a simpleton-第26章

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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　months'
residence　in　the　Bijou。　　The　pecuniary　result　was；　outgoings；　nine
hundred　and　fifty　pounds；　income；　from　fees；　two　hundred　and　eighty
pounds；　writing；　ninety　pounds。

He　showed　these　figures　to　Mrs。　Staines；　and　asked　her　if　she　could
suggest　any　diminution　of　expenditure。　　Could　she　do　with　less
housekeeping　money？

〃Oh；　impossible！　　You　cannot　think　how　the　servants　eat；　and　they
won't　touch　our　home…made　bread。〃

〃The　fools！　　Why？〃

〃Oh；　because　they　think　it　costs　us　less。　　Servants　seem　to　me
always　to　hate　the　people　whose　bread　they　eat。〃

〃More　likely　it　is　their　vanity。　　Nothing　that　is　not　paid　for
before　their　eyes　seems　good　enough　for　them。　　Well；　dear；　the
bakers　will　revenge　us。　　But　is　there　any　other　item　we　could
reduce？　　Dress？〃

〃Dress！　　Why；　I　spend　nothing。〃

〃Forty…five　pounds　this　year。〃

〃Well；　I　shall　want　none　next　year。〃

〃Well；　then；　Rosa；　as　there　is　nothing　we　can　reduce；　I　must　write
more；　and　take　more　fees；　or　we　shall　be　in　the　wrong　box。　　Only
eight　hundred　and　sixty　pounds　left　of　our　little　capital；　and；
mind；　we　have　not　another　shilling　in　the　world。　　One　comfort；
there　is　no　debt。　　We　pay　ready　money　for　everything。〃

Rosa　colored　a　little；　but　said　nothing。

Staines　did　his　part　nobly。　　He　read；　he　wrote；　he　paced　the　yard。
He　wore　his　old　clothes　in　the　house；　he　took　off　his　new　ones　when
he　came　in。　　He　was　all　genius；　drudgery；　patience。

How　Phoebe　Dale　would　have　valued　him；　co…operated　with　him；　and
petted　him；　if　she　had　had　the　good　luck　to　be　his　wife！

The　season　came　back；　and　with　it　Miss　Lucas；　towing　a　brilliant
bride；　Mrs。　Vivian；　young；　rich；　pretty；　and　gay；　with　a　waist　you
could　span；　and　athirst　for　pleasure。

This　lady　was　the　first　that　ever　made　Rosa　downright　jealous。　　She
seemed　to　have　everything　the　female　heart　could　desire；　and　she
was　No。　1　with　Miss　Lucas　this　year。　　Now；　Rosa　was　No。　1　last
season；　and　had　weakly　imagined　that　was　to　last　forever。　　But　Miss
Lucas　had　always　a　sort　of　female　flame；　and　it　never　lasted　two
seasons。

Rosa　did　not　care　so　very　much　for　Miss　Lucas　before；　except　as　a
convenient　friend；　but　now　she　was　mortified　to　tears　at　finding
Miss　Lucas　made　more　fuss　with　another　than　with　her。

This　foolish　feeling　spurred　her　to　attempt　a　rivalry　with　Mrs。
Vivian；　in　the　very　things　where　rivalry　was　hopeless。

Miss　Lucas　gave　both　ladies　tickets　for　a　flower…show；　where　all
the　great　folk　were　to　be；　princes　and　princesses；　etc。

〃But　I　have　nothing　to　wear；〃　sighed　Rosa。

〃Then　you　must　get　something；　and　mind　it　is　not　pink；　please；　for
we　must　not　clash　in　colors。　　You　know　I'm　dark；　and　pink　becomes
me。　　（The　selfish　young　brute　was　not　half　so　dark　as　Rosa。）　　Mine
is　coming　from　Worth's；　in　Paris；　on　purpose。　　And　this　new　Madame
Cie；　of　Regent　Street；　has　such　a　duck　of　a　bonnet；　just　come　from
Paris。　　She　wanted　to　make　me　one　from　it；　but　I　told　her　I　would
have　none　but　the　pattern　bonnetand　she　knows　very　well　she　can't
pass　a　copy　off　on　me。　　Let　me　drive　you　up　there；　and　you　can　see
mine；　and　order　one；　if　you　like　it。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you！　let　me　just　run　and　speak　to　my　husband　first。〃

Staines　was　writing　for　the　bare　life；　and　a　number　of　German　books
about　him；　slaving　to　make　a　few　poundswhen　in　comes　the　buoyant
figure　and　beaming　face　his　soul　delighted　in。

He　laid　down　his　work；　to　enjoy　the　sunbeam　of　love。

〃Oh；　darling；　I've　only　come　in　for　a　minute。　　We　are　going　to　a
flower…show　on　the　13th；　everybody　will　be　so　beautifully　dressed
especially　that　Mrs。　Vivian。　　I　have　got　ten　yards　of　beautiful
blue　silk　in　my　wardrobe；　but　that　is　not　enough　to　make　a　whole
dresseverything　takes　so　much　stuff　now。　　Madame　Cie　does　not
care　to　make　up　dresses　unless　she　finds　the　silk；　but　Miss　Lucas
says　she　thinks；　to　oblige　a　friend　of　hers；　she　would　do　it　for
once　in　a　way。　　You　know；　dear；　it　would　only　take　a　few　yards
more；　and　it　would　last　as　a　dinner…dress　for　ever　so　long。〃

Then　she　clasped　him　round　the　neck；　and　leaned　her　head　upon　his
shoulder；　and　looked　lovingly　up　in　his　face。　　〃I　know　you　would
like　your　Rosa　to　look　as　well　as　Mrs。　Vivian。〃

〃No　one　ever　looks　as　well；　in　my　eyes；　as　my　Rosa。　　There；　the
dress　will　add　nothing　to　your　beauty；　but　go　and　get　it；　to　please
yourself；　it　is　very　considerate　of　you　to　have　chosen　something　of
which　you　have　ten　yards；　already。　　See；　dear；　I'm　to　receive
twenty　pounds　for　this　article；　if　research　was　paid　it　ought　to　be
a　hundred。　　I　shall　add　it　all　to　your　allowance　for　dresses　this
year。　　So　no　debt；　mind；　but　come　to　me　for　everything。〃

The　two　ladies　drove　off　to　Madame　Cie's；　a　pretty　shop　lined　with
dark　velvet　and　lace　draperies。

In　the　back　room　they　were　packing　a　lovely　bridal　dress；　going　off
the　following　Saturday　to　New　York。

〃What；　send　from　America　to　London？〃

〃Oh；　dear；　yes！〃　exclaimed　Madame　Cie。　　〃The　American　ladies　are
excellent　customers。　　They　buy　everything　of　the　best；　and　the　most
expensive。〃

〃I　have　brought　a　new　customer；〃　said　Miss　Lucas；　〃and　I　want　you　to
do　a　great　favor；　and　that　is　to　match　a　blue　silk；　and　make　her　a
pretty　dress　for　the　flower…show　on　the　13th。〃

Madame　Cie　produced　a　white　muslin　polonaise；　which　she　was　just
going　to　send　home　to　the　Princess　…；　to　be　worn　over　mauve。

〃Oh；　how　pretty　and　simple！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Lucas。

〃I　have　some　lace　exactly　like　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Staines。

〃Then　why　don't　you　have　a　polonaise？　　The　lace　is　the　only
expensive　part；　the　muslin　is　a　mere　nothing；　and　it　is　such　a
useful　dress；　it　can　be　worn　over　any　silk。〃

It　was　agreed　Madame　Cie　was　to　send　for　the　blue　silk　and　the
lace；　and　the　dresses　were　to　be　tried　on　on　Thursday。

On　Thursday；　as　Rosa　went　gayly　into　Madame　Cie's　back　room　to　have
the　dresses　tried　on；　Madame　Cie　said；　〃You　have　a　beautiful　lace
shawl；　but　it　wants　arranging；　in　five　minutes　I　could　astonish　you
with　what　I　could　do　to　that　shawl。〃

〃Oh；　pray　do；〃　said　Mrs。　Staines。

The　dressmaker　kept　her　word。　　By　the　time　the　blue　dress　was　tried
on；　Madame　Cie　had；　with　the　aid　of　a　few　pins；　plaits；　and　a　bow
of　blue　ribbon；　transformed　the　half　lace　shawl　into　one　of　the
smartest　and　distingue　things　imaginable；　but　when　the　bill　came　in
at　Christmas；　for　that　five　minutes'　labor　and　distingue　touch；　she
charged　one　pound　eight。

Madame　Cie　then　told　the　ladies；　in　an　artfully　confidential　tone；
she　had　a　quantity　of　black　silk　coming　home；　which　she　had
purchased　considerably　below　cost　price；　and　that　she　should　like
to　make　them　each　a　dressnot　for　her　own　sake；　but　theirsas　she
knew　they　would　never　meet　such　a　bargain　again。　　〃You　know；　Miss
Lucas；〃　she　continued；　〃we　don't　want　our　money；　when　we　know　our
customers。　　Christmas　is　soon　enough　for　us。〃

〃Christmas　is　a　long　time　off；〃　thought　the　young　wife；　〃nearly　ten
months。　　I　think　I'll　have　a　black　silk；　Madame　Cie；　but　I　must　not
say　anything　to　the　doctor　about　it　just　yet；　or　he　might　think　me
extravagant。〃

〃No　one　can　ever　think　a　lady　extravagant　for　buying　a　black　silk；
it's　such　a　useful　dress；　lasts　foreveralmost。〃

Days；　weeks；　and　months　rolled　on；　and　with　them　an　ever…rolling
tide　of　flower…shows；　dinners；　at…homes；　balls；　operas；　lawn…
parties；　concerts；　and　theatres。

Strange　that　in　one　house　there　should　be　two　people　who　loved　each
other；　yet　their　lives　ran　so　far　apart；　except　while　they　were
asleep：　the　man　all　industry；　self…denial；　patience；　the　woman　all
frivolity；　self…indulgence；　and　amusement；　both　chained　to　an　oar；
onlyone　in　a　working　boat；　the　other　in　a　painted　galley。

The　woman　got　tired　first；　and　her　charming　color　waned　sadly。　　She
came　to　him　for　medicine　to　set　her　up。　　〃I　feel　so　languid。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　he；　〃no　medicine　can　do　the　work　of　wholesome　food
and　rational　repose。　　You　lack　the　season　of　all　natures；　sleep。
Dine　at　home　three　days　running；　and　go　to　bed　at　ten。〃

On　this　the　doctor's　wife　went　to　a　chemist　for　advice。　　He　gave
her　a　pink　stimulant；　and；　as　stimulants　have　two　effects；　viz。；
first　to　stimulate；　and　then　to　weaken；　this　did　her　no　lasting
good。　　Dr。　Staines　cursed　the　London　season；　and　threatened　to
migrate　to　Liverpool。

But　there　was　worse　behind。

Returning　one　day　to　his　dressing…room；　just　after　Rosa　had　come
down…stairs；　he　caught　sight　of　a　red　stain　in　a　wash…hand…basin。
He　examined　it；　it　was　arterial　blood。

He　went　to　her　directly；　and　expressed　his　anxiety。

〃Oh；　it　is　nothing；〃　said　she。

〃Nothing！　　Pray；　how　often　has　it　occurred？〃

〃Once　or　twice。　　I　must　take　your　advice；　and　be　quiet；　that　is
all。〃

Staines　examined　the　housemaid；　she　lied　instinctively　at　first；
seeing　he　was　alarmed；　but；　being　urged　to　tell　the　truth；　said　she
had　seen　it　repeatedly；　and　had　told　the　cook。

He　went　down…stairs　again；　and　sat　down；　looking　wretched。

〃Oh；　dear！〃　said　Rosa。　　〃What　is　the　matter　now？〃

〃Rosa；〃　said　he；　very　gravely；　〃there　are　two　people　a　woman　is　mad
to　deceiveher　husband　and　her　physician。　　You　have　deceived
both。〃


CHAPTER　X。


I　suspect　Dr。　Staines　merely　meant　to　say　that　she　had　concealed
from　him　an　alarming　symptom　for　several　weeks；　but　she　answered　in
a　hurry；　to　excuse　herself；　and　let　the　cat　out　of　the　bagexcuse
my　vulgarity。

〃It　was　all　that　Mrs。　Vivian's　fault。　　She　laughed　at　me　so　for　not
wearing　them；　and　she　has　a　waist　you　can　spanthe　wretch！〃

〃Oh；　then；　you　have　been　wearing　stays　clandestinely？〃

〃Why；　you　know　I　have。　　Oh；　what　a　stupid！　　I　have　let　it　all　out。〃

〃How　could　you　do　it；　when　you　knew；　by　experience；　it　is　your
death？〃

〃But　it　looks　so　beautiful；　a　tiny　waist。〃

〃It　looks　as　hideous　as　a　Chinese　foot；　and；　to　the　eye　of　science；
far　more　disgusting；　it　is　the　cause　of　so　many　unlovely　diseases。〃

〃Just　tell　me　one　thing；　have　you　looked　at　Mrs。　Vivian？〃

〃Minutely。　　I　look　at　all　your　friends　with　great　anxiety；　knowing
no　animal　more　dangerous　than　a　fool。　　Viviana　skinny　woman；　with
a　pretty　face；　lovely　hair；　good　teeth；　dying　eyes〃

〃Yes；　lovely！〃

〃A　sure　proof　of　a　disordered　stomachand　a　waist　pinched　in　so
unnaturally；　that　I　said　to　myself；　'Where　on　earth　does　this　idiot
put　her　liver？'　　Did　you　ever　read　of　the　frog　who　burst；　trying　to
swell　to　an　ox？　　Well；　here　is　the　rivalry　reversed；　Mrs。　Vivian　is
a　bag　of　bones　in　a　balloon；　she　can　machine　herself　into　a　wasp；
but　a　fine　young　woman　like　you；　with　flesh　and　muscle；　must　kill
yourself　three　or　four　times　before　you　can　make　your　body　as
meagre；　hideous；　angular；　and　unnatural　as　Vivian's。　　But　all　you
ladies　are　mono…maniacs；　one　might　as　well　talk　sense　to　a　gorilla。
It　brought　you　to　the　edge　of　the　grave。　　I　saved　you。　　Yet　you
could　go　and　　God　grant　me　patience。　　So　I　suppose　these
unprincipled　women　lent　you　their　stays　to　deceive　your　husband？〃

〃No。　　But　they　laughed　at　me　so　that　　Oh；　Christie；　I'm　a　wretch；
I　kept　a　pair　at　the　Lucases；　and　a　pair　at　Madame　Cie's；　and　I　put
them　on　now　and　then。〃