoI　think　not。〃

Miss　Lucas　laughed　at　her；　and　quizzed　her　so　on　her　allowing　a　man
to　interfere　in　such　sacred　things　as　dress　and　cosmetics；　that　she
came　back　irritated　with　her　husband；　and　gave　him　a　short　answer
or　two。　　Then　he　asked　what　was　the　matter。

〃You　treat　me　like　a　childtaking　away　my　very　puff。〃

〃I　treat　you　like　a　beautiful　flower；　that　no　bad　gardener　shall
wither　whilst　I　am　here。〃

〃What　nonsense！　　How　could　that　wither　me？　　It　is　only　violet
powderwhat　they　put　on　babies。〃

〃And　who　are　the　Herods　that　put　it　on　babies？〃

〃Their　own　mothers；　that　love　them　ten　times　more　than　the　fathers
do。〃

〃And　kill　a　hundred　of　them　for　one　a　man　ever　kills。　　Mothers！
the　most　wholesale　homicides　in　the　nation。　　We　will　examine　your
violet…powder：　bring　it　down　here。〃

While　she　was　gone　he　sent　for　a　breakfast…cupful　of　flour；　and
when　she　came　back　he　had　his　scales　out；　and　begged　her　to　put　a
teaspoonful　of　flour　into　one　scale　and　of　violet　powder　into
another。　　The　flour　kicked　the　beam；　as　Homer　expresses　himself。

〃Put　another　spoonful　of　flour。〃

The　one　spoonful　of　violet　powder　outweighed　the　two　of　flour。

〃Now；〃　said　Staines；　〃does　not　that　show　you　the　presence　of　a
mineral　in　your　vegetable　powder？　　I　suppose　they　tell　you　it　is
made　of　white　violets　dried；　and　triturated　in　a　diamond　mill。　　Let
us　find　out　what　metal　it　is。　　We　need　not　go　very　deep　into
chemistry　for　that。〃　　He　then　applied　a　simple　test；　and　detected
the　presence　of　lead　in　large　quantities。　　Then　he　lectured　her：
〃Invisible　perspiration　is　a　process　of　nature　necessary　to　health
and　to　life。　　The　skin　is　made　porous　for　that　purpose。　　You　can
kill　anybody　in　an　hour　or　two　by　closing　the　pores。　　A　certain
infallible　ass；　called　Pope　Leo　XII。；　killed　a　little　boy　in　two
hours；　by　gilding　him　to　adorn　the　pageant　of　his　first　procession
as　Pope。　　But　what　is　death　to　the　whole　body　must　be　injurious　to
a　part。　　What　madness；　then；　to　clog　the　pores　of　so　large　and
important　a　surface　as　the　face；　and　check　the　invisible
perspiration：　how　much　more　to　insert　lead　into　your　system　every
day　of　your　life；　a　cumulative　poison；　and　one　so　deadly　and　so
subtle；　that　the　Sheffield　file…cutters　die　in　their　prime；　from
merely　hammering　on　a　leaden　anvil。　　And　what　do　you　gain　by　this
suicidal　habit？　　No　plum　has　a　sweeter　bloom　or　more　delicious
texture　than　the　skin　of　your　young　face；　but　this　mineral　filth
hides　that　delicate　texture；　and　substitutes　a　dry；　uniform
appearance；　more　like　a　certain　kind　of　leprosy　than　health。
Nature　made　your　face　the　rival　of　peaches；　roses；　lilies；　and　you
say；　'No；　I　know　better　than　my　Creator　and　my　God；　my　face　shall
be　like　a　dusty　miller's。'　　Go　into　any　flour…mill；　and　there　you
shall　see　men　with　faces　exactly　like　your　friend　Miss　Lucas's。
But　before　a　miller　goes　to　his　sweetheart；　he　always　washes　his
face。　　You　ladies　would　never　get　a　miller　down　to　your　level　in
brains。　　It　is　a　miller's　DIRTY　face　our　mono…maniacs　of　woman
imitate；　not　the　face　a　miller　goes　a…courting　with。〃

〃La！　what　a　fuss　about　nothing！〃

〃About　nothing！　　Is　your　health　nothing？　　Is　your　beauty　nothing？
Well；　then；　it　will　cost　you　nothing　to　promise　me　never　to　put
powder　on　your　face　again。〃

〃Very　well；　I　promise。　　Now　what　will　you　do　for　me？〃

〃Work　for　youwrite　for　yousuffer　for　yoube　self…denying　for
youand　even　give　myself　the　pain　of　disappointing　you　now　and
thenlooking　forward　to　the　time　when　I　shall　be　able　to　say　'Yes'
to　everything　you　ask　me。　　Ah！　child；　you　little　know　what　it　costs
me　to　say　'No'　to　YOU。〃

Rosa　put　her　arms　round　him　and　acquiesced。　　She　was　one　of　those
who　go　with　the　last　speaker；　but；　for　that　very　reason；　the
eternal　companionship　of　so　flighty　and　flirty　a　girl　as　Miss　Lucas
was　injurious　to　her。

One　day　Lady　Cicely　Treherne　was　sitting　with　Mrs。　Staines；　smiling
languidly　at　her　talk；　and　occasionally　drawling　out　a　little　plain
good　sense；　when　in　came　Miss　Lucas；　with　her　tongue　well　hung；　as
usual；　and　dashed　into　twenty　topics　in　ten　minutes。

This　young　lady　in　her　discourse　was　like　those　little　oily　beetles
you　see　in　small　ponds；　whose　whole　life　is　spent　in　tacking
confound　them　for　it！generally　at　right　angles。　　What　they　are　in
navigation　was　Miss　Lucas　in　conversation：　tacked　so　eternally　from
topic　to　topic；　that　no　man　on　earth；　and　not　every　woman；　could
follow　her。

At　the　sight　and　sound　of　her；　Lady　Cicely　congealed　and　stiffened。
Easy　and　unpretending　with　Mrs。　Staines；　she　was　all　dignity；　and
even　majesty；　in　the　presence　of　this　chatterbox；　and　the
smoothness　with　which　the　transfiguration　was　accomplished　marked
that　accomplished　actress　the　high…bred　woman　of　the　world。

Rosa；　better　able　to　estimate　the　change　of　manner　than　Miss　Lucas
was；　who　did　not　know　how　little　this　Sawny　was　afflicted　with
misplaced　dignity；　looked　wistfully　and　distressed　at　her。　　Lady
Cicely　smiled　kindly　in　reply；　rose；　without　seeming　to　hurry；
catch　her　condescending　to　be　rude　to　Charlotte　Lucas；and　took
her　departure；　with　a　profound　and　most　gracious　courtesy　to　the
lady　who　had　driven　her　away。

Mrs。　Staines　saw　her　down…stairs；　and　said；　ruefully；　〃I　am　afraid
you　do　not　like　my　friend　Miss　Lucas。　　She　is　a　great　rattle；　but
so　good…natured　and　clever。〃

Lady　Cicely　shook　her　head。　　〃Clevaa　people　don't　talk　so　much
nonsense　before　strangaas。〃

〃Oh；　dear！〃　said　Rosa。　　〃I　was　in　hopes　you　would　like　her。〃

〃Do　YOU　like　her？〃

〃Indeed　I　do；　but　I　shall　not；　if　she　drives　an　older　friend　away。〃

〃My　dyah；　I'm　not　easily　dwiven　from　those　I　esteem。　　But　you
undastand　that　is　not　a　woman　for　me　to　mispwonownce　my　'ah's
befawNOR　FOR　YOU　TO　MAKE　A　BOSOM　FWIEND　OFWOSA　STAINES。〃

She　said　this　with　a　sudden　maternal　solemnity　and　kindness　that
contrasted　nobly　and　strangely　with　her　yea…nay　style；　and　Mrs。
Staines　remembered　the　words　years　after　they　were　spoken。

It　so　happened　that　after　this　Mrs。　Staines　received　no　more　visits
from　Lady　Cicely　for　some　time；　and　that　vexed　her。　　She　knew　her
sex　enough　to　be　aware　that　they　are　very　jealous；　and　she
permitted　herself　to　think　that　this　high…minded　Sawny　was　jealous
of　Miss　Lucas。

This　idea；　founded　on　a　general　estimate　of　her　sex；　was　dispelled
by　a　few　lines　from　Lady　Cicely；　to　say　her　family　and　herself　were
in　deep　distress；　her　brother；　Lord　Ayscough；　lay　dying　from　an
accident。

Then　Rosa　was　all　remorse；　and　ran　down　to　Staines　to　tell　him。
She　found　him　with　an　open　letter　in　his　hand。　　It　was　from　Dr。
Barr；　and　on　the　same　subject。　　The　doctor；　who　had　always　been
friendly　to　him；　invited　him　to　come　down　at　once　to　Hallowtree
Hall；　in　Huntingdonshire；　to　a　consultation。　　There　was　a　friendly
intimation　to　start　at　once；　as　the　patient　might　die　any　moment。

Husband　and　wife　embraced　each　other　in　a　tumult　of　surprised
thankfulness。　　A　few　necessaries　were　thrown　into　a　carpet…bag；　and
Dr。　Staines　was　soon　whirled　into　Huntingdonshire。　　Having
telegraphed　beforehand；　he　was　met　at　the　station　by　the　earl's
carriage　and　people；　and　driven　to　the　Hall。　　He　was　received　by　an
old；　silver…haired　butler；　looking　very　sad；　who　conducted　him　to　a
boudoir；　and　then　went　and　tapped　gently　at　the　door　of　the
patient's　room。　　It　was　opened　and　shut　very　softly；　and　Lady
Cicely；　dressed　in　black；　and　looking　paler　than　ever；　came　into
the　room。

〃Dr。　Staines；　I　think？〃

He　bowed。

〃Thank　you　for　coming　so　promptly。　　Dr。　Barr　is　gone。　　I　fear　he
thinkshe　thinksO　Dr。　Stainesno　sign　of　life　but　in　his　poor
hands；　that　keep　moving　night　and　day。〃

Staines　looked　very　grave　at　that。　　Lady　Cicely　observed　it；　and；
faint　at　heart；　could　say　no　more；　but　led　the　way　to　the　sick…
room。

There　in　a　spacious　chamber；　lighted　by　a　grand　oriel　window　and
two　side　windows；　lay　rank；　title；　wealth；　and　youth；　stricken　down
in　a　moment　by　a　common　accident。　　The　sufferer's　face　was
bloodless；　his　eyes　fixed；　and　no　signs　of　life　but　in　his　thumbs；
and　they　kept　working　with　strange　regularity。

In　the　room　were　a　nurse　and　the　surgeon；　the　neighboring
physician；　who　had　called　in　Dr。　Barr；　had　just　paid　his　visit　and
gone　away。

Lady　Cicely　introduced　Dr。　Staines　and　Mr。　White；　and　then　Dr。
Staines　stood　and　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　patient　in　profound
silence。　　Lady　Cicely　scanned　his　countenance　searchingly；　and　was
struck　with　the　extraordinary　power　and　intensity　it　assumed　in
examining　the　patient；　but　the　result　was　not　encouraging。　　Dr。
Staines　looked　grave　and　gloomy。

At　last；　without　removing　his　eye　from　the　recumbent　figure；　he
said　quietly　to　Mr。　White；　〃Thrown　from　his　horse；　sir。〃

〃Horse　fell　on　him；　Dr。　Staines。〃

〃Any　visible　injuries？〃

〃Yes。　　Severe　contusions；　and　a　rib　broken　and　pressed　upon　the
lungs。　　I　replaced　and　set　it。　　Will　you　see？〃

〃If　you　please。〃

He　examined　and　felt　the　patient；　and　said　it　had　been　ably　done。

Then　he　was　silent　and　searching。

At　last　he　spoke　again。　　〃The　motion　of　the　thumbs　corresponds
exactly　with　his　pulse。〃

〃Is　that　so；　sir？〃

〃It　is。　　The　case　is　without　a　parallel。　　How　long　has　he　been　so？〃

〃Nearly　a　week。〃

〃Impossible！〃

〃It　is　so；　sir。〃

Lady　Cicely　confirmed　this。

〃All　the　better；〃　said　Dr。　Staines　upon　reflection。　　〃Well；　sir；〃
said　he；　〃the　visible　injuries　having　been　ably　relieved；　I　shall
look　another　way　for　the　cause。〃　　Then；　after　another　pause；　〃I
must　have　his　head　shaved。〃

Lady　Cicely　demurred　a　little　to　this；　but　Dr。　Staines　stood　firm；
and　his　lordship's　valet　undertook　the　job。

Staines　directed　him　where　to　begin；　and　when　he　had　made　a
circular　tonsure　on　the　top　of　the　head；　had　it　sponged　with　tepid
water。

〃I　thought　so；〃　said　he。　　〃Here　is　the　mischief；〃　and　he　pointed　to
a　very　slight　indentation　on　the　left　side　of　the　pia　mater。
〃Observe；〃　said　he；　〃there　is　no　corresponding　indentation　on　the
other　side。　　Underneath　this　trifling　depression　a　minute　piece　of
bone　is　doubtless　pressing　on　the　most　sensitive　part　of　the　brain。
He　must　be　trephined。〃

Mr。　White's　eyes　sparkled。

〃You　are　an　hospital　surgeon；　sir？〃

〃Yes；　Dr。　Staines。　　I　have　no　fear　of　the　operation。〃

〃Then　I　hand　the　patient　over　to　you。　　The　case　at　present　is
entirely　surgical。〃

White　was　driven　home；　and　soon　returned　with　the　requisite
instruments。　　The　operation　was　neatly　performed；　and　then　Lady
Cicely　was　called　in。　　She　came　trembling；　her　brother's　fingers
were　still　working；　but　not　so　regularly。

〃That　is　only　HABIT；〃　said　Staines；　〃it　will　soon　leave　off；　now
the　cause　is　gone。〃

And；　truly　enough；　in　about　five　minutes　the　fingers　became　quiet。
The　eyes　became　human　next；　and　within　half　an　hour　after　the
operation　the