a simpleton-第24章

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fifty　pounds　at　least。　　Why；　what　ails　you？　　Ah！　to　be　sure！　you
know　that　lady。〃

〃I　have　cause　to　know　her。　　Cursed　jilt！〃

〃You　seem　a　good　deal　put　out　at　the　sight　of　her。〃

〃It　took　me　by　surprise；　that　is　all。〃

〃It　takes　me　by　surprise　too。　　I　thought　you　were　cured。　　I　thought
MY　turn　had　come　at　last。〃

Reginald　met　this　in　sullen　silence。　　Then　Phoebe　was　sorry　she　had
said　it；　for；　after　all；　it　wasn't　the　man's　fault　if　an　old
sweetheart　had　run　into　the　room；　and　given　him　a　start。　　So　she
made　him　some　fresh　tea；　and　pressed　him　kindly　to　try　her　home…
made　bread　and　butter。

My　lord　relaxed　his　frown　and　consented；　and　of　course　they　talked
diamond。

He　told　her；　loftily；　he　must　take　a　studio；　and　his　sitters　must
come　to　him；　and　must　no　longer　expect　to　be　immortalized　for　one
pound。　　It　must　be　two　pounds　for　a　bust；　and　three　pounds　for　a
kitcat。

〃Nay；　but；　my　dear；〃　said　Phoebe；　〃they　will　pay　no　more　because
you　have　a　diamond。〃

〃Then　they　will　have　to　go　unpainted；〃　said　Mr。　Falcon。

This　was　intended　for　a　threat。　　Phoebe　instinctively　felt　that　it
might　not　be　so　received；　she　counselled　moderation。　　〃It　is　a
great　thing　to　have　earned　a　diamond；〃　said　she：　〃but　'tis　only
once　in　a　life。　　Now；　be　ruled　by　me：　go　on　just　as　you　are。　　Sell
the　diamond；　and　give　me　the　money　to　keep　for　you。　　Why；　you　might
add　a　little　to　it；　and　so　would　I；　till　we　made　it　up　two　hundred
pounds。　　And　if　you　could　only　show　two　hundred　pounds　you　had　made
and　laid　by；　father　would　let　us　marry；　and　I　might　keep　this　shop
it　pays　well；　I　can　tell　youand　keep　my　gentleman　in　a　sly
corner；　you　need　never　be　seen　in　it。〃

〃Ay；　ay；〃　said　he；　〃that　is　the　small　game。　　But　I　am　a　man　that
have　always　preferred　the　big　game。　　I　shall　set　up　my　studio；　and
make　enough　to　keep　us　both。　　So　give　me　the　stone；　if　you　please。
I　shall　take　it　round　to　them　all；　and　the　rogues　won't　get　it　out
of　ME　for　a　hundred　and　fifty；　why；　it　is　as　big　as　a　nut。〃

〃No；　no；　Reginald。　　Money　has　always　made　mischief　between　you　and
me。　　You　never　had　fifty　pounds　yet；　you　didn't　fall　into
temptation。　　Do　pray　let　me　keep　it　for　you；　or　else　sell　itI
know　how　to　sell；　nobody　betterand　keep　the　money　for　a　good
occasion。〃

〃Is　it　yours；　or　mine？〃　said　he；　sulkily。

〃Why　yours；　dear；　you　earned　it。〃

〃Then　give　it　me；　please。〃　　And　he　almost　forced　it　out　of　her
hand。

So　now　she　sat　down　and　cried　over　this　piece　of　good　luck；　for　her
heart　filled　with　forebodings。

He　laughed　at　her；　but　at　last　had　the　grace　to　console　her；　and
assure　her　she　was　tormenting　herself　for　nothing。

〃Time　will　show；〃　said　she；　sadly。

Time　did　show。

Three　or　four　days　he　came；　as　usual；　to　laugh　her　out　of　her
forebodings。　　But　presently　his　visits　ceased。　　She　knew　what　that
meant：　he　was　living　like　a　gentleman；　melting　his　diamond；　and
playing　her　false　with　the　first　pretty　face　he　met。

This　blow；　coming　after　she　had　been　so　happy；　struck　Phoebe　Dale
stupid　with　grief。　　The　line　on　her　high　forehead　deepened；　and　at
night　she　sat　with　her　hands　before　her；　sighing；　and　sighing；　and
listening　for　the　footsteps　that　never　came。

〃Oh；　Dick！〃　she　said；　〃never　you　love　any　one。　　I　am　aweary　of　my
life。　　And　to　think　that；　but　for　that　diamondoh；　dear！　oh；　dear！
oh；　dear！〃

Then　Dick　used　to　try　and　comfort　her　in　his　way；　and　often　put　his
arm　round　her　neck；　and　gave　her　his　rough　but　honest　sympathy。
Dick's　rare　affection　was　her　one　drop　of　comfort；　it　was　something
to　relieve　her　swelling　heart。

〃Oh；　Dick！〃　she　said　to　him　one　night；　〃I　wish　I　had　married　him。〃

〃What；　to　be　ill…used？〃

〃He　couldn't　use　me　worse。　　I　have　been　wife；　and　mother；　and
sweetheart；　and　all；　to　him；　and　to　be　left　like　this。　　He　treats
me　like　the　dirt　beneath　his　feet。〃

〃'Tis　your　own　fault；　Phoebe；　partly。　　You　say　the　word；　and　I'll
break　every　bone　in　his　carcass。〃

〃What；　do　him　a　mischief！　　Why；　I'd　rather　die　than　harm　a　hair　of
his　head。　　You　must　never　lift　a　hand　to　him；　or　I　shall　hate　you。〃

〃Hate　ME；　Phoebe？〃

〃Ay；　boy：　I　should。　　God　forgive　me：　'tis　no　use　deceiving
ourselves；　when　a　woman　loves　a　man　she　despises；　never　you　come
between　them；　there's　no　reason　in　her　love；　so　it　is　incurable。
One　comfort；　it　can't　go　on　forever；　it　must　kill　me；　before　my
time　and　so　best。　　If　I　was　only　a　mother；　and　had　a　little
Reginald　to　dandle　on　my　knee　and　gloat　upon；　till　he　spent　his
money；　and　came　back　to　me。　　That's　why　I　said　I　wished　I　was　his
wife。　　Oh！　why　does　God　fill　a　poor　woman's　bosom　with　love；　and
nothing　to　spend　it　on　but　a　stone；　for　sure　his　heart　must　be　one。
If　I　had　only　something　that　would　let　me　always　love　it；　a　little
toddling　thing　at　my　knee；　that　would　always　let　me　look　at　it；　and
love　it；　something　too　young　to　be　false　to　me；　too　weak　to　run
away　from　my　longingarmsandyearning　heart！〃　　Then　came　a
burst　of　agony；　and　moans　of　desolation；　till　poor　puzzled　Dick
blubbered　loudly　at　her　grief；　and　then　her　tears　flowed　in
streams。

Trouble　on　trouble。　　Dick　himself　got　strangely　out　of　sorts；　and
complained　of　shivers。　　Phoebe　sent　him　to　bed　early；　and　made　him
some　white　wine　whey　very　hot。　　In　the　morning　he　got　up；　and　said
he　was　better；　but　after　breakfast　he　was　violently　sick；　and
suffered　several　returns　of　nausea　before　noon。　　〃One　would　think　I
was　poisoned；〃　said　he。

At　one　o'clock　he　was　seized　with　a　kind　of　spasm　in　the　throat
that　lasted　so　long　it　nearly　choked　him。

Then　Phoebe　got　frightened；　and　sent　to　the　nearest　surgeon。　　He
did　not　hurry；　and　poor　Dick　had　another　frightful　spasm　just　as　he
came　in。

〃It　is　hysterical；〃　said　the　surgeon。　　〃No　disease　of　the　heart；　is
there？　　Give　him　a　little　sal…volatile　every　half　hour。〃

In　spite　of　the　sal…volatile　these　terrible　spasms　seized　him　every
half　hour；　and　now　he　used　to　spring　off　the　bed　with　a　cry　of
terror　when　they　came；　and　each　one　left　him　weaker　and　weaker；　he
had　to　be　carried　back　by　the　women。

A　sad；　sickening　fear　seized　on　Phoebe。　　She　left　Dick　with　the
maid；　and　tying　on　her　bonnet　in　a　moment；　rushed　wildly　down　the
street；　asking　the　neighbors　for　a　great　doctor；　the　best　that
could　be　had　for　money。　　One　sent　her　east　a　mile；　another　west；
and　she　was　almost　distracted；　when　who　should　drive　up　but　Dr。　and
Mrs。　Staines；　to　make　purchases。　　She　did　not　know　his　name；　but
she　knew　he　was　a　doctor。　　She　ran　to　the　window；　and　cried；　〃Oh；
doctor；　my　brother！　　Oh；　pray　come　to　him。　　Oh！　oh！〃

Dr。　Staines　got　quickly；　but　calmly；　out；　told　his　wife　to　wait；
and　followed　Phoebe　up…stairs。　　She　told　him　in　a　few　agitated
words　how　Dick　had　been　taken；　and　all　the　symptoms；　especially
what　had　alarmed　her　so；　his　springing　off　the　bed　when　the　spasm
came。

Dr。　Staines　told　her　to　hold　the　patient　up。　　He　lost　not　a　moment；
but　opened　his　mouth　resolutely；　and　looked　down。

〃The　glottis　is　swollen；〃　said　he：　then　he　felt　his　hands；　and
said；　with　the　grave；　terrible　calm　of　experience；　〃He　is　dying。〃

〃Oh；　no！　no！　　Oh；　doctor；　save　him！　save　him！〃

〃Nothing　can　save　him；　unless　we　had　a　surgeon　on　the　spot。　　Yes；　I
might　save　him；　if　you　have　the　courage：　opening　his　windpipe
before　the　next　spasm　is　his　one　chance。〃

〃Open　his　windpipe！　　Oh；　doctor！　　It　will　kill　him。　　Let　me　look　at
you。〃

She　looked　hard　in　his　face。　　It　gave　her　confidence。

〃Is　it　the　only　chance？〃

〃The　only　one：　and　it　is　flying　while　we　chatter。〃

〃DO　IT。〃

He　whipped　out　his　lancet。

〃But　I　can't　look　on　it。　　I　trust　to　you　and　my　Saviour's　mercy。〃

She　fell　on　her　knees；　and　bowed　her　head　in　prayer。

Staines　seized　a　basin；　put　it　by　the　bedside；　made　an　incision　in
the　windpipe；　and　got　Dick　down　on　his　stomach；　with　his　face　over
the　bedside。　　Some　blood　ran；　but　not　much。　　〃Now！〃　he　cried；
cheerfully；　〃a　small　bellows！　　There's　one　in　your　parlor。　　Run。〃

Phoebe　ran　for　it；　and　at　Dr。　Staines'　direction　lifted　Dick　a
little；　while　the　bellows；　duly　cleansed；　were　gently　applied　to
the　aperture　in　the　windpipe；　and　the　action　of　the　lungs
delicately　aided　by　this　primitive　but　effectual　means。

He　showed　Phoebe　how　to　do　it；　tore　a　leaf　out　of　his　pocket…book；
wrote　a　hasty　direction　to　an　able　surgeon　near；　and　sent　his　wife
off　with　it　in　the　carriage。

Phoebe　and　he　never　left　the　patient　till　the　surgeon　came　with　all
the　instruments　required；　amongst　the　rest；　with　a　big；　tortuous
pair　of　nippers；　with　which　he　could　reach　the　glottis；　and　snip
it。　　But　they　consulted；　and　thought　it　wiser　to　continue　the　surer
method；　and　so　a　little　tube　was　neatly　inserted　into　Dick's
windpipe；　and　his　throat　bandaged；　and　by　this　aperture　he　did　his
breathing　for　some　little　time。

Phoebe　nursed　him　like　a　mother；　and　the　terror　and　the　joy　did　her
good；　and　made　her　less　desolate。

Dick　was　only　just　well　when　both　of　them　were　summoned　to　the
farm；　and　arrived　only　just　in　time　to　receive　their　father's
blessing　and　his　last　sigh。

Their　elder　brother；　a　married　man；　inherited　the　farm；　and　was
executor。　　Phoebe　and　Dick　were　left　fifteen　hundred　pounds　apiece；
on　condition　of　their　leaving　England　and　going　to　Natal。

They　knew　directly　what　that　meant。　　Phoebe　was　to　be　parted　from　a
bad　man；　and　Dick　was　to　comfort　her　for　the　loss。

When　this　part　of　the　will　was　read　to　Phoebe；　she　turned　faint；
and　only　her　health　and　bodily　vigor　kept　her　from　swooning　right
away。

But　she　yielded。　　〃It　is　the　will　of　the　dead；〃　said　she；　〃and　I
will　obey　it；　for；　oh；　if　I　had　but　listened　to　him　more　when　he
was　alive　to　advise　me；　I　should　not　sit　here　now；　sick　at　heart
and　dry…eyed；　when　I　ought　to　be　thinking　only　of　the　good　friend
that　is　gone。〃

When　she　had　come　to　this　she　became　feverishly　anxious　to　be　gone。
She　busied　herself　in　purchasing　agricultural　machines；　and　stores；
and　even　stock；　and　to　see　her　pinching　the　beasts'　ribs　to　find
their　condition；　and　parrying　all　attempts　to　cheat　her；　you　would
never　have　believed　she　could　be　a　love…sick　woman。

Dick　kept　her　up　to　the　mark。　　He　only　left　her　to　bargain　with　the
master　of　a　good　vessel；　for　it　was　no　trifle　to　take　out　horses
and　cows；　and　machines；　and　bales　of　cloth；　cotton；　and　linen。

When　that　was　settled　they　came　in　to　town　together；　and　Phoebe
bought　shrewdly；　at　wholesale　houses　in　the　city；　for　cash；　and
would　have　bargains：　and　the　little　shop　in　…　Street　was　turned
into　a　warehouse。

They　were　all　ardor；　as　colonists　should　be；　and　what　pleased　Dick
most；　she　never　mentioned　Falcon；　yet　he　learned　from　the　maid　that
worthy　had　been　there　twice；　looking　very　seedy。

The　day　drew　near。　　Dick　was　in　high　spirits。

〃We　shall　soon　make　our　fortune　out　there；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　get
you　a　good　husband。〃

She　shuddered；　but　said　nothing。

The　evening　before　they　were　to　sail；　Phoebe　sat　alone；　in　her
black　dress；　tired　with　work；　and　asking　herself；　sick　at　heart；
could　she　ever　really　leave　England；　when　the　door　opened　softly；
and　Reginald　Falcon；　shabbily　dressed；　came　in；　and　threw　himself
into　a　chair。

She　started　up　with　a　scream；　then　sank　down　again；　trembling；　and
t