a simpleton-第3章

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Staines；　detailing　his　endeavors　to　purchase　a　practice　in　London；
and　his　ill…success。　　The　letter　spoke　the　language　of　love　and
hope；　but　the　facts　were　discouraging；　and；　indeed；　a　touching
sadness　pierced　through　the　veil　of　the　brave　words。

Rosa　read　it　again　and　again；　and　cried　over　it　before　her　father；
to　encourage　him　in　his　heartless　behavior。

About　ten　days　after　this；　something　occurred　that　altered　her　mood。

She　became　grave　and　thoughtful；　but　no　longer　lugubrious。　　She
seemed　desirous　to　atone　to　her　father　for　having　disturbed　his
cheerfulness。　　She　smiled　affectionately　on　him；　and　often　sat　on　a
stool　at　his　knee；　and　glided　her　hand　into　his。

He　was　not　a　little　pleased；　and　said　to　himself；　〃She　is　coming
round　to　common…sense。〃

Now；　on　the　contrary；　she　was　farther　from　it　than　ever。

At　last　he　got　the　clew。　　One　afternoon　he　met　Mr。　Wyman　coming　out
of　the　villa。　　Mr。　Wyman　was　the　consulting　surgeon　of　that　part。

〃What！　anybody　ill？〃　said　Mr。　Lusignan。　　〃One　of　the　servants？〃

〃No；　it　is　Miss　Lusignan。〃

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter　with　her？〃

Wyman　hesitated。　　〃Oh；　nothing　very　alarming。　　Would　you　mind
asking　her？〃

〃Why？〃

〃The　fact　is；　she　requested　me　not　to　tell　you：　made　me　promise。〃

〃And　I　insist　upon　your　telling　me。〃

〃And　I　think　you　are　quite　right；　sir；　as　her　father。　　Well；　she　is
troubled　with　a　little　spitting　of　blood。〃

Mr。　Lusignan　turned　pale。　　〃My　child！　spitting　of　blood！　　God
forbid！〃

〃Oh；　do　not　alarm　yourself。　　It　is　nothing　serious。〃

〃Don't　tell　me！〃　said　the　father。　　〃It　is　always　serious。　　And　she
kept　this　from　me！〃

Masking　his　agitation　for　the　time；　he　inquired　how　often　it　had
occurred；　this　grave　symptom。

〃Three　or　four　times　this　last　month。　　But　I　may　as　well　tell　you
at　once：　I　have　examined　her　carefully；　and　I　do　not　think　it　is
from　the　lungs。〃

〃From　the　throat；　then？〃

〃No；　from　the　liver。　　Everything　points　to　that　organ　as　the　seat
of　derangement：　not　that　there　is　any　lesion；　only　a　tendency　to
congestion。　　I　am　treating　her　accordingly；　and　have　no　doubt　of
the　result。〃

〃Who　is　the　ablest　physician　hereabouts？〃　asked　Lusignan；　abruptly。

〃Dr。　Snell；　I　think。〃

〃Give　me　his　address。〃

〃I'll　write　to　him；　if　you　like；　and　appoint　a　consultation。〃　　He
added；　with　vast　but　rather　sudden　alacrity；　〃It　will　be　a　great
satisfaction　to　my　own　mind。〃

〃Then　send　to　him；　if　you　please；　and　let　him　be　here　to…morrow
morning；　if　not；　I　shall　take　her　to　London　for　advice　at　once。〃

On　this　understanding　they　parted；　and　Lusignan　went　at　once　to　his
daughter。　　〃O　my　child！〃　said　he；　deeply　distressed；　〃how　could　you
hide　this　from　me？〃

〃Hide　what；　papa？〃　said　the　girl；　looking　the　picture　of
unconsciousness。

〃That　you　have　been　spitting　blood。〃

〃Who　told　you　that？〃　said　she；　sharply。

〃Wyman。　　He　is　attending　you。〃

Rosa　colored　with　anger。　　〃Chatterbox！　　He　promised　me　faithfully
not　to。〃

〃But　why；　in　Heaven's　name？　　What！　would　you　trust　this　terrible
thing　to　a　stranger；　and　hide　it　from　your　poor　father？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Rosa；　quietly。

The　old　man　would　not　scold　her　now；　he　only　said；　sadly；　〃I　see
how　it　is：　because　I　will　not　let　you　marry　poverty；　you　think　I　do
not　love　you。〃　　And　he　sighed。

〃O　papa！　the　idea！〃　said　Rosa。　　〃Of　course；　I　know　you　love　me。　　It
was　not　that；　you　dear；　darling；　foolish　papa。　　There！　if　you　must
know；　it　was　because　I　did　not　want　you　to　be　distressed。　　I
thought　I　might　get　better　with　a　little　physic；　and；　if　not；　why；
then　I　thought；　'Papa　is　an　old　man；　la！　I　dare　say　I　shall　last
his　time；'　and　so；　why　should　I　poison　your　latter　days　with
worrying　about　ME？〃

Mr。　Lusignan　stared　at　her；　and　his　lip　quivered；　but　he　thought
the　trait　hardly　consistent　with　her　superficial　character。　　He
could　not　help　saying；　half　sadly；　half　bitterly；　〃Well；　but　of
course　you　have　told　Dr。　Staines。〃

Rosa　opened　her　beautiful　eyes；　like　two　suns。　　〃Of　course　I　have
done　nothing　of　the　sort。　　He　has　enough　to　trouble　him；　without
that。　　Poor　fellow！　there　he　is；　worrying　and　striving　to　make　his
fortune；　and　gain　your　esteem'they　go　together；'　you　know；　you
told　him　so。〃　　（Young　cats　will　scratch　when　least　expected。）　　〃And
for　me　to　go　and　tell　him　I　am　in　danger！　　Why；　he　would　go　wild。
He　would　think　of　nothing　but　me　and　my　health。　　He　would　never
make　his　fortune：　and　so　then；　even　when　I　am　gone；　he　will　never
get　a　wife；　because　he　has　only　got　genius　and　goodness　and　three
thousand　pounds。　　No；　papa；　I　have　not　told　poor　Christopher。　　I
may　tease　those　I　love。　　I　have　been　teasing　YOU　this　ever　so　long；
but　frighten　them；　and　make　them　miserable？　　No！〃

And　here；　thinking　of　the　anguish　that　was　perhaps　in　store　for
those　she　loved；　she　wanted　to　cry；　it　almost　choked　her　not　to。
But　she　fought　it　bravely　down：　she　reserved　her　tears　for　lighter
occasions　and　less　noble　sentiments。

Her　father　held　out　his　arms　to　her。　　She　ran　her　footstool　to　him；
and　sat　nestling　to　his　heart。

〃Please　forgive　me　my　misconduct。　　I　have　not　been　a　dutiful
daughter　ever　since　youbut　now　I　will。　　Kiss　me；　my　own　papa！
There！　　Now　we　are　as　we　always　were。〃

Then　she　purred　to　him　on　every　possible　topic　but　the　one　that　now
filled　his　parental　heart；　and　bade　him　good…night　at　last　with　a
cheerful　smile。

Wyman　was　exact；　and　ten　minutes　afterwards　Dr。　Snell　drove　up　in　a
carriage　and　pair。　　He　was　intercepted　in　the　hall　by　Wyman；　and；
after　a　few　minutes'　conversation；　presented　to　Mr。　Lusignan。

The　father　gave　vent　to　his　paternal　anxiety　in　a　few　simple　but
touching　words；　and　was　proceeding　to　state　the　symptoms　as　he　had
gathered　them　from　his　daughter；　but　Dr。　Snell　interrupted　him
politely；　and　said　he　had　heard　the　principal　symptoms　from　Mr。
Wyman。　　Then；　turning　to　the　latter；　he　said；　〃We　had　better
proceed　to　examine　the　patient。〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Mr。　Lusignan。　　〃She　is　in　the　drawing…room；〃　and
he　led　the　way；　and　was　about　to　enter　the　room；　when　Wyman
informed　him　it　was　against　etiquette　for　him　to　be　present　at　the
examination。

〃Oh；　very　well！〃　said　he。　　〃Yes；　I　see　the　propriety　of　that。　　But
oblige　me　by　asking　her　if　she　has　anything　on　her　mind。〃

Dr。　Snell　bowed　a　lofty　assent；　for；　to　receive　a　hint　from　a
layman　was　to　confer　a　favor　on　him。

The　men　of　science　were　closeted　full　half　an　hour　with　the
patient。　　She　was　too　beautiful　to　be　slurred　over；　even　by　a　busy
doctor：　he　felt　her　pulse；　looked　at　her　tongue；　and　listened
attentively　to　her　lungs；　to　her　heart；　and　to　the　organ　suspected
by　Wyman。　　He　left　her　at　last　with　a　kindly　assurance　that　the
case　was　perfectly　curable。

At　the　door　they　were　met　by　the　anxious　father；　who　came　with
throbbing　heart；　and　asked　the　doctors'　verdict。

He　was　coolly　informed　that　could　not　be　given　until　the
consultation　had　taken　place；　the　result　of　that　consultation　would
be　conveyed　to　him。

〃And　pray；　why　can't　I　be　present　at　the　consultation？　　The　grounds
on　which　two　able　men　agree　or　disagree　must　be　well　worth
listening　to。〃

〃No　doubt；〃　said　Dr。　Snell；　〃but；〃　with　a　superior　smile；　〃my　dear
sir；　it　is　not　the　etiquette。〃

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　Lusignan。　　But　he　muttered；　〃So；　then；　a
father　is　nobody！〃

And　this　unreasonable　person　retired　to　his　study；　miserable；　and
gave　up　the　dining…room　to　the　consultation。

They　soon　rejoined　him。

Dr。　Snell's　opinion　was　communicated　by　Wyman。　　〃I　am　happy　to　tell
you　that　Dr。　Snell　agrees　with　me；　entirely：　the　lungs　are　not
affected；　and　the　liver　is　congested；　but　not　diseased。〃

〃Is　that　so；　Dr。　Snell？〃　asked　Lusignan；　anxiously。

〃It　is　so；　sir。〃　　He　added；　〃The　treatment　has　been　submitted　to
me；　and　I　quite　approve　it。〃

He　then　asked　for　a　pen　and　paper；　and　wrote　a　prescription。　　He
assured　Mr。　Lusignan　that　the　case　had　no　extraordinary　feature；
whatever；　he　was　not　to　alarm　himself。　　Dr。　Snell　then　drove　away；
leaving　the　parent　rather　puzzled；　but；　on　the　whole；　much
comforted。

And　here　I　must　reveal　an　extraordinary　circumstance。

Wyman's　treatment　was　by　drugs。

Dr。　Snell's　was　by　drugs。

Dr。　Snell；　as　you　have　seen；　entirely　approved　Wyman's　treatment。

His　own　had　nothing　in　common　with　it。　　The　Arctic　and　Antarctic
poles　are　not　farther　apart　than　was　his　prescription　from　the
prescription　he　thoroughly　approved。

Amiable　science！　　In　which　complete　diversity　of　practice　did　not
interfere　with　perfect　uniformity　of　opinion。

All　this　was　kept　from　Dr。　Staines；　and　he　was　entirely　occupied　in
trying　to　get　a　position　that　might　lead　to　fortune；　and　satisfy
Mr。　Lusignan。　　He　called　on　every　friend　he　had；　to　inquire　where
there　was　an　opening。　　He　walked　miles　and　miles　in　the　best
quarters　of　London；　looking　for　an　opening；　he　let　it　be　known　in
many　quarters　that　he　would　give　a　good　premium　to　any　physician
who　was　about　to　retire；　and　would　introduce　him　to　his　patients。

No：　he　could　hear　of　nothing。

Then；　after　a　great　struggle　with　himself；　he　called　upon　his
uncle；　Philip　Staines；　a　retired　M。D。；　to　see　if　he　would　do
anything　for　him。　　He　left　this　to　the　last；　for　a　very　good
reason：　Dr。　Philip　was　an　irritable　old　bachelor；　who　had　assisted
most　of　his　married　relatives；　but；　finding　no　bottom　to　the　well；
had　turned　rusty　and　crusty；　and　now　was　apt　to　administer　kicks
instead　of　checks　to　all　who　were　near　and　dear　to　him。　　However；
Christopher　was　the　old　gentleman's　favorite；　and　was　now
desperate；　so　he　mustered　courage；　and　went。　　He　was　graciously
receivedwarmly；　indeed。　　This　gave　him　great　hopes；　and　he　told
his　tale。

The　old　bachelor　sided　with　Mr。　Lusignan。　　〃What！〃　said　he；　〃do　you
want　to　marry；　and　propagate　pauperism？　　I　thought　you　had　more
sense。　　Confound　it　all　I　had　just　one　nephew　whose　knock　at　my
street…door　did　not　make　me　tremble；　he　was　a　bachelor　and　a
thinker；　and　came　for　a　friendly　chat；　the　rest　are　married　men；
highwaymen；　who　come　to　say；　'Stand　and　deliver；'　and　now　even　you
want　to　join　the　giddy　throng。　　Well；　don't　ask　me　to　have　any　hand
in　it。　　You　are　a　man　of　promise；　and　you　might　as　well　hang　a
millstone　round　your　neck　as　a　wife。　　Marriage　is　a　greater　mistake
than　ever　now；　the　women　dress　more　and　manage　worse。　　I　met　your
cousin　Jack　the　other　day；　and　his　wife　with　seventy　pounds　on　her
back；　and　next　door　to　paupers。　　No；　whilst　you　are　a　bachelor；
like　me；　you　are　my　favorite；　and　down　in　my　will　for　a　lump。　　Once
marry；　and　you　join　the　noble　army　of　foot…pads；　leeches；　vultures；
paupers；　gone　coons；　and　babblers　about　bratsand　I　disown　you。〃

There　was　no　hope　from　old　Crusty。　　Christopher　left　him；　snubbed
and　heart…sick。　　At　last　he　met　a　sensible　man；　who　made　him　see
there　was　no　short　cut　in　that　profession。　　He　must　be　content　to
play　the　up…hill　game；　must　settle　in　some　good　neighborhood；
marry；　if　possible；　since　husbands　and　fathers　of　families　prefer
married　physicians；　and　so　be　poor　at　thirty；　comfortable　at　forty；
and　rich　at　fiftyperhaps。

Then　Christopher　came　down　to　his　lodgings　at　Gravesend；　and　was
very　unhappy；　and　after　some　days　of　misery；　he　wrote　a　letter　to
Rosa　i