a simpleton-第4章

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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　in　a　moment　of　impatience；　despondency；　and　passion。

Rosa　Lusignan　got　worse　and　worse。　　The　slight　but　frequent
hemorrhage　was　a　drain　upon　her　system；　and　weakened　her　visibly。
She　began　to　lose　her　rich　complexion；　and　sometimes　looked　almost
sallow；　and　a　slight　circle　showed　itself　under　her　eyes。　　These
symptoms　were　unfavorable；　nevertheless；　Dr。　Snell　and　Mr。　Wyman
accepted　them　cheerfully；　as　fresh　indications　that　nothing　was
affected　but　the　liver；　they　multiplied　and　varied　their
prescriptions；　the　malady　ignored　those　prescriptions；　and　went
steadily　on。　　Mr。　Lusignan　was　terrified　but　helpless。　　Rosa
resigned　and　reticent。

But　it　was　not　in　human　nature　that　a　girl　of　this　age　could　always
and　at　all　hours　be　mistress　of　herself。　　One　evening　in　particular
she　stood　before　the　glass　in　the　drawing…room；　and　looked　at
herself　a　long　time　with　horror。　　〃Is　that　Rosa　Lusignan？〃　said
she；　aloud；　〃it　is　her　ghost。〃

A　deep　groan　startled　her。　　She　turned；　it　was　her　father。　　She
thought　he　was　fast　asleep；　and　so　indeed　he　had　been；　but　he　was
just　awaking；　and　heard　his　daughter　utter　her　real　mind。　　It　was　a
thunder…clap。　　〃Oh；　my　child！　what　shall　I　do？〃　he　cried。

Then　Rosa　was　taken　by　surprise　in　her　turn。　　She　spoke　out。　　〃Send
for　a　great　physician；　papa。　　Don't　let　us　deceive　ourselves；　it　is
our　only　chance。〃

〃I　will　ask　Mr。　Wyman　to　get　a　physician　down　from　London。〃

〃No；　no；　that　is　no　use；　they　will　put　their　heads　together；　and　he
will　say　whatever　Mr。　Wyman　tells　him。　　La！　papa；　a　clever　man　like
you；　not　to　see　what　a　cheat　that　consultation　was。　　Why；　from　what
you　told　me；　one　can　see　it　was　managed　so　that　Dr。　Snell　could　not
possibly　have　an　opinion　of　his　own。　　No；　no　more　echoes　of　Mr。
Chatterbox。　　If　you　really　want　to　cure　me；　send　for　Christopher
Staines。〃

〃Dr。　Staines！　he　is　very　young。〃

〃But　he　is　very　clever；　and　he　is　not　an　echo。　　He　won't　care　how
many　doctors　he　contradicts　when　I　am　in　danger。　　Papa；　it　is　your
child's　one　chance。〃

〃I'll　try　it；〃　said　the　old　man；　eagerly。　　〃How　confident　you　look！
your　color　has　come　back。　　It　is　an　inspiration。　　Where　is　he？〃

〃I　think　by　this　time　he　must　be　at　his　lodgings　in　Gravesend。
Send　to　him　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃Not　I！　　I'll　go　to　him　to…night。　　It　is　only　a　mile；　and　a　fine
clear　night。〃

〃My　own；　good；　kind　papa！　　Ah！　well；　come　what　may；　I　have　lived
long　enough　to　be　loved。　　Yes；　dear　papa；　save　me。　　I　am　very　young
to　die；　and　he　loves　me　so　dearly。〃

The　old　man　bustled　away　to　put　on　something　warmer　for　his　night
walk；　and　Rosa　leaned　back；　and　the　tears　welled　out　of　her　eyes；
now　he　was　gone。

Before　she　had　recovered　her　composure；　a　letter　was　brought　her；
and　this　was　the　letter　from　Christopher　Staines；　alluded　to
already。

She　took　it　from　the　servant　with　averted　head；　not　wishing　it　to
be　seen　she　had　been　crying；　and　she　started　at　the　handwriting；　it
seemed　such　a　coincidence　that　it　should　come　just　as　she　was
sending　for　him。


MY　OWN　BELOVED　ROSA；I　now　write　to　tell　you；　with　a　heavy　heart；
that　all　is　vain。　　I　cannot　make；　nor　purchase；　a　connection；
except　as　others　do；　by　time　and　patience。　　Being　a　bachelor　is
quite　against　a　young　physician。　　If　I　had　a　wife；　and　such　a　wife
as　you；　I　should　be　sure　to　get　on；　you　would　increase　my
connection　very　soon。　　What；　then；　lies　before　us？　　I　see　but　two
thingsto　wait　till　we　are　old；　and　our　pockets　are　filled；　but
our　hearts　chilled　or　soured；　or　else　to　marry　at　once；　and　climb
the　hill　together。　　If　you　love　me　as　I　love　you；　you　will　be
saving　till　the　battle　is　over；　and　I　feel　I　could　find　energy　and
fortitude　for　both。　　Your　father；　who　thinks　so　much　of　wealth；　can
surely　settle　something　on　YOU；　and　I　am　not　too　poor　to　furnish　a
house　and　start　fair。　　I　am　not　quite　obscuremy　lectures　have
given　me　a　nameand　to　you；　my　own　love；　I　hope　I　may　say　that　I
know　more　than　many　of　my　elders；　thanks　to　good　schools；　good
method；　a　genuine　love　of　my　noble　profession；　and　a　tendency　to
study　from　my　childhood。　　Will　you　not　risk　something　on　my
ability？　　If　not；　God　help　me；　for　I　shall　lose　you；　and　what　is
life；　or　fame；　or　wealth；　or　any　mortal　thing　to　me；　without　you？
I　cannot　accept　your　father's　decision；　YOU　must　decide　my　fate。

You　see　I　have　kept　away　from　you　until　I　can　do　so　no　more。　　All
this　time　the　world　to　me　has　seemed　to　want　the　sun；　and　my　heart
pines　and　sickens　for　one　sight　of　you。

Darling　Rosa；　pray　let　me　look　at　your　face　once　more。

When　this　reaches　you　I　shall　be　at　your　gate。　　Let　me　see　you；
though　but　for　a　moment；　and　let　me　hear　my　fate　from　no　lips　but
yours。My　own　love；　your　heart…broken　lover；

CHRISTOPHER　STAINES。


This　letter　stunned　her　at　first。　　Her　mind　of　late　had　been　turned
away　from　love　to　such　stern　realities。　　Now　she　began　to　be　sorry
she　had　not　told　him。　　〃Poor　thing！〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃he
little　knows　that　now　all　is　changed。　　Papa；　I　sometimes　think；
would　deny　me　nothing　now；　it　is　I　who　would　not　marry　himto　be
buried　by　him　in　a　month　or　two。　　Poor　Christopher！〃

The　next　moment　she　started　up　in　dismay。　　Why；　her　father　would
miss　him。　　No；　perhaps　catch　him　waiting　for　her。　　What　would　he
think？　　What　would　Christopher　think？that　she　had　shown　her　papa
his　letter。

She　rang　the　bell　hard。　　The　footman　came。

〃Send　Harriet　to　me　this　instant。　　Oh；　and　ask　papa　to　come　to　me。〃

Then　she　sat　down　and　dashed　off　a　line　to　Christopher。　　This　was
for　Harriet　to　take　out　to　him。　　Anything　better　than　for
Christopher　to　be　caught　doing　what　was　wrong。

The　footman　came　back　first。　　〃If　you　please；　miss；　master　has　gone
out。〃

〃Run　after　himthe　road　to　Gravesend。〃

〃Yes；　miss。〃

〃No。　　It　is　no　use。　　Never　mind。〃

〃Yes；　miss。〃

Then　Harriet　came　in。　　〃Did　you　want　me；　miss？〃

〃Yes。　　Nonever　mind　now。〃

She　was　afraid　to　do　anything　for　fear　of　making　matters　worse。
She　went　to　the　window；　and　stood　looking　anxiously　out；　with　her
hands　working。　　Presently　she　uttered　a　little　scream　and　shrank
away　to　the　sofa。　　She　sank　down　on　it；　half　sitting；　half　lying；
hid　her　face　in　her　hands；　and　waited。


Staines；　with　a　lover's　impatience；　had　been　more　than　an　hour　at
the　gate；　or　walking　up　and　down　close　by　it；　his　heart　now　burning
with　hope；　now　freezing　with　fear；　that　she　would　decline　a　meeting
on　these　terms。

At　last　the　postman　came；　and　then　he　saw　he　was　too　soon；　but　now
in　a　few　minutes　Rosa　would　have　his　letter；　and　then　he　should
soon　know　whether　she　would　come　or　not。　　He　looked　up　at　the
drawing…room　windows。　　They　were　full　of　light。　　She　was　there　in
all　probability。　　Yet　she　did　not　come　to　them。　　But　why　should
she；　if　she　was　coming　out？

He　walked　up　and　down　the　road。　　She　did　not　come。　　His　heart　began
to　sicken　with　doubt。　　His　head　drooped；　and　perhaps　it　was　owing
to　this　that　he　almost　ran　against　a　gentleman　who　was　coming　the
other　way。　　The　moon　shone　bright　on　both　faces。

〃Dr。　Staines！〃　said　Mr。　Lusignan　surprised。　　Christopher　uttered　an
ejaculation　more　eloquent　than　words。

They　stared　at　each　other。

〃You　were　coming　to　call　on　us？〃

〃Nno；〃　stammered　Christopher。

Lusignan　thought　that　odd；　however；　he　said　politely；　〃No　matter；
it　is　fortunate。　　Would　you　mind　coming　in？〃

〃No；〃　faltered　Christopher；　and　stared　at　him　ruefully；　puzzled
more　and　more；　but　beginning　to　think；　after　all；　it　might　be　a
casual　meeting。

They　entered　the　gate；　and　in　one　moment　he　saw　Rosa　at　the　window；
and　she　saw　him。

Then　he　altered　his　opinion　again。　　Rosa　had　sent　her　father　out　to
him。　　But　how　was　this？　　The　old　man　did　not　seem　angry。
Christopher's　heart　gave　a　leap　inside　him；　and　he　began　to　glow
with　the　wildest　hopes。　　For；　what　could　this　mean　but　relenting？

Mr。　Lusignan　took　him　first　into　the　study；　and　lighted　two　candles
himself。　　He　did　not　want　the　servants　prying。

The　lights　showed　Christopher　a　change　in　Mr。　Lusignan。　　He　looked
ten　years　older。

〃You　are　not　well；　sir；〃　said　Christopher　gently。

〃My　health　is　well　enough；　but　I　am　a　broken…hearted　man。　　Dr。
Staines；　forget　all　that　passed　here　at　your　last　visit。　　All　that
is　over。　　Thank　you　for　loving　my　poor　girl　as　you　do；　give　me　your
hand；　God　bless　you。　　Sir；　I　am　sorry　to　say　it　is　as　a　physician　I
invite　you　now。　　She　is　ill；　sir；　very；　very　ill。〃

〃Ill！　and　not　tell　me！〃

〃She　kept　it　from　you；　my　poor　friend；　not　to　distress　you；　and　she
tried　to　keep　it　from　me；　but　how　could　she？　　For　two　months　she
has　had　some　terrible　complaintit　is　destroying　her。　　She　is　the
ghost　of　herself。　　Oh；　my　poor　child！　my　child！〃

The　old　man　sobbed　aloud。　　The　young　man　stood　trembling；　and　ashy
pale。　　Still；　the　habits　of　his　profession；　and　the　experience　of
dangers　overcome；　together　with　a　certain　sense　of　power；　kept　him
up；　but；　above　all；　love　and　duty　said；　〃Be　firm。〃　　He　asked　for　an
outline　of　the　symptoms。

They　alarmed　him　greatly。

〃Let　us　lose　no　more　time；〃　said　he。　　〃I　will　see　her　at　once。〃

〃Do　you　object　to　my　being　present？〃

〃Of　course　not。〃

〃Shall　I　tell　you　what　Dr。　Snell　says　it　is；　and　Mr。　Wyman？〃

〃By　all　meansafter　I　have　seen　her。〃

This　comforted　Mr。　Lusignan。　　He　was　to　get　an　independent
judgment；　at　all　events。

When　they　reached　the　top　of　the　stairs；　Dr。　Staines　paused　and
leaned　against　the　baluster。　　〃Give　me　a　moment；〃　said　he。　　〃The
patient　must　not　know　how　my　heart　is　beating；　and　she　must　see
nothing　in　my　face　but　what　I　choose　her　to　see。　　Give　me　your　hand
once　more；　sir；　let　us　both　control　ourselves。　　Now　announce　me。〃

Mr。　Lusignan　opened　the　door；　and　said；　with　forced　cheerfulness；
〃Dr。　Staines；　my　dear；　come　to　give　you　the　benefit　of　his　skill。〃

She　lay　on　the　sofa；　just　as　we　left　her。　　Only　her　bosom　began　to
heave。

Then　Christopher　Staines　drew　himself　up；　and　the　majesty　of
knowledge　and　love　together　seemed　to　dilate　his　noble　frame。　　He
fixed　his　eye　on　that　reclining；　panting　figure；　and　stepped
lightly　but　firmly　across　the　room　to　know　the　worst；　like　a　lion
walking　up　to　levelled　lances。


CHAPTER　III。


The　young　physician　walked　steadily　up　to　his　patient　without
taking　his　eye　off　her；　and　drew　a　chair　to　her　side。

Then　she　took　down　one　handthe　leftand　gave　it　him；　averting
her　face　tenderly；　and　still　covering　it　with　her　right；　〃For；〃
said　she　to　herself；　〃I　am　such　a　fright　now。〃　　This　opportune
reflection；　and　her　heaving　bosom；　proved　that　she　at　least　felt
herself　something　more　than　his　patient。　　Her　pretty　consciousness
made　his　task　more　difficult；　nevertheless；　he　only　allowed　himself
to　press　her　hand　tenderly　with　both　his　palms　one　moment；　and　then
he　entered　on　his　functions　bravely。　　〃I　am　here　as　your
physician。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　she　softly。

He　gently　detained　the　hand；　and　put　his　finger　lightly　to　her
pulse；　it　was　palpitating；　and　a　fallacious　test。　　Oh；　how　that
beating　pulse；　by　love's　electric　current；　set　his　own　heart
throbbing　in　a　moment！