a simpleton-第27章

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I　kept　a　pair　at　the　Lucases；　and　a　pair　at　Madame　Cie's；　and　I　put
them　on　now　and　then。〃

〃But　you　never　appeared　here　in　them？〃

〃What；　before　my　tyrant？　　Oh　no；　I　dared　not。〃

〃So　you　took　them　off　before　you　came　home？〃

Rosa　hung　her　head；　and　said　〃Yes〃　in　a　reluctant　whisper。

〃You　spent　your　daylight　dressing。　　You　dressed　to　go　out；　dressed
again　in　stays；　dressed　again　without　them；　and　all　to　deceive　your
husband；　and　kill　yourself；　at　the　bidding　of　two　shallow；
heartless　women；　who　would　dance　over　your　grave　without　a　pang　of
remorse；　or　sentiment　of　any　kind；　since　they　live；　like　midges；
ONLY　TO　DANCE　IN　THE　SUN；　AND　SUCK　SOME　WORKER'S　BLOOD。〃

〃Oh；　Christie！　　I'm　so　easily　led。　　I　am　too　great　a　fool　to　live。
Kill　me！〃

And　she　kneeled　down；　and　renewed　the　request；　looking　up　in　his
face　with　an　expression　that　might　have　disarmed　Cain　ipsum。

He　smiled　superior。　　〃The　question　is；　are　you　sorry　you　have　been
so　thoughtless？〃

〃Yes；　dear。　　Oh！　oh！〃

〃Will　you　be　very　good　to　make　up？〃

〃Oh；　yes。　　Only　tell　me　how；　for　it　does　not　come　natural　to　poor
me。〃

〃Keep　out　of　those　women's　way　for　the　rest　of　the　season。〃

〃I　will。〃

〃Bring　your　stays　home；　and　allow　me　to　do　what　I　like　with　them。〃

〃Of　course。　　Cut　them　in　a　million　pieces。〃

〃Till　you　are　recovered；　you　must　be　my　patient；　and　go　nowhere
without　me。〃

〃That　is　no　punishment；　I　am　sure。〃

〃Punishment！　　Am　I　the　man　to　punish　you？　　I　only　want　to　save
you。〃

〃Well；　darling；　it　won't　be　the　first　time。〃

〃No；　but　I　do　hope　it　will　be　the　last。〃


CHAPTER　XI。


〃Sublata　causa　tollitur　effectus。〃　　The　stays　being　gone；　and
dissipation　moderated；　Mrs。　Staines　bloomed　again；　and　they　gave
one　or　two　unpretending　little　dinners　at　the　Bijou。　　Dr。　Staines
admitted　no　false　friends　to　these。　　They　never　went　beyond　eight；
five　gentlemen；　three　ladies。　　By　this　arrangement　the　terrible
discursiveness　of　the　fair；　and　man's　cruel　disposition　to　work　a
subject　threadbare；　were　controlled　and　modified；　and　a　happy
balance　of　conversation　established。　　Lady　Cicely　Treherne　was
always　invited；　and　always　managed　to　come；　for　she　said；　〃They
were　the　most　agweeable　little　paaties　in　London；　and　the　host　and
hostess　both　so　intewesting。〃　　In　the　autumn；　Staines　worked　double
tides　with　the　pen；　and　found　a　vehicle　for　medical　narratives　in　a
weekly　magazine　that　did　not　profess　medicine。

This　new　vein　put　him　in　heart。　　His　fees；　towards　the　end　of　the
year；　were　less　than　last　year；　because　there　was　no　hundred…guinea
fee；　but　there　was　a　marked　increase　in　the　small　fees；　and　the
unflagging　pen　had　actually　earned　him　two　hundred　pounds；　or
nearly。　　So　he　was　in　good　spirits。

Not　so　Mrs。　Staines；　for　some　time　she　had　been　uneasy；　fretful；
and　like　a　person　with　a　weight　on　her　mind。

One　Sunday　she　said　to　him；　〃Oh；　dear；　I　do　feel　so　dull。　　Nobody
to　go　to　church　with；　nor　yet　to　the　Zoo。〃

〃I'll　go　with　you；〃　said　Staines。

〃You　will！　　To　which？〃

〃To　both；　in　for　a　penny；　in　for　a　pound。〃

So　to　church　they　went；　and　Staines；　whose　motto　was　〃Hoc　age；〃
minded　his　book。　　Rosa　had　intervals　of　attention　to　the　words；　but
found　plenty　of　time　to　study　the　costumes。

During　the　Litany　in　bustled　Clara；　the　housemaid；　with　a　white
jacket　on　so　like　her　mistress's；　that　Rosa　clutched　her　own
convulsively；　to　see　whether　she　had　not　been　skinned　of　it　by　some
devilish　sleight…of…hand。

No；　it　was　on　her　back；　but　Clara's　was　identical。

In　her　excitement；　Rosa　pinched　Staines；　and　with　her　nose；　that
went　like　a　water…wagtail；　pointed　out　the　malefactor。　　Then　she
whispered；　〃Look！　　How　dare　she？　　My　very　jacket！　　Earrings　too；
and　brooches；　and　dresses　her　hair　like　mine。〃

〃Well；　never　mind；〃　whispered　Staines。　　〃Sunday　is　her　day。　　We
have　got　all　the　week　to　shine。　　There；　don't　look　at　her'From
all　evil　speaking；　lying；　and　slandering'〃

〃I　can't　keep　my　eyes　off　her。〃

〃Attend　to　the　Litany。　　Do　you　know；　this　is　really　a　beautiful
composition？〃

〃I'd　rather　do　the　work　fifty　times　over　myself。〃

〃Hush！　people　will　hear　you。〃

When　they　walked　home　after　church；　Staines　tried　to　divert　her
from　the　consideration　of　her　wrongs；　but　noall　other　topics　were
too　flat　by　comparison。

She　mourned　the　hard　fate　of　mistressesunfortunate　creatures　that
could　not　do　without　servants。

〃Is　not　that　a　confession　that　servants　are　good；　useful　creatures；
with　all　their　faults？　　Then　as　to　the　mania　for　dress；　why；　that
is　not　confined　to　them。　　It　is　the　mania　of　the　sex。　　Are　you　free
from　it？〃

〃No；　of　course　not。　　But　I　am　a　lady；　if　you　please。〃

〃Then　she　is　your　intellectual　inferior；　and　more　excusable。
Anyway；　it　is　wise　to　connive　at　a　thing　we　can't　help。〃

〃What　keep　her；　after　this？　no；　never。〃

〃My　dear；　pray　do　not　send　her　away；　for　she　is　tidy　in　the　house；
and　quick；　and　better　than　any　one　we　have　had　this　last　six
months；　and　you　know　you　have　tried　a　great　number。〃

〃To　hear　you　speak；　one　would　think　it　was　my　fault　that　we　have　so
many　bad　servants。〃

〃I　never　said　it　was　your　fault；　but　I　THINK；　dearest；　a　little
more　forbearance　in　trifles〃

〃Trifles！　triflesfor　a　mistress　and　maid　to　be　seen　dressed　alike
in　the　same　church？　　You　take　the　servants'　part　against　me；　that
you　do。〃

〃You　should　not　say　that；　even　in　jest。　　Come　now；　do　you　really
think　a　jacket　like　yours　can　make　the　servant　look　like　you；　or
detract　from　your　grace　and　beauty？　　There　is　a　very　simple　way；
put　your　jacket　by　for　a　future　occasion；　and　wear　something　else
in　its　stead　at　church。〃

〃A　nice　thing；　indeed；　to　give　in　to　these　creatures。　　I　won't　do
it。〃

〃Why　won't　you；　this　once？〃

〃Because　I　won'tthere！〃

〃That　is　unanswerable；〃　said　he。

Mrs。　Staines　said　that；　but　when　it　came　to　acting；　she　deferred　to
her　husband's　wish；　she　resigned　her　intention　of　sending　for　Clara
and　giving　her　warning。　　On　the　contrary；　when　Clara　let　her　in；
and　the　white　jackets　rubbed　together　in　the　narrow　passage；　she
actually　said　nothing；　but　stalked　to　her　own　room；　and　tore　her
jacket　off；　and　flung　it　on　the　floor。

Unfortunately；　she　was　so　long　dressing　for　the　Zoo；　that　Clara
came　in　to　arrange　the　room。　　She　picks　up　the　white　jacket；　takes
it　in　both　hands；　gives　it　a　flap；　and　proceeds　to　hang　it　up　in
the　wardrobe。

Then　the　great　feminine　heart　burst　its　bounds。

〃You　can　leave　that　alone。　　I　shall　not　wear　that　again。〃

Thereupon　ensued　an　uneven　encounter；　Clara　being　one　of　those　of
whom　the　Scripture　says；　〃The　poison　of　asps　is　under　their
tongues。〃

〃La；　ma'am；〃　said　she；　〃why；　'tain't　so　very　dirty。〃

〃No；　but　it　is　too　common。〃

〃Oh；　because　I've　got　one　like　it。　　Ay。　　Missises　can't　abide　a
good…looking　servant；　nor　to　see　'em　dressed　becoming。〃

〃Mistresses　do　not　like　servants　to　forget　their　place；　nor　wear
what　does　not　become　their　situation。〃

〃My　situation！　　Why；　I　can　pay　my　way；　go　where　I　will。　　I　don't
tremble　at　the　tradesmen's　knock；　as　some　do。〃

〃Leave　the　room！　　Leave　it　this　moment。〃

〃Leave　the　room；　yesand　I'll　leave　the　house　too；　and　tell　all
the　neighbors　what　I　know　about　it。〃

She　flounced　out　and　slammed　the　door；　and　Rosa　sat　down；
trembling。

Clara　rushed　to　the　kitchen；　and　there　told　the　cook　and　Andrew
Pearman　how　she　had　given　it　to　the　mistress；　and　every　word　she
had　said　to　her；　with　a　good　many　more　she　had　not。

The　cook　laughed　and　encouraged　her。

But　Andrew　Pearman　was　wroth；　and　said；　〃You　to　affront　our
mistress　like　that！　　Why；　if　I　had　heard　you；　I'd　have　twisted　your
neck　for　ye。〃

〃It　would　take　a　better　man　than　you　to　do　that。　　You　mind　your　own
business。　　Stick　to　your　one…horse　chay。〃

〃Well；　I'm　not　above　my　place；　for　that　matter。　　But　you　gals　must
always　be　aping　your　betters。〃

〃I　have　got　a　proper　pride；　that　is　all；　and　you　haven't。　　You
ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself　to　do　two　men's　work；　drive　a
brougham　and　wait　on　a　horse；　and　then　come　in　and　wait　at　table；
You　are　a　tea…kettle　groom；　that　is　what　you　are。　　Why；　my　brother
was　coachman　to　Lord　Fitz…James；　and　gave　his　lordship　notice　the
first　time　he　had　to　drive　the　children。　　Says　he；　'I　don't　object
to　the　children；　my　lord；　but　with　her　ladyship　in　the　carriage。'
It's　such　servants　as　you　as　spoil　places。　　No　servant　as　knows
what's　due　to　a　servant　ought　to　know　you。　　They'd　scorn　your
'quaintance；　as　I　do；　Mr。　Pearman。〃

〃You　are　a　stuck…up　hussy；　and　a　soldier's　jade；〃　roared　Andrew。

〃And　you　are　a　low　tea…kettle　groom。〃

This　expression　wounded　the　great　equestrian　soul　to　the　quick；　the
rest　of　Sunday　he　pondered　on　it；　the　next　morning　he　drove　the
doctor；　as　usual；　but　with　a　heavy　heart。

Meantime；　the　cook　made　haste　and　told　the　baker　Pearman　had　〃got
it　hot〃　from　the　housemaid；　and　she　had　called　him　a　tea…kettle
groom；　and　in　less　than　half　an　hour　after　that　it　was　in　every
stable　in　the　mews。　　Why；　as　Pearman　was　taking　the　horse　out　of
the　brougham；　didn't　two　little　red…headed　urchins　call　out；　〃Here；
come　and　see　the　tea…kettle　groom！〃　and　at　night　some　mischievous
boy　chalked　on　the　black　door　of　the　stable　a　large　white　tea…
kettle；　and　next　morning　a　drunken；　idle　fellow；　with　a　clay　pipe
in　his　mouth；　and　a　dirty　pair　of　corduroy　trousers；　no　coat；　but　a
shirt　very　open　at　the　chest；　showing　inflamed　skin；　the　effect　of
drink；　inspected　that　work　of　art　with　blinking　eyes　and
vacillating　toes；　and　said；　〃This　comes　of　a　chap　doing　too　much。
A　few　more　like　you；　and　work　would　be　scarce。　　A　fine　thing　for
gentlefolks　to　make　one　man　fill　two　places！　but　it　ain't　the
gentlefolks'　fault；　it's　the　man　as　humors　'em。〃

Pearman　was　a　peaceable　man；　and　made　no　reply；　but　went　on　with
his　work；　only　during　the　day　he　told　his　master　that　he　should　be
obliged　to　him　if　he　would　fill　his　situation　as　soon　as
convenient。

The　master　inquired　the　cause；　and　the　man　told　him；　and　said　the
mews　was　too　hot　for　him。

The　doctor　offered　him　five　pounds　a　year　more；　knowing　he　had　a
treasure；　but　Pearman　said；　with　sadness　and　firmness；　that　he　had
made　up　his　mind　to　go；　and　go　he　would。

The　doctor's　heart　fairly　sank　at　the　prospect　of　losing　the　one
creature　he　could　depend　upon。

Next　Sunday　evening　Clara　was　out；　and　fell　in　with　friends；　to
whom　she　exaggerated　her　grievance。

Then　they　worked　her　up　to　fury；　after　the　manner　of　servants'
FRIENDS。　　She　came　home；　packed　her　box；　brought　it　down；　and　then
flounced　into　the　room　to　Doctor　and　Mrs。　Staines；　and　said；　〃I
shan't　sleep　another　night　in　this　house。〃

Rosa　was　about　to　speak；　but　Dr。　Staines　forbade　her：　he　said；　〃You
had　better　think　twice　of　that。　　You　are　a　good　servant；　though　for
once　you　have　been　betrayed　into　speaking　disrespectfully。　　Why
forfeit　your　character；　and　three　weeks'　wages？〃

〃I　don't　care　for　my　wages。　　I　won't　stay　in　such　a　house　as　this。〃

〃Come；　you　must　not　be　impertinent。〃

〃I　don't　mean　to；　sir；〃　said　she；　lowering　her　voice　suddenly；
then；　raising　it　as　suddenly；　〃There　are　my　keys；　ma'am；　and　you
can　search　my　box。〃

〃Mrs。　Staines　will　not　search　your　box；　and　you　will　retir