a simpleton-第36章

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I　have　written　to　him。〃

〃And　what　is　to　become　of　the　Bijou？〃

〃My　Christie　thought　I　should　like　to　part　with　it；　and　the
furniturebut　his　own　writing…desk　and　his　chair；　no；　I　never
will；　and　his　little　clock。　　Oh！　oh！　oh！But　I　remember　what　you
said　about　agents；　and　I　don't　know　what　to　do；　for　I　shall　be
away。〃

〃Then；　leave　it　to　me。　　I'll　come　and　live　here　with　one　servant；
and　I'll　soon　sell　it　for　you。〃

〃You；　Uncle　Philip！〃

〃Well；　why　not？〃　said　he　roughly。

〃That　will　be　a　great　trouble　and　discomfort　to　you；　I'm　afraid。〃

〃If　I　find　it　so；　I'll　soon　drop　it。　　I'm　not　the　fool　to　put
myself　out　for　anybody。　　When　you　are　ready　to　go　out；　send　me
word；　and　I'll　come　in。〃

Soon　after　this　he　bustled　off。　　He　gave　her　a　sort　of　hurried　kiss
at　parting；　as　if　he　was　ashamed　of　it；　and　wanted　it　over　as
quickly　as　possible。

Next　day　her　father　came；　condoled　with　her　politely；　assured　her
there　was　nothing　to　cry　about；　husbands　were　a　sort　of
functionaries　that　generally　went　to　sea　at　some　part　of　their
career；　and　no　harm　ever　came　of　it。　　On　the　contrary；　〃Absence
makes　the　heart　grow　fonder；〃　said　this　judicious　parent。

This　sentiment　happened　to　be　just　a　little　too　true；　and　set　the
daughter　crying　bitterly。　　But　she　fought　against　it。　　〃Oh　no！〃
said　she；　〃I　MUSTN'T。　　I　will　not　be　always　crying　in　Kent　Villa。〃

〃Lord　forbid！〃

〃I　shall　get　over　it　in　timea　little。〃

〃Why；　of　course　you　will。　　But　as　to　your　coming　to　Kent　Villa；　I
am　afraid　you　would　not　be　very　comfortable　there。　　You　know　I　am
superannuated。　　Only　got　my　pension　now。〃

〃I　know　that；　papa：　andwhy；　that　is　one　of　the　reasons。　　I　have　a
good　income　now；　and　I　thought　if　we　put　our　means　together〃

〃Oh；　that　is　a　very　different　thing。　　You　will　want　a　carriage；　I
suppose。　　I　have　put　mine　down。〃

〃No　carriage；　no　horse；　no　footman；　no　luxury　of　any　kind　till　my
Christie　comes　back。　　I　abhor　dress；　I　abhor　expense；　I　loathe
everything　I　once　liked　too　well；　I　detest　every　folly　that　has
parted　us；　and　I　hate　myself　worst　of　all。　　Oh！　oh！　oh！　　Forgive　me
for　crying　so。〃

〃Well；　I　dare　say　there　are　associations　about　this　place　that
upset　you。　　I　shall　go　and　make　ready　for　you；　dear；　and　then　you
can　come　as　soon　as　you　like。〃

He　bestowed　a　paternal　kiss　on　her　brow；　and　glided　doucely　away
before　she　could　possibly　cry　again。

The　very　next　week　Rosa　was　at　Kent　Villa；　with　the　relics　of　her
husband　about　her；　his　chair；　his　writing…table；　his　clock；　his
waste…paper　basket；　a　very　deep　and　large　one。　　She　had　them　all　in
her　bedroom　at　Kent　Villa。

Here　the　days　glided　quietly　but　heavily。

She　derived　some　comfort　from　Uncle　Philip。　　His　rough；　friendly
way　was　a　tonic；　and　braced　her。　　He　called　several　times　about　the
Bijou。　　Told　her　he　had　put　up　enormous　boards　all　over　the　house；
and　puffed　it　finely。　　〃I　have　had　a　hundred　agents　at　me；〃　said
he；　〃and　the　next　thing；　I　hope；　will　be　one　customer；　that　is
about　the　proportion。〃　　At　last　he　wrote　her　he　had　hooked　a
victim；　and　sold　the　lease　and　furniture　for　nine　hundred　guineas。
Staines　had　assigned　the　lease　to　Rosa；　so　she　had　full　powers；　and
Philip　invested　the　money；　and　two　hundred　more　she　gave　him；　in　a
little　mortgage　at　six　per　cent。

Now　came　the　letter　from　Madeira。　　It　gave　her　new　life。
Christopher　was　well；　contented；　hopeful。　　His　example　should
animate　her。　　She　would　bravely　bear　the　present；　and　share　his
hopes　of　the　future：　with　these　brighter　views　Nature　co…operated。
The　instincts　of　approaching　maternity　brightened　the　future。　　She
fell　into　gentle　reveries；　and　saw　her　husband　return；　and　saw
herself　place　their　infant　in　his　arms　with　all　a　wife's；　a
mother's　pride。

In　due　course　came　another　long　letter　from　the　equator；　with　a
full　journal；　and　more　words　of　hope。　　Home　in　less　than　a　year；
with　reputation　increased　by　this　last　cure；　home；　to　part　no　more。

Ah！　what　a　changed　wife　he　should　find！　how　frugal；　how　candid；　how
full　of　appreciation；　admiration；　and　love；　of　the　noblest；　dearest
husband　that　ever　breathed！

Lady　Cicely　Treherne　waited　some　weeks；　to　let　kinder　sentiments
return。　　She　then　called　in　Dear　Street；　but　found　Mrs。　Staines　was
gone　to　Gravesend。　　She　wrote　to　her。

In　a　few　days　she　received　a　reply；　studiously　polite　and　cold。

This　persistent　injustice　mortified　her　at　last。　　She　said　to
herself；　〃Does　she　think　his　departure　was　no　loss　to　ME？　　It　was
to　her　interests；　as　well　as　his；　I　sacrificed　my　own　selfish
wishes。　　I　will　write　to　her　no　more。〃

This　resolution　she　steadily　maintained。　　It　was　shaken　for　a
moment；　when　she　heard；　by　a　side　wind；　that　Mrs。　Staines　was　fast
approaching　the　great　pain　and　peril　of　women。　　Then　she　wavered。
But　no。　　She　prayed　for　her　by　name　in　the　Liturgy；　but　she
troubled　her　no　more。

This　state　of　things　lasted　some　six　weeks；　when　she　received　a
letter　from　her　cousin　Tadcaster；　close　on　the　heels　of　his　last；
to　which　she　had　replied　as　I　have　indicated。　　She　knew　his
handwriting；　and　opened　it　with　a　smile。

That　smile　soon　died　off　her　horror…stricken　face。　　The　letter　ran
thus：


TRISTAN　D'ACUNHA；　Jan。　5。

DEAR　CICELY；A　terrible　thing　has　just　happened。　　We　signalled　a
raft；　with　a　body　on　it；　and　poor　Dr。　Staines　leaned　out　of　the
port…hole；　and　fell　overboard。　　Three　boats　were　let　down　after
him；　but　it　all　went　wrong；　somehow；　or　it　was　too　late。　　They
could　never　find　him；　he　was　drowned；　and　the　funeral　service　was
read　for　the　poor　fellow。

We　are　all　sadly　cut　up。　　Everybody　loved　him。　　It　was　dreadful
next　day　at　dinner；　when　his　chair　was　empty。　　The　very　sailors
cried　at　not　finding　him。

First　of　all；　I　thought　I　ought　to　write　to　his　wife。　　I　know　where
she　lives；　it　is　called　Kent　Villa；　Gravesend。　　But　I　was　afraid；
it　might　kill　her：　and　you　are　so　good　and　sensible；　I　thought　I
had　better　write　to　you；　and　perhaps　you　could　break　it　to　her　by
degrees；　before　it　gets　in　all　the　papers。

I　send　this　from　the　island；　by　a　small　vessel；　and　paid　him　ten
pounds　to　take　it。

Your　affectionate　cousin；

TADCASTER。


Words　are　powerless　to　describe　a　blow　like　this：　the　amazement；
the　stupor；　the　reluctance　to　believethe　rising；　swelling；
surging　horror。　　She　sat　like　a　woman　of　stone；　crumpling　the
letter。　　〃Dead！dead？〃

For　a　long　time　this　was　all　her　mind　could　realizethat
Christopher　Staines　was　dead。　　He　who　had　been　so　full　of　life　and
thought　and　genius；　and　worthier　to　live　than　all　the　world；　was
dead；　and　a　million　nobodies　were　still　alive；　and　he　was　dead。

She　lay　back　on　the　sofa；　and　all　the　power　left　her　limbs。　　She
could　not　move　a　hand。

But　suddenly　she　started　up；　for　a　noble　instinct　told　her　this
blow　must　not　fall　on　the　wife　as　it　had　on　her；　and　in　her　time　of
peril。

She　had　her　bonnet　on　in　a　moment；　and　for　the　first　time　in　her
life；　darted　out　of　the　house　without　her　maid。　　She　flew　along　the
streets；　scarcely　feeling　the　ground。　　She　got　to　Dear　Street；　and
obtained　Philip　Staines's　address。　　She　flew　to　it；　and　there
learned　he　was　down　at　Kent　Villa。　　Instantly　she　telegraphed　to
her　maid　to　come　down　to　her　at　Gravesend；　with　things　for　a　short
visit；　and　wait　for　her　at　the　station；　and　she　went　down　by　train
to　Gravesend。

Hitherto　she　had　walked　on　air；　driven　by　one　overpowering　impulse。
Now；　as　she　sat　in　the　train；　she　thought　a　little　of　herself。
What　was　before　her？　　To　break　to　Mrs。　Staines　that　her　husband　was
dead。　　To　tell　her　all　her　misgivings　were　more　than　justified。　　To
encounter　her　cold　civility；　and　let　her　know；　inch　by　inch；　it
must　be　exchanged　for　curses　and　tearing　of　hair；　her　husband　was
dead。　　To　tell　her　this；　and　in　the　telling　of　it；　perhaps　reveal
that　it　was　HER　great　bereavement；　as　well　as　the　wife's；　for　she
had　a　deeper　affection　for　him　than　she　ought。

Well；　she　trembled　like　an　aspen　leaf；　trembled　like　one　in　an
ague；　even　as　she　sat。　　But　she　persevered。

A　noble　woman　has　her　courage；　not　exactly　the　same　as　that　which
leads　forlorn　hopes　against　bastions　bristling　with　rifles　and
tongued　with　flames　and　thunderbolts；　yet　not　inferior　to　it。

Tadcaster；　small　and　dull；　but　noble　by　birth　and　instinct；　had
seen　the　right　thing　for　her　to　do；　and　she；　of　the　same　breed；　and
nobler　far；　had　seen　it　too；　and　the　great　soul　steadily　drew　the
recoiling　heart　and　quivering　body　to　this　fiery　trial；　this　act　of
humanityto　do　which　was　terrible　and　hard；　to　shirk　it；　cowardly
and　cruel。

She　reached　Gravesend；　and　drove　in　a　fly　to　Kent　Villa。

The　door　was　opened　by　a　maid。

〃Is　Mrs。　Staines　at　home？〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；　she　is　at　HOME：　but〃

〃Can　I　see　her？〃

〃Why；　no；　ma'am；　not　at　present。〃

〃But　I　must　see　her。　　I　am　an　old　friend。　　Please　take　her　my　card。
Lady　Cicely　Treherne。〃

The　maid　hesitated；　and　looked　confused。　　〃Perhaps　you　don't　know；
ma'am。　　Mrs。　Staines；　she　isthe　doctor　have　been　in　the　house　all
day。〃

〃Ah；　the　doctor！　　I　believe　Dr。　Philip　Staines　is　here。〃

〃Why；　that　IS　the　doctor；　ma'am。　　Yes；　he　is　here。〃

〃Then；　pray　let　me　see　himor　no；　I　had　better　see　Mr。　Lusignan。〃

〃Master　have　gone　out　for　the　day；　ma'am；　but　if　you'll　step　in　the
drawing…room；　I'll　tell　the　doctor。〃

Lady　Cicely　waited　in　the　drawing…room　some　time；　heart…sick　and
trembling。

At　last　Dr。　Philip　came　in；　with　her　card　in　his　hand；　looking
evidently　a　little　cross　at　the　interruption。　　〃Now；　madam；　please
tell　me；　as　briefly　as　you　can；　what　I　can　do　for　you。〃

〃Are　you　Dr。　Philip　Staines？〃

〃I　am；　madam；　at　your　servicefor　five　minutes。　　Can't　quit　my
patient　long；　just　now。〃

〃Oh；　sir；　thank　God　I　have　found　you。　　Be　prepared　for　ill　news
sad　newsa　terrible　calamityI　can't　speak。　　Read　that；　sir。〃
And　she　handed　him　Tadcaster's　note。

He　took　it；　and　read　it。

He　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。　　〃Christopher！　my　poor；　poor　boy！〃
he　groaned。　　But　suddenly　a　terrible　anxiety　seized　him。　　〃Who
knows　of　this？〃　he　asked。

〃Only　myself；　sir。　　I　came　here　to　break　it　to　her。〃

〃You　are　a　good；　kind　lady；　for　being　so　thoughtful。　　Madam；　if
this　gets　to　my　niece's　ears；　it　will　kill　her；　as　sure　as　we　stand
here。〃

〃Then　let　us　keep　it　from　her。　　Command　me；　sir。　　I　will　do
anything。　　I　will　live　heretake　the　letters　inthe　journals
anything。〃

〃No；　no；　you　have　done　your　part；　and　God　bless　you　for　it。　　You
must　not　stay　here。　　Your　ladyship's　very　presence；　and　your
agitation；　would　set　the　servants　talking；　and　some　idiot…fiend
among　them　babblingthere　is　nothing　so　terrible　as　a　fool。〃

〃May　I　remain　at　the　inn；　sir；　just　one　night？〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　wish　you　would；　and　I　will　run　over；　if　all　is　well　with
herwell　with　her？　poor　unfortunate　girl！〃

Lady　Cicely　saw　he　wished　her　gone；　and　she　went　directly。

At　nine　o'clock　that　same　evening；　as　she　lay　on　a　sofa　in　the　best
room　of　the　inn；　attended　by　her　maid；　Dr。　Philip　Staines　came　to
her。　　She　dismissed　her　maid。

Dr。　Philip　was　too　old；　in　other　words；　had　lost　too　many　friends；
to　be　really　broken　down　by　bereavement；　but　he　was　strangely
subdued。　　The　loud　tones　were　out　of　him；　and　the　loud　laugh；　and
even　th