a simpleton-第42章

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affliction　that　the　past　is　gone　from　megone；　gone。〃　　And　he　went
sadly　away；　drawing　his　sick　charge　like　a　patient　mule。

Phoebe　Falcon　looked　after　him；　and　began　to　cry。

〃Nay；　nay；　Phoebe；〃　said　Dick；　〃don't　ye　take　on　about　it。〃

〃I　wonder　at　you；〃　sobbed　Phoebe。　　〃Good　people；　I'm　fonder　of　my
brother　than　he　is　of　himself；　it　seems；　for　I　can't　take　it　so
easy。　　Well；　the　world　is　full　of　trouble。　　Let　us　do　what　we　are
here　for。　　But　I　shall　pray　for　the　poor　soul　every　night；　that　his
mind　may　be　given　back　to　him。〃

So　then　she　bustled；　and　gave　herself　to　getting　the　cattle　on
shore；　and　the　things　put　on　board　her　wagon。

But　when　this　was　done；　she　said　to　her　brother；　〃Dick；　I　did　not
think　anything　on　earth　could　take　my　heart　off　the　cattle　and　the
things　we　have　got　from　home；　but　I　can't　leave　this　without　going
to　the　hospital　about　our　poor　dear　doctor：　and　it　is　late　for
making　a　start；　any　wayand　you　mustn't　forget　the　newspapers　for
Reginaldhe　is　so　fond　of　themand　you　must　contrive　to　have　one
sent　out　regular　after　this；　and　I'll　go　to　the　hospital。〃

She　went；　and　saw　the　head　doctor；　and　told　him　he　had　got　an
attendant　there　she　had　known　in　England　in　a　very　different
condition；　and　she　had　come　to　see　if　there　was　anything　she　could
do　for　himfor　she　felt　very　grateful　to　him；　and　grieved　to　see
him　so。

The　doctor　was　pleased　and　surprised；　and　put　several　questions。

Then　she　gave　him　a　clear　statement　of　what　he　had　done　for　Dick　in
England。

〃Well；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃I　believe　it　is　the　same　man；　for；　now
you　tell　me　thisyes；　one　of　the　nurses　told　me　he　knew　more　about
medicine　than　she　did。　　His　name；　if　you　please。〃

〃His　name；　sir？〃

〃Yes；　his　name。　　Of　course　you　know　his　name。　　Is　it　Christie？〃

〃Doctor；〃　said　Phoebe；　blushing；　〃I　don't　know　what　you　will　think
of　me；　but　I　don't　know　his　name。　　Laws　forgive　me；　I　never　had　the
sense　to　ask　it。〃

A　shade　of　suspicion　crossed　the　doctor's　face。

Phoebe　saw　it；　and　colored　to　the　temples。　　〃Oh；　sir；〃　she　cried
piteously；　〃don't　go　for　to　think　I　have　told　you　a　lie！　why　should
I？　and　indeed　I　am　not　of　that　sort；　nor　Dick　neither。　　Sir；　I'll
bring　him　to　you；　and　he　will　say　the　same。　　Well；　we　were　all　in
terror　and　confusion；　and　I　met　him　accidentally　in　the　street。　　He
was　only　a　customer　till　then；　and　paid　ready　money；　so　that　is　how
I　never　knew　his　name；　but　if　I　hadn't　been　the　greatest　fool　in
England；　I　should　have　asked　his　wife。〃

〃What！　he　has　a　wife？〃

〃Ay；　sir；　the　loveliest　lady　you　ever　clapped　eyes　on；　and　he　is
almost　as　handsome；　has　eyes　in　his　head　like　jewels；　'twas　by　them
I　knew　him　on　the　quay；　and　I　think　he　knew　my　voice　again；　said　as
good　as　he　had　heard　it　in　past　times。〃

〃Did　he？　　Then　we　have　got　him；〃　cried　the　doctor　energetically。

〃La；　Sir。〃

〃Yes；　if　he　knows　your　voice；　you　will　be　able　in　time　to　lead　his
memory　back；　at　least；　I　think　so。　　Do　you　live　in　Cape　Town？〃

〃Dear　heart；　no。　　I　live　at　my　own　farm；　a　hundred　and　eighty　miles
from　this。〃

〃What　a　pity！〃

〃Why；　sir？〃

〃Wellhum！〃

〃Oh；　if　you　think　I　could　do　the　poor　doctor　good　by　having　him
with　me；　you　have　only　to　say　the　word；　and　out　he　goes　with　Dick
and　me　to…morrow　morning。　　We　should　have　started　for　home　to…
night；　but　for　this。〃

〃Are　you　in　earnest；　madam？〃　said　the　doctor；　opening　his　eyes。
〃Would　you　really　encumber　yourself　with　a　person　whose　reason　is
in　suspense；　and　may　never　return？〃

〃But　that　is　not　his　fault；　sir。　　Why；　if　a　dog　had　saved　my
brother's　life；　I'd　take　it　home；　and　keep　it　all　its　days；　and
this　is　a　man；　and　a　worthy　man。　　Oh；　sir；　when　I　saw　him　brought
down　so；　and　his　beautiful　eyes　clouded　like；　my　very　bosom　yearned
over　the　poor　soul；　a　kind　act　done　in　dear　old　England；　who　can
see　the　man　in　trouble　here；　and　not　repay　itay；　if　it　cost　one's
blood。　　But　indeed　he　is　strong　and　healthy；　and　hands　are　always
scarce　our　way；　and　the　odds　are　he　will　earn　his　meat　one　way　or
t'other；　and　if　he　doesn't；　why；　all　the　better　for　me；　I　shall
have　the　pleasure　of　serving　him　for　nought　that　once　served　me　for
neither　money　nor　reward。〃

〃You　are　a　good　woman；〃　said　the　doctor　warmly。

〃There's　better；　and　there's　worse；〃　said　Phoebe　quietly；　and　even
a　little　coldly。

〃More　of　the　latter；〃　said　the　doctor　dryly。　　〃Well；　Mrs。？〃

〃Falcon；　sir。〃

〃We　shall　hand　him　over　to　your　care：　but　firstjust　for　formif
you　are　a　married　woman；　we　should　like　to　see　Dick　here：　he　is
your　husband；　I　presume。〃

Ploebe　laughed　merrily。　　〃Dick　is　my　brother；　and　he　can't　be
spared　to　come　here。　　Dick！　he'd　say　black　was　white　if　I　told　him
to。〃

〃Then　let　us　see　your　husband　about　itjust　for　form。〃

〃My　husband　is　at　the　farm。　　I　could　not　venture　so　far　away；　and
not　leave　him　in　charge。〃　　If　she　had　said；　〃I　will　not　bring　him
into　temptation；〃　that　would　have　been　nearer　the　truth。　　〃Let　that
fly　stick　on　the　wall；　sir。　　What　I　do；　my　husband　will　approve。〃

〃I　see　how　it　is。　　You　rule　the　roost。〃

Phoebe　did　not　reply　point…blank　to　that；　she　merely　said；　〃All　my
chickens　are　happy；　great　and　small；〃　and　an　expression　of　lofty；
womanly；　innocent　pride　illuminated　her　face　and　made　it　superb　for
a　moment。

In　short；　it　was　settled　that　Staines　should　accompany　her　next
morning　to　Dale's　Kloof　Farm；　if　he　chose。　　On　inquiry；　it　appeared
that　he　had　just　returned　to　the　hospital　with　his　patient。　　He　was
sent　for；　and　Phoebe　asked　him　sweetly　if　he　would　go　with　her　to
her　house；　one　hundred　and　eighty　miles　away；　and　she　would　be　kind
to　him。

〃On　the　water？〃

〃Nay；　by　land；　but　'tis　a　fine　country；　and　you　will　see　beautiful
deer　and　things　running　across　the　plains；　and〃

〃Shall　I　find　the　past　again；　the　past　again？〃

〃Ay；　poor　soul；　that　we　shall；　God　willing。　　You　and　I；　we　will
hunt　it　together。〃

He　looked　at　her；　and　gave　her　his　hand。　　〃I　will　go　with　you。
Your　face　belongs　to　the　past；　so　does　your　voice。〃

He　then　inquired；　rather　abruptly；　had　she　any　children。　　She
smiled。

〃Ay；　that　I　have；　the　loveliest　little　boy　you　ever　saw。　　When　you
are　as　you　used　to　be；　you　will　be　his　doctor；　won't　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　will　nurse　him；　and　you　will　help　me　find　the　past。〃

Phoebe　then　begged　Staines　to　be　ready　to　start　at　six　in　the
morning。　　She　and　Dick　would　take　him　up　on　their　way。

While　she　was　talking　to　him　the　doctor　slipped　out；　and　to　tell
the　truth　he　went　to　consult　with　another　authority；　whether　he
should　take　this　opportunity　of　telling　Staines　that　he　had　money
and　jewels　at　the　bank：　he　himself　was　half　inclined　to　do　so；　but
the　other；　who　had　not　seen　Phoebe's　face；　advised　him　to　do
nothing　of　the　kind。　　〃They　are　always　short　of　money；　these
colonial　farmers；〃　said　he；　〃she　would　get　every　shilling　out　of
him。〃

〃Most　would；　but　this　is　such　an　honest　face。〃

〃Well；　but　she　is　a　mother；　you　say。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　what　mother　could　be　just　to　a　lunatic；　with　her　own　sweet
angel　babes　to　provide　for？〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Dr。　。　　〃Maternal　love　is　apt　to　modify　the
conscience。〃

〃What　I　would　do；I　would　take　her　address；　and　make　her　promise
to　write　if　he　gets　well；　and　if　he　does　get　well　then　write　to
HIM；　and　tell　him　all　about　it。〃

Dr。　　acted　on　this　shrewd　advice；　and　ordered　a　bundle　to　be
made　up　for　the　traveller　out　of　the　hospital　stores：　it　contained
a　nice　light　summer　suit　and　two　changes　of　linen。


CHAPTER　XVIII。


Next　morning；　Staines　and　Dick　Dale　walked　through　the　streets　of
Cape　Town　side　by　side。　　Dick　felt　the　uneasiness　of　a　sane　man；
not　familiar　with　the　mentally　afflicted；　who　suddenly　finds
himself　alone　with　one。　　Insanity　turns　men　oftenest　into　sheep　and
hares；　but　it　does　now　and　then　make　them　wolves　and　tigers；　and
that　has　saddled　the　insane　in　general　with　a　character　for
ferocity。　　Young　Dale；　then；　cast　many　a　suspicious　glance　at　his
comrade；　as　he　took　him　along。　　These　glances　were　reassuring：
Christopher's　face　had　no　longer　the　mobility；　the　expressive
changes；　that　mark　the　superior　mind；　his　countenance　was
monotonous：　but　the　one　expression　was　engaging；　there　was　a　sweet；
patient；　lamb…like　look：　the　glorious　eye　a　little　troubled　and
perplexed；　but　wonderfully　mild。　　Dick　Dale　looked　and　looked；　and
his　uneasiness　vanished。　　And　the　more　he　looked；　the　more　did　a
certain　wonder　creep　over　him；　and　make　him　scarce　believe　the
thing　he　knew；　viz。；　that　a　learned　doctor　had　saved　him　from　the
jaws　of　death　by　rare　knowledge；　sagacity；　courage；　and　skill
combined：　and　that　mighty　man　of　wisdom　was　brought　down　to　this
lamb；　and　would　go　north；　south；　east；　or　west；　with　sweet　and
perfect　submission；　even　as　he；　Dick　Dale；　should　appoint。　　With
these　reflections　honest　Dick　felt　his　eyes　get　a　little　misty；
and；　to　use　those　words　of　Scripture；　which　nothing　can　surpass　or
equal；　his　bowels　yearned　over　the　man。

As　for　Christopher；　he　looked　straight　forward；　and　said　not　a　word
till　they　cleared　the　town；　but　when　he　saw　the　vast　flowery　vale；
and　the　far…off　violet　hills；　like　Scotland　glorified；　he　turned　to
Dick　with　an　ineffable　expression　of　sweetness　and　good　fellowship；
and　said；　〃Oh；　beautiful！　　We'll　hunt　the　past　together。〃

〃WewillSO；〃　said　Dick；　with　a　sturdy　and　indeed　almost　a　stern
resolution。

Now；　this　he　said；　not　that　he　cared　for　the　past；　nor　intended　to
waste　the　present　by　going　upon　its　predecessor's　trail；　but　he　had
come　to　a　resolutionfull　three　minutes　agoto　humor　his
companion　to　the　top　of　his　bent；　and　say　〃Yes〃　with　hypocritical
vigor　to　everything　not　directly　and　immediately　destructive　to　him
and　his。

The　next　moment　they　turned　a　corner　and　came　upon　the　rest　of
their　party；　hitherto　hidden　by　the　apricot　hedge　and　a　turning　in
the　road。　　A　blue…black　Kafir；　with　two　yellow　Hottentot　drivers；
man　and　boy；　was　harnessing；　in　the　most　primitive　mode；　four
horses　on　to　the　six　oxen　attached　to　the　wagon；　and　the　horses
were　flattening　their　ears；　and　otherwise　resenting　the
incongruity。　　Meantime　a　fourth　figure；　a　colossal　young　Kafir
woman；　looked　on　superior　with　folded　arms；　like　a　sable　Juno
looking　down　with　that　absolute　composure　upon　the　struggles　of　man
and　other　animals；　which　Lucretius　and　his　master　Epicurus　assigned
to　the　Divine　nature。　　Without　jesting；　the　grandeur；　majesty；　and
repose　of　this　figure　were　unsurpassable　in　nature；　and　such　as
have　vanished　from　sculpture　two　thousand　years　and　more。

Dick　Dale　joined　the　group　immediately；　and　soon　arranged　the
matter。　　Meantime；　Phoebe　descended　from　the　wagon；　and　welcomed
Christopher　very　kindly；　and　asked　him　if　he　would　like　to　sit
beside　her；　or　to　walk。

He　glanced　into　the　wagon；　it　was　covered　and　curtained；　and　dark
as　a　cupboard。　　〃I　think；〃　said　he；　timidly；　〃I　shall　see　more　of
the　past　out　here。〃

〃So　you　will；　poor　soul；〃　said　Phoebe　kindly；　〃and　better　for　your
health：　but　you　must　not　go　far　from　the　wagon；　for　I'm　a　fidget；
and　I　have　got　the　care　of　you　now；　you　know；　for　want　of　a　better。
Come；　Ucatella；　you　must　ride　with　me；　and　help　me　sort　the　things；
they　are　all　higgledy…piggledy。〃　　So　tho