a simpleton-第37章

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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　the　keen　sneer。　　Yet　he　was　the　same　man；　but　with　a　gentler
surface；　and　this　was　not　without　its　pathos。

〃Well；　madam；〃　said　he　gravely　and　quietly。　　〃It　is　as　it　always
has　been。　　'As　is　the　race　of　leaves；　so　that　of　man。'　　When　one
falls；　another　comes。　　Here's　a　little　Christopher　come；　in　place
of　him　that　is　gone：　a　brave；　beautiful　boy；　ma'am；　the　finest　but
one　I　ever　brought　into　the　world。　　He　is　come　to　take　his　father's
place　in　our　heartsI　see　you　valued　his　poor　father；　ma'ambut
he　comes　too　late　for　me。　　At　your　age；　ma'am；　friendships　come
naturally；　they　spring　like　loves　in　the　soft　heart　of　youth：　at
seventy；　the　gate　is　not　so　open；　the　soil　is　more　sterile。　　I
shall　never　care　for　another　Christopher；　never　see　another　grow　to
man's　estate。〃

〃The　mother；　sir；〃　sobbed　Lady　Cicely；　〃the　poor　mother？〃

〃Like　them　allpoor　creature：　in　heaven；　madam；　in　heaven。　　New
life！　new　existence！　a　new　character。　　All　the　pride；　glory；
rapture；　and　amazement　of　maternitythanks　to　her　ignorance；　which
we　must　prolong；　or　I　would　not　give　one　straw　for　her　life；　or　her
son's。　　I　shall　never　leave　the　house　till　she　does　know　it；　and
come　when　it　may；　I　dread　the　hour。　　She　is　not　framed　by　nature　to
bear　so　deadly　a　shock。〃

〃Her　father；　sir。　　Would　he　not　be　the　best　person　to　break　it　to
her？　　He　was　out　to…day。〃

〃Her　father；　ma'am？　　I　shall　get　no　help　from　him。　　He　is　one　of
those　soft；　gentle　creatures；　that　come　into　the　world　with　what
your　canting　fools　call　a　mission；　and　his　mission　is　to　take　care
of　number　one。　　Not　dishonestly；　mind　you；　nor　violently；　nor
rudely；　but　doucely　and　calmly。　　The　care　a　brute　like　me　takes　of
his　vitals；　that　care　Lusignan　takes　of　his　outer　cuticle。　　His
number　one　is　a　sensitive　plant。　　No　scenes；　no　noise；　nothing
painfulby…the…by；　the　little　creature　that　writes　in　the　papers；
and　calls　calamities　PAINFUL；　is　of　Lusignan's　breed。　　Out　to…day！
of　course　he　was　out；　ma'am：　he　knew　from　me　his　daughter　would　be
in　peril　all　day；　so　he　visited　a　friend。　　He　knew　his　own
tenderness；　and　evaded　paternal　sensibilities：　a　self…defender。　　I
count　on　no　help　from　that　charming　man。〃

〃A　man！　I　call　such　creachaas　weptiles！〃　said　Lady　Cicely；　her
ghastly　cheek　coloring　for　a　moment。

〃Then　you　give　them　a　false　importance。〃

In　the　course　of　this　interview；　Lady　Cicely　accused　herself　sadly
of　having　interfered　between　man　and　wife；　and　with　the　best
intentions　brought　about　this　cruel　calamity。　　〃Judge；　then；　sir；〃
said　she；　〃how　grateful　I　am　to　you　for　undertaking　this　cruel
task。　　I　was　her　schoolfellow；　sir；　and　I　love　her　dearly；　but　she
has　turned　against　me；　and　now；　oh；　with　what　horror　she　will
regard　me！〃

〃Madam；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃there　is　nothing　more　mean　and　unjust
than　to　judge　others　by　events　that　none　could　foresee。　　Your
conscience　is　clear。　　You　did　your　best　for　my　poor　nephew：　but
Fate　willed　it　otherwise。　　As　for　my　niece；　she　has　many　virtues；
but　justice　is　one　you　must　not　look　for　in　that　quarter。　　Justice
requires　brains。　　It's　a　virtue　the　heart　does　not　deal　in。　　You
must　be　content　with　your　own　good　conscience；　and　an　old　man's
esteem。　　You　did　all　for　the　best；　and　this　very　day　you　have　done
a　good；　kind　action。　　God　bless　you　for　it！〃

Then　he　left　her；　and　next　day　she　went　sadly　home；　and　for　many　a
long　day　the　hollow　world　saw　nothing　of　Cicely　Treherne。

When　Mr。　Lusignan　came　home　that　night；　Dr。　Philip　told　him　the
miserable　story；　and　his　fears。　　He　received　it；　not　as　Philip　had
expected。　　The　bachelor　had　counted　without　his　dormant　paternity。
He　was　terror…strickenabjectfell　into　a　chair；　and　wrung　his
hands；　and　wept　piteously。　　To　keep　it　from　his　daughter　till　she
should　be　stronger；　seemed　to　him　chimerical；　impossible。　　However；
Philip　insisted　it　must　be　done；　and　he　must　make　some　excuse　for
keeping　out　of　her　way；　or　his　manner　would　rouse　her　suspicions。
He　consented　readily　to　that；　and　indeed　left　all　to　Dr。　Philip。

Dr。　Philip　trusted　nobody；　not　even　his　own　confidential　servant。
He　allowed　no　journal　to　come　into　the　house　without　passing
through　his　hands；　and　he　read　them　all　before　he　would　let　any
other　soul　in　the　house　see　them。　　He　asked　Rosa　to　let　him　be　her
secretary　and　open　her　letters；　giving　as　a　pretext　that　it　would
be　as　well　she　should　have　no　small　worries　or　trouble　just　now。

〃Why；〃　said　she；　〃I　was　never　so　well　able　to　bear　them。　　It　must
be　a　great　thing　to　put　me　out　now。　　I　am　so　happy；　and　live　in　the
future。　　Well；　dear　uncle；　you　can　if　you　likewhat　does　it
matter？only　there　must　be　one　exception：　my　own　Christie's
letters；　you　know。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　he；　wincing　inwardly。

The　very　next　day　came　a　letter　of　condolence　from　Miss　Lucas。　　Dr。
Philip　intercepted　it；　and　locked　it　up；　to　be　shown　her　at　a　more
fitting　time。

But　how　could　he　hope　to　keep　so　public　a　thing　as　this　from
entering　the　house　in　one　of　a　hundred　newspapers？

He　went　into　Gravesend；　and　searched　all　the　newspapers；　to　see
what　he　had　to　contend　with。　　To　his　horror；　he　found　it　in　several
dailies　and　weeklies；　and　in　two　illustrated　papers。　　He　sat　aghast
at　the　difficulty　and　the　danger。

The　best　thing　he　could　think　of　was　to　buy　them　all；　and　cut　out
the　account。　　He　did　so；　and　brought　all　the　papers；　thus
mutilated；　into　the　house；　and　sent　them　into　the　kitchen。　　He　said
to　his　old　servant；　〃These　may　amuse　Mr。　Lusignan's　people；　and　I
have　extracted　all　that　interests　me。〃

By　these　means　he　hoped　that　none　of　the　servants　would　go　and　buy
more　of　these　same　papers　elsewhere。

Notwithstanding　these　precautions；　he　took　the　nurse　apart；　and
said；　〃Now；　you　are　an　experienced　woman；　and　to　be　trusted　about
an　excitable　patient。　　Mind；　I　object　to　any　female　servant
entering　Mrs。　Staines's　room　with　gossip。　　Keep　them　outside　the
door　for　the　present；　please。　　Oh；　and　nurse；　if　anything　should
happen；　likely　to　grieve　or　to　worry　her；　it　must　be　kept　from　her
entirely：　can　I　trust　you？〃

〃You　may；　sir。〃

〃I　shall　add　ten　guineas　to　your　fee；　if　she　gets　through　the　month
without　a　shock　or　disturbance　of　any　kind。〃

She　stared　at　him；　inquiringly。　　Then　she　said；

〃You　may　rely　on　me；　doctor。〃

〃I　feel　I　may。　　Still；　she　alarms　me。　　She　looks　quiet　enough；　but
she　is　very　excitable。〃

Not　all　these　precautions　gave　Dr。　Philip　any　real　sense　of
security；　still　less　did　they　to　Mr。　Lusignan。　　He　was　not　a　tender
father；　in　small　things；　but　the　idea　of　actual　danger　to　his　only
child　was　terrible　to　him　and　he　now　passed　his　life　in　a　continual
tremble。

This　is　the　less　to　be　wondered　at；　when　I　tell　you　that　even　the
stout　Philip　began　to　lose　his　nerve；　his　appetite；　his　sleep；
under　this　hourly　terror　and　this　hourly　torture。

Well　did　the　great　imagination　of　antiquity　feign　a　torment；　too
great　for　the　mind　long　to　endure；　in　the　sword　of　Damocles
suspended　by　a　single　hair　over　his　head。　　Here　the　sword　hung　over
an　innocent　creature；　who　smiled　beneath　it；　fearless；　but　these
two　old　men　must　sit　and　watch　the　sword；　and　ask　themselves　how
long　before　that　subtle　salvation　shall　snap。

〃Ill　news　travels　fast；〃　says　the　proverb。　　〃The　birds　of　the　air
shall　carry　the　matter；〃　says　Holy　Writ；　and　it　is　so。　　No　bolts
nor　bars；　no　promises　nor　precautions；　can　long　shut　out　a　great
calamity　from　the　ears　it　is　to　blast；　the　heart　it　is　to　wither。
The　very　air　seems　full　of　it；　until　it　falls。

Rosa's　child　was　more　than　a　fortnight　old；　and　she　was　looking
more　beautiful　than　ever；　as　is　often　the　case　with　a　very　young
mother；　and　Dr。　Philip　complimented　her　on　her　looks。　　〃Now；〃　said
he；　〃you　reap　the　advantage　of　being　good；　and　obedient；　and
keeping　quiet。　　In　another　ten　days　or　so；　I　may　take　you　to　the
seaside　for　a　week。　　I　have　the　honor　to　inform　you　that　from　about
the　fourth　to　the　tenth　of　March　there　is　always　a　week　of　fine
weather；　which　takes　everybody　by　surprise；　except　me。　　It　does　not
astonish　me；　because　I　observe　it　is　invariable。　　Now；　what　would
you　say　if　I　gave　you　a　week　at　Herne　Bay；　to　set　you　up
altogether？〃

〃As　you　please；　dear　uncle；〃　said　Mrs。　Staines；　with　a　sweet　smile。
〃I　shall　be　very　happy　to　go；　or　to　stay。　　I　shall　be　happy
everywhere；　with　my　darling　boy；　and　the　thought　of　my　husband。
Why；　I　count　the　days　till　he　shall　come　back　to　me。　　No；　to　us；　to
us；　my　pet。　　How　dare　a　naughty　mammy　say　to　'me；'　as　if　'me'　was
half　the　'portance　of　oo；　a　precious　pets！〃

Dr。　Philip　was　surprised　into　a　sigh。

〃What　is　the　matter；　dear？〃　said　Rosa；　very　quickly。

〃The　matter？〃

〃Yes；　dear；　the　matter。　　You　sighed；　you；　the　laughing
philosopher。〃

〃Did　I？〃　said　he；　to　gain　time。　　〃Perhaps　I　remembered　the
uncertainty　of　human　life；　and　of　all　mortal　hopes。　　The　old　will
have　their　thoughts；　my　dear。　　They　have　seen　so　much　trouble。〃

〃But；　uncle　dear；　he　is　a　very　healthy　child。〃

〃Very。〃

〃And　you　told　me　yourself　carelessness　was　the　cause　so　many
children　die。〃

〃That　is　true。〃

She　gave　him　a　curious　and　rather　searching　look；　then；　leaning
over　her　boy；　said；　〃Mammy's　not　afraid。　　Beautiful　Pet　was　not
born　to　die　directly。　　He　will　never　leave　his　mam…ma。　　No；　uncle；
he　never　can。　　For　my　life　is　bound　in　his　and　his　dear　father's。
It　is　a　triple　cord：　one　go；　go　all。〃

She　said　this　with　a　quiet　resolution　that　chilled　Uncle　Philip。

At　this　moment　the　nurse；　who　had　been　bending　so　pertinaciously
over　some　work　that　her　eyes　were　invisible；　looked　quickly　up；
cast　a　furtive　glance　at　Mrs。　Staines；　and　finding　she　was　employed
for　the　moment；　made　an　agitated　signal　to　Dr。　Philip。　　All　she　did
was　to　clench　her　two　hands　and　lift　them　half　way　to　her　face；　and
then　cast　a　frightened　look　towards　the　door；　but　Philip's　senses
were　so　sharpened　by　constant　alarm　and　watching；　that　he　saw　at
once　something　serious　was　the　matter。　　But　as　he　had　asked　himself
what　he　should　do　in　case　of　some　sudden　alarm；　he　merely　gave　a
nod　of　intelligence　to　the　nurse；　scarcely　perceptible；　then　rose
quietly　from　his　seat；　and　went　to　the　window。　　〃Snow　coming；　I
think；〃　said　he。　　〃For　all　that　we　shall　have　the　March　summer　in
ten　days。　　You　mark　my　words。〃　　He　then　went　leisurely　out　of　the
room；　at　the　door　he　turned；　and；　with　all　the　cunning　he　was
master　of；　said；　〃Oh；　by　the　by；　come　to　my　room；　nurse；　when　you
are　at　leisure。〃

〃Yes；　doctor；〃　said　the　nurse；　but　never　moved。　　She　was　too　bent
on　hiding　the　agitation　she　really　felt。

〃Had　you　not　better　go　to　him；　nurse？〃

〃Perhaps　I　had；　madam。〃

She　rose　with　feigned　indifference；　and　left　the　room。　　She　walked
leisurely　down　the　passage；　then；　casting　a　hasty　glance　behind
her；　for　fear　Mrs。　Staines　should　be　watching　her；　hurried　into　the
doctor's　room。　　They　met　at　once　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and
Mrs。　Briscoe　burst　out；　〃Sir；　it　is　known　all　over　the　house！〃

〃Heaven　forbid！　　What　is　known？〃

〃What　you　would　give　the　world　to　keep　from　her。　　Why；　sir；　the
moment　you　cautioned　m