a simpleton-第25章
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into a chair。
She started up with a scream; then sank down again; trembling; and
turned her face to the wall。
〃So you are going to run away from me!〃 said he savagely。
〃Ay; Reginald;〃 said she meekly。
〃This is your fine love; is it?〃
〃You have worn it out; dear;〃 she said softly; without turning her
head from the wall。
〃I wish I could say as much; but; curse it; every time I leave you
I learn to love you more。 I am never really happy but when I am
with you。〃
〃Bless you for saying that; dear。 I often thought you MUST find
that out one day; but you took too long。〃
〃Oh; better late than never。 Phoebe! Can you have the heart to go
to the Cape; and leave me all alone in the world; with nobody that
really cares for me? Surely you are not obliged to go。〃
〃Yes; my father left Dick and me fifteen hundred pounds apiece to
go: that was the condition。 Poor Dick loves his unhappy sister。
He won't go without meI should be his ruinpoor Dick; that
really loves me; and he lay a…dying here; and the good doctor and
meGod bless himwe brought him back from the grave。 Ah; you
little know what I have gone through。 You were not here。 Catch
you being near me when I am in trouble。 There; I must go。 I must
go。 I will go; if I fling myself into the sea half way。〃
〃And; if you do; I'll take a dose of poison; for I have thrown away
the truest heart; the sweetest; most unselfish; kindest; generous
oh! oh! oh!〃
And he began to howl。
This set Phoebe sobbing。 〃Don't cry; dear;〃 she murmured through
her tears; 〃if you have really any love for me; come with me。〃
〃What; leave England; and go to a desert?〃
〃Love can make a desert a garden。〃
〃Phoebe; I'll do anything else。 I'll swear not to leave your side。
I'll never look at any other face but yours。 But I can't live in
Africa。〃
〃I know you can't。 It takes a little real love to go there with a
poor girl like me。 Ah; well; I'd have made you so happy。 We are
not poor emigrants。 I have a horse for you to ride; and guns to
shoot; and me and Dick would do all the work for you。 But there
are others here you can't leave for me。 Well; then; good…by; dear。
In Africa; or here; I shall always love you; and many a salt tear I
shall shed for you yet; many a one I have; as well you know。 God
bless you。 Pray for poor Phoebe; that goes against her will to
Africa; and leaves her heart with thee。〃
This was too much even for the selfish Reginald。 He kneeled at her
knees; and took her hand; and kissed it; and actually shed a tear
or two over it。
She could not speak。 He had no hope of changing her resolution;
and presently he heard Dick's voice outside; so he got up to avoid
him。 〃I'll come again in the morning; before you go。〃
〃Oh; no! no!〃 she gasped。 〃Unless you want me to die at your feet。
I am almost dead now。〃
Reginald slipped out by the kitchen。
Dick came in; and found his sister leaning with her head back
against the wall。 〃Why; Phoebe;〃 said he; 〃whatever is the
matter?〃 and he took her by the shoulder。
She moaned; and he felt her all limp and powerless。
〃What is it; lass? Whatever is the matter? Is it about going
away?〃
She would not speak for a long time。
When she did speak; it was to say something for which my male
reader may not be prepared。 But it will not surprise the women。
〃O Dickforgive me!〃
〃Why; what for?〃
〃Forgive me; or else kill me: I don't care which。〃
〃I do; though。 There; I forgive you。 Now what's your crime?〃
〃I can't go。 Forgive me!〃
〃Can't go?〃
〃I can't。 Forgive me!〃
〃I'm blessed if I don't believe that vagabond has been here
tormenting of you again。〃
〃Oh; don't miscall him。 He is penitent。 Yes; Dick; he has been
here crying to meand I can't leave him。 I can'tI can't。 Dear
Dick! you are young and stout…hearted; take all the things over;
and make your fortune out there; and leave your poor foolish sister
behind。 I should only fling myself into the salt sea if I left him
now; and that would be peace to me; but a grief to thee。〃
〃Lordsake; Phoebe; don't talk so。 I can't go without you。 And do
but think; why; the horses are on board by now; and all the gear。
It's my belief a good hiding is all you want; to bring you to your
senses; but I han't the heart to give you one; worse luck。 Blessed
if I know what to say or do。〃
〃I won't go!〃 cried Phoebe; turning violent all of a sudden。 〃No;
not if I am dragged to the ship by the hair of my head。 Forgive
me!〃 And with that word she was a mouse again。
〃Eh; but women are kittle cattle to drive;〃 said poor Dick
ruefully。 And down he sat at a nonplus; and very unhappy。
Phoebe sat opposite; sullen; heart…sick; wretched to the core; but
determined not to leave Reginald。
Then came an event that might have been foreseen; yet it took them
both by surprise。
A light step was heard; and a graceful; though seedy; figure
entered the room with a set speech in his mouth: 〃Phoebe; you are
right。 I owe it to your long and faithful affection to make a
sacrifice for you。 I will go to Africa with you。 I will go to the
end of the world; sooner than you shall say I care for any woman on
earth but you。〃
Both brother and sister were so unprepared for this; that they
could hardly realize it at first。
Phoebe turned her great; inquiring eyes on the speaker; and it was
a sight to see amazement; doubt; hope; and happiness animating her
features; one after another。
〃Is this real?〃 said she。
〃I will sail with you to…morrow; Phoebe; and I will make you a good
husband; if you will have me。〃
〃That is spoke like a man;〃 said Dick。 〃You take him at his word;
Phoebe; and if he ill…uses you out there; I'll break every bone in
his skin。〃
〃How dare you threaten him?〃 said Phoebe。 〃You had best leave the
room。〃
Out went poor Dick; with the tear in his eye at being snubbed so。
While he was putting up the shutters; Phoebe was making love to her
pseudo penitent。 〃My dear;〃 said she; 〃trust yourself to me。 You
don't know all my love yet; for I have never been your wife; and I
would not be your jade; that is the only thing I ever refused you。
Trust yourself to me。 Why; you never found happiness with others;
try it with me。 It shall be the best day's work you ever did;
going out in the ship with me。 You don't know how happy a loving
wife can make her husband。 I'll pet you out there as man was never
petted。 And besides; it isn't for life; Dick and me will soon make
a fortune out there; and then I'll bring you home; and see you
spend it any way you like but one。 Oh; how I love you! do you love
me a little? I worship the ground you walk on。 I adore every hair
of your head!〃 Her noble arm went round his neck in a moment; and
the grandeur of her passion electrified him so far that he kissed
her affectionately; if not quite so warmly as she did him: and so
it was all settled。 The maid was discharged that night instead of
the morning; and Reginald was to occupy her bed。 Phoebe went up…
stairs with her heart literally on fire; to prepare his sleeping…
room; and so Dick and Reginald had a word。
〃I say; Dick; how long will this voyage be?〃
〃Two months; sir; I am told。〃
〃Please to cast your eyes on this suit of mine。 Don't you think it
is rather seedyto go to Africa with? Why; I shall disgrace you
on board the ship。 I say; Dick; lend me three sovs。; just to buy a
new suit at the slop…shop。〃
〃Well; brother…in…law;〃 said Dick; 〃I don't see any harm in that。
I'll go and fetch them for you。〃
What does this sensible Dick do but go up…stairs to Phoebe; and
say; 〃He wants three pounds to buy a suit; am I to lend it him?〃
Phoebe was shaking and patting her penitent's pillow。 She dropped
it on the bed in dismay。 〃Oh; Dick; not for all the world! Why;
if he had three sovereigns; he'd desert me at the water's edge。
Oh; God help me; how I love him! God forgive me; how I mistrust
him! Good Dick! kind Dick! say we have suits of clothes; and we'll
fit him like a prince; as he ought to be; on board ship; but not a
shilling of money: and; my dear; don't put the weight on ME。 You
understand?〃
〃Ay; mistress; I understand。〃
〃Good Dick!〃
〃Oh; all right! and then don't you snap this here good; kind Dick's
nose off at a word again。〃
〃Never。 I get wild if anybody threatens him。 Then I'm not myself。
Forgive my hasty tongue。 You know I love you; dear!〃
〃Oh; ay! you love me well enough。 But seems to me your love is
precious like cold veal; and your love for that chap is hot roast
beef。〃
〃Ha; ha; ha; ha!〃
〃Oh; ye can laugh now; can ye?〃
〃Ha; ha; ha!〃
〃Well; the more of that music; the better for me。〃
〃Yes; dear; but go and tell him。〃
Dick went down; and said; 〃I've got no money to spare; till I get
to the Cape; but Phoebe has got a box full of suits; and I made her
promise to keep it out。 She will dress you like a prince; you may
be sure。〃
〃Oh; that is it; is it?〃 said Reginald dryly。
Dick made no reply。
At nine o'clock they were on board the vessel; at ten she weighed
anchor; and a steam…vessel drew her down the river about thirty
miles; then cast off; and left her to the south…easterly breeze。
Up went sail after sail; she nodded her lofty head; and glided away
for Africa。
Phoebe shed a few natural tears at leaving the shores of Old
England; but they soon dried。 She was demurely happy; watching her
prize; and asking herself had she really secured it; and all in a
few hours?
They had a prosperous voyage: were married at Cape Town; and went
up the country; bag and baggage; looking out for a good bargain in
land。 Reginald was mounted on an English horse; and allowed to
zigzag about; and shoot; and play; while his wife and brother…in…
law marched slowly with their cavalcade。
What with air; exercise; wholesome food; and smiles of welcome; and
delicious petting; this egotist enjoyed himself finely。 He
admitted as much。 Says he; one evening to his wife; who sat by him
for the pleasure of seeing him feed; 〃It sounds absurd; but I never
was so happy in all my life。〃
At that; the celestial expression of her pastoral face; and the
maternal gesture with which she drew her pet's head to her queenly
bosom; was a picture for celibacy to gnash the teeth at。
CHAPTER IX。
During this period; the most remarkable things that happened to Dr。
and Mrs。 Staines were really those which I have related as
connecting them with Phoebe Dale and her brother; to which I will
now add that Dr。 Staines detailed Dick's case in a remarkable
paper; entitled 〃Oedema of the Glottis;〃 and showed how the patient
had been brought back from the grave by tracheotomy and artificial
respiration。 He received a high price for this article。
To tell the truth; he was careful not to admit that it was he who
had opened the windpipe; so the credit of the whole operation was
given to Mr。 Jenkyn; and this gentleman was naturally pleased; and
threw a good many consultation fees in Staines's way。
The Lucases; to his great comfortfor he had an instinctive
aversion to Miss Lucasleft London for Paris in August; and did
not return all the year。
In February he reviewed his year's work and twelve mo