a simpleton-第23章

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He　found　it　perfectly　pure；　and　told　her　so；　and　gazed　at　Phoebe
for　a　moment；　as　a　phenomenon。

She　smiled　again　at　that；　her　broad　country　smile。　　〃That　is　a
wonder　in　London；　I　dare　say。　　It's　my　belief　half　the　children
that　die　here　are　perished　with　watered　milk。　　Well；　sir；　we　shan't
have　that　on　our　souls；　father　and　I；　he　is　a　farmer　in　Essex。
This　comes　a　many　miles；　this　milk。〃

Staines　looked　in　her　face；　with　kindly　approval　marked　on　his　own
eloquent　features。　　She　blushed　a　little　at　so　fixed　a　regard。
Then　he　asked　her　if　she　would　supply　him　with　milk；　butter；　and
eggs。

〃Why；　if　you　mean　sell　you　them；　yes；　sir；　with　pleasure。　　But　for
sending　them　home　to　you　in　this　big　town；　as　some　do；　I　can't；　for
there's　only　brother　Dick　and　me：　it　is　an　experiment　like。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Staines：　〃I　will　send　for　them。〃

〃Thank　you　kindly；　sir。　　I　hope　you　won't　be　offended；　sir；　but　we
only　sell　for　ready　money。〃

〃All　the　better：　my　order　at　home　is；　no　bills。〃

When　he　was　gone；　Phoebe；　assuming　vast　experience；　though　this　was
only　her　third　day；　told　Dick　that　was　one　of　the　right　sort：　〃and
oh；　Dick；〃　said　she；　〃did　you　notice　his　eye？〃

〃Not　particklar；　sister。〃

〃There　now；　the　boy　is　blind。　　Why；　'twas　like　a　jewel。　　Such　an
eye　I　never　saw　in　a　man's　head；　nor　a　woman's　neither。〃

Staines　told　his　wife　about　Phoebe　and　her　brother；　and　spoke　of
her　with　a　certain　admiration　that　raised　Rosa's　curiosity；　and
even　that　sort　of　vague　jealousy　that　fires　at　bare　praise。　　〃I
should　like　to　see　this　phenomenon；〃　said　she。　　〃You　shall；〃　said
he。　　〃I　have　to　call　on　Mrs。　Manly。　　She　lives　near。　　I　will　drop
you　at　the　little　shop；　and　come　back　for　you。〃

He　did　so；　and　that　gave　Rosa　a　quarter　of　an　hour　to　make　her
purchases。　　When　he　came　back　he　found　her　conversing　with　Phoebe；
as　if　they　were　old　friends；　and　Dick　glaring　at　his　wife　with　awe
and　admiration。　　He　could　hardly　get　her　away。

She　was　far　more　extravagant　in　her　praises　than　Dr。　Staines　had
been。　　〃What　a　good　creature！〃　said　she。　　〃And　how　clever！　　To
think　of　her　setting　up　a　shop　like　that　all　by　herself；　for　her
Dick　is　only　seventeen。〃

Dr。　Staines　recommended　the　little　shop　wherever　he　went；　and　even
extended　its　operations。　　He　asked　Phoebe　to　get　her　own　wheat
ground　at　home；　and　send　the　flour　up　in　bushel　bags。　　〃These
assassins；　the　bakers；〃　said　he；　〃are　putting　copper　into　the　flour
now；　as　well　as　alum。　　Pure　flour　is　worth　a　fancy　price　to　any
family。　　With　that　we　can　make　the　bread　of　life。　　What　you　buy　in
the　shops　is　the　bread　of　death。〃

Dick　was　a　good；　sharp　boy；　devoted　to　his　sister。　　He　stuck　to　the
shop　in　London；　and　handed　the　money　to　Phoebe；　when　she　came　for
it。　　She　worked　for　it　in　Essex；　and　extended　her　country
connection　for　supply　as　the　retail　business　increased。

Staines　wrote　an　article　on　pure　food；　and　incidentally　mentioned
the　shop　as　a　place　where　flour；　milk；　and　butter　were　to　be　had
pure。　　This　article　was　published　in　the　Lancet；　and　caused　quite　a
run　upon　the　little　shop。　　By　and　by　Phoebe　enlarged　it；　for　which
there　were　great　capabilities；　and　made　herself　a　pretty　little
parlor；　and　there　she　and　Dick　sat　to　Falcon　for　their　portraits；
here；　too；　she　hung　his　rejected　landscapes。　　They　were　fair　in　her
eyes；　what　matter　whether　they　were　like　nature？　his　hand　had
painted　them。　　She　knew；　from　him；　that　everybody　else　had　rejected
them。　　With　all　the　more　pride　and　love　did　she　have　them　framed　in
gold；　and　hung　up　with　the　portraits　in　her　little　sanctum。

For　a　few　months　Phoebe　Dale　was　as　happy　as　she　deserved　to　be。
Her　lover　was　working；　and　faithful　to　herat　least　she　saw　no
reason　to　doubt　it。　　He　came　to　see　her　every　evening；　and　seemed
devoted　to　her：　would　sit　quietly　with　her；　or　walk　with　her；　or
take　her　to　a　play；　or　a　music…hallat　her　expense。

She　now　lived　in　a　quiet　elysium；　with　a　bright　and　rapturous　dream
of　the　future；　for　she　saw　she　had　hit　on　a　good　vein　of　business；
and　should　soon　be　independent；　and　able　to　indulge　herself　with　a
husband；　and　ask　no　man's　leave。

She　sent　to　Essex　for　a　dairymaid；　and　set　her　to　churn　milk　into
butter；　coram　populo；　at　a　certain　hour　every　morning。　　This　made　a
new　sensation。　　At　other　times　the　woman　was　employed　to　deliver
milk　and　cream　to　a　few　favored　customers。

Mrs。　Staines　dropped　in　now　and　then；　and　chatted　with　her。　　Her
sweet　face　and　her　naivete　won　Phoebe's　heart；　and　one　day；　as
happiness　is　apt　to　be　communicative；　she　let　out　to　her；　in　reply
to　a　feeler　or　two　as　to　whether　she　was　quite　alone；　that　she　was
engaged　to　be　married　to　a　gentleman。　　〃But　he　is　not　rich；　ma'am；〃
said　Phoebe　plaintively；　〃he　has　had　trouble：　obliged　to　work　for
his　living；　like　me；　he　painted　these　pictures；　EVERY　ONE　OF　THEM。
If　it　was　not　making　too　free；　and　you　could　spare　a　guineahe
charges　no　more　for　the　picture；　only　you　must　go　to　the　expense　of
the　frame。〃

〃Of　course　I　will；〃　said　Rosa　warmly。　〃I'll　sit　for　it　here；　any
day　you　like。〃

Now；　Rosa　said　this；　out　of　her　ever　ready　kindness；　not　to　wound
Phoebe：　but　having　made　the　promise；　she　kept　clear　of　the　place
for　some　days；　hoping　Phoebe　would　forget　all　about　it。　Meantime
she　sent　her　husband　to　buy。

In　about　a　fortnight　she　called　again；　primed　with　evasions　if　she
should　be　asked　to　sit；　but　nothing　of　the　kind　was　proposed。
Phoebe　was　dealing　when　she　went　in。　　The　customers　disposed　of；
she　said　to　Mrs。　Staines；　〃Oh；　ma'am；　I　am　glad　you　are　come。　　I
have　something　I　should　like　to　show　you。〃　　She　took　her　into　the
parlor；　and　made　her　sit　down：　then　she　opened　a　drawer；　and　took
out　a　very　small　substance　that　looked　like　a　tear　of　ground　glass；
and　put　it　on　the　table　before　her。　　〃There；　ma'am；〃　said　she；
〃that　is　all　he　has　had　for　painting　a　friend's　picture。〃

〃Oh！　what　a　shame。〃

〃His　friend　was　going　abroadto　Natal；　to　his　uncle　that　farms　out
there；　and　does　very　well；　it　is　a　first…rate　part；　if　you　take　out
a　little　stock　with　you；　and　some　money；　so　my　one　gave　him　credit；
and　when　the　letter　came　with　that　postmark；　he　counted　on　a　five…
pound　note；　but　the　letter　only　said　he　had　got　no　money　yet；　but
sent　him　something　as　a　keepsake：　and　there　was　this　little　stone。
Poor　fellow！　he　flung　it　down　in　a　passion；　he　was　so　disappointed。〃

Phoebe's　great　gray　eyes　filled；　and　Rosa　gave　a　little　coo　of
sympathy　that　was　very　womanly　and　lovable。

Phoebe　leaned　her　cheek　on　her　hand；　and　said　thoughtfully；　〃I
picked　it　up；　and　brought　it　away；　for；　after　alldon't　you　think；
ma'am；　it　is　very　strange　that　a　friend　should　send　it　all　that
way；　if　it　was　worth　nothing　at　all？〃

〃It　is　impossible。　　He　could　not　be　so　heartless。〃

〃And　do　you　know；　ma'am；　when　I　take　it　up　in　my　fingers；　it
doesn't　feel　like　a　thing　that　was　worth　nothing。〃

〃No　more　it　does：　it　makes　my　fingers　tremble。　　May　I　take　it　home；
and　show　it　my　husband？　he　is　a　great　physician　and　knows　everything。〃

〃I　am　sure　I　should　be　obliged　to　you；　ma'am。〃

Rosa　drove　home；　on　purpose　to　show　it　to　Christopher。　　She　ran
into　his　study：　〃Oh；　Christopher；　please　look　at　that。　　You　know
that　good　creature　we　have　our　flour　and　milk　and　things　of。　　She
is　engaged；　and　he　is　a　painter。　　Oh；　such　daubs！　　He　painted　a
friend；　and　the　friend　sent　that　home　all　the　way　from　Natal；　and
he　dashed　it　down；　and　SHE　picked　it　up；　and　what　is　it？　ground
glass；　or　a　pebble；　or　what？〃

〃Humph！by　its　shape；　and　the　greatbrilliancyand　refraction　of
light；　on　this　angle；　where　the　stone　has　got　polished　by　rubbing
against　other　stones；　in　the　course　of　ages；　I'm　inclined　to　think
it　isa　diamond。〃

〃A　diamond！〃　shrieked　Rosa。　　〃No　wonder　my　fingers　trembled。　　Oh；
can　it　be？　　Oh；　you　good；　cold…blooded　Christie！Poor　things！
Come　along；　Diamond！　　Oh　you　beauty！　　Oh　you　duck！〃

〃Don't　be　in　such　a　hurry。　　I　only　said　I　thought　it　was　a　diamond。
Let　me　weigh　it　against　water；　and　then　I　shall　KNOW。〃

He　took　it　to　his　little　laboratory；　and　returned　in　a　few　minutes；
and　said；　〃Yes。　　It　is　just　three　times　and　a　half　heavier　than
water。　　It　is　a　diamond。〃

〃Are　you　positive？〃

〃I'll　stake　my　existence。〃

〃What　is　it　worth？〃

〃My　dear；　I'm　not　a　jeweller：　but　it　is　very　large　and　pear…shaped；
and　I　see　no　flaw：　I　don't　think　you　could　buy　it　for　less　than
three　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Three　hundred　pounds！　　It　is　worth　three　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Or　sell　it　for　more　than　a　hundred　and　fifty　pounds。〃

〃A　hundred　and　fifty！　　It　is　worth　a　hundred　and　fifty　pounds。〃

〃Why；　my　dear；　one　would　think　you　had　invented　'the　diamond。'
Show　me　how　to　crystallize　carbon；　and　I　will　share　your
enthusiasm。〃

〃Oh；　I　leave　you　to　carbonize　crystal。　　I　prefer　to　gladden　hearts：
and　I　will　do　it　this　minute；　with　my　diamond。〃

〃Do；　dear；　and　I　will　take　that　opportunity　to　finish　my　article　on
Adulteration。〃

Rosa　drove　off　to　Phoebe　Dale。

Now　Phoebe　was　drinking　tea　with　Reginald　Falcon；　in　her　little
parlor。　　〃Who　is　that；　I　wonder？〃　said　she；　when　the　carriage　drew
up。

Reginald　drew　back　a　corner　of　the　gauze　curtain　which　had　been
drawn　across　the　little　glass　door　leading　from　the　shop。

〃It　is　a　lady；　and　a　beautifulOh！　let　me　get　out。〃　　And　he　rushed
out　at　the　door　leading　to　the　kitchen；　not　to　be　recognized。

This　set　Phoebe　all　in　a　flutter；　and　the　next　moment　Mrs。　Staines
tapped　at　the　little　door；　then　opened　it；　and　peeped。　　〃Good　news！
may　I　come　in？〃

〃Surely；〃　said　Phoebe；　still　troubled　and　confused　by　Reginald's
strange　agitation。

〃There！　　It　is　a　diamond！〃　screamed　Rosa。　　〃My　husband　knew　it
directly。　　He　knows　everything。　　If　ever　you　are　ill；　go　to　him　and
nobody　elseby　the　refraction；　and　the　angle；　and　its　being　three
times　and　a　half　as　heavy　as　water。　　It　is　worth　three　hundred
pounds　to　buy；　and　a　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　to　sell。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃So　don't　you　go　throwing　it　away；　as　he　did。　　（In　a　whisper。）　　Two
teacups？　　Was　that　him？　　I　have　driven　him　away。　　I　am　so　sorry。
I'll　go；　and　then　you　can　tell　him。　　Poor　fellow！〃

〃Oh；　ma'am；　don't　go　yet；〃　said　Phoebe；　trembling。　　〃I　haven't　half
thanked　you。〃

〃Oh；　bother　thanks。　　Kiss　me；　that　is　the　way。〃

〃May　I？〃

〃You　may；　and　must。　　Thereand　thereand　there。　　Oh　dear；　what
nice　things　good　luck　and　happiness　are；　and　how　sweet　to　bring
them　for　once。〃

Upon　this　Phoebe　and　she　had　a　nice　little　cry　together；　and　Mrs。
Staines　went　off　refreshed　thereby；　and　as　gay　as　a　lark；　pointing
slyly　at　the　door；　and　making　faces　to　Phoebe　that　she　knew　he　was
there；　and　she　only　retired；　out　of　her　admirable　discretion；　that
they　might　enjoy　the　diamond　together。

When　she　was　gone；　Reginald；　whose　eye　and　ear　had　been　at　the
keyhole；　alternately　gloating　on　the　face　and　drinking　the　accents
of　the　only　woman　he　had　ever　really　loved；　came　out；　looking　pale；
and　strangely　disturbed；　and　sat　down　at　table；　without　a　word。

Phoebe　came　back　to　him；　full　of　the　diamond。　　〃Did　you　hear　what
she　said；　my　dear？　　It　is　a　diamond；　it　is　worth　a　hundred　and
fifty　pounds　at　least。　　Why；　what　ails　you？　　Ah！　to　be　sure！　you
know　that　lady。〃

〃I　have