a simpleton-第46章

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infirmity；　pretended　he　was　himself　very　often　troubled　in　the　same
way；　and　advised　him　to　read　the　newspapers。　　〃My　good　wife；〃　said
he；　〃has　brought　me　a　whole　file　of　the　Cape　Gazette。　　I'd　read
them　if　I　was　you。　　The　deuce　is　in　it；　if　you　don't　rake　up
something　or　other。〃

Christopher　thanked　him　warmly　for　this：　he　got　the　papers　to　his
own　little　room；　and　had　always　one　or　two　in　his　pocket　for
reading。　　At　first　he　found　a　good　many　hard　words　that　puzzled
him；　and　he　borrowed　a　pencil　of　Phoebe；　and　noted　them　down。
Strange　to　say；　the　words　that　puzzled　him　were　always　common
words；　that　his　unaccountable　memory　had　forgotten：　a　hard　word；　he
was　sure　to　remember　that。

One　day　he　had　to　ask　Falcon　the　meaning　of　〃spendthrift。〃　　Falcon
told　him　briefly。　　He　could　have　illustrated　the　word　by　a　striking
example；　but　he　did　not。　　He　added；　in　his　polite　way；　〃No　fellow
can　understand　all　the　words　in　a　newspaper。　　Now；　here's　a　word　in
mine'Anemometer；'　who　the　deuce　can　understand　such　a　word？〃

〃Oh；　THAT　is　a　common　word　enough；〃　said　poor　Christopher。　　〃It
means　a　machine　for　measuring　the　force　of　the　wind。〃

〃Oh；　indeed；〃　said　Falcon；　but　did　not　believe　a　word　of　it。

One　sultry　day　Christopher　had　a　violent　headache；　and　complained
to　Ucatella。　　She　told　Phoebe；　and　they　bound　his　brows　with　a　wet
handkerchief；　and　advised　him　to　keep　in…doors。　　He　sat　down　in　the
coolest　part　of　the　house；　and　held　his　head　with　his　hands；　for　it
seemed　as　if　it　would　explode　into　two　great　fragments。

All　in　a　moment　the　sky　was　overcast　with　angry　clouds；　whirling
this　way　and　that。　　Huge　drops　of　hail　pattered　down；　and　the　next
minute　came　a　tremendous　flash　of　lightning；　accompanied；　rather
than　followed；　by　a　crash　of　thunder　close　over　their　heads。

This　was　the　opening。　　Down　came　a　deluge　out　of　clouds　that　looked
mountains　of　pitch；　and　made　the　day　night　but　for　the　fast　and
furious　strokes　of　lightning　that　fired　the　air。　　The　scream　of
wind　and　awful　peals　of　thunder　completed　the　horrors　of　the　scene。

In　the　midst　of　this；　by　what　agency　I　know　no　more　than　science　or
a　sheep　does；　something　went　off　inside　Christopher's　head；　like　a
pistol…shot。　　He　gave　a　sort　of　scream；　and　dashed　out　into　the
weather。

Phoebe　heard　his　scream　and　his　flying　footstep；　and　uttered　an
ejaculation　of　fear。　　The　whole　household　was　alarmed；　and；　under
other　circumstances；　would　have　followed　him；　but　you　could　not　see
ten　yards。

A　chill　sense　of　impending　misfortune　settled　on　the　house。　　Phoebe
threw　her　apron　over　her　head；　and　rocked　in　her　chair。

Dick　himself　looked　very　grave。

Ucatella　would　have　tried　to　follow　him；　but　Dick　forbade　her。
〃'Tis　no　use；〃　said　he。　　〃When　it　clears；　we　that　be　men　will　go
for　him。〃

〃Pray　Heaven　you　may　find　him　alive！〃

〃I　don't　think　but　what　we　shall。　　There's　nowhere　he　can　fall　down
to　hurt　himself；　nor　yet　drown　himself；　but　our　dam；　and　he　has　not
gone　that　way。　　But〃

〃But　what？〃

〃If　we　do　find　him；　we　must　take　him　back　to　Cape　Town；　before　he
does　himself；　or　some　one；　a　mischief。　　Why；　Phoebe；　don't　you　see
the　man　has　gone　raving　mad？〃


CHAPTER　XIX。


The　electrified　man　rushed　out　into　the　storm；　but　he　scarcely　felt
it　in　his　body；　the　effect　on　his　mind　overpowered　hail…stones。
The　lightning　seemed　to　light　up　the　past；　the　mighty　explosions　of
thunder　seemed　cannon　strokes　knocking　down　a　wall；　and　letting　in
his　whole　life。

Six　hours　the　storm　raged；　and；　before　it　ended；　he　had　recovered
nearly　his　whole　past；　except　his　voyage　with　Captain　Doddthat；
indeed；　he　never　recoveredand　the　things　that　happened　to　him　in
the　hospital　before　he　met　Phoebe　Falcon　and　her　brother：　and　as
soon　as　he　had　recovered　his　lost　memory；　his　body　began　to　shiver
at　the　hail　and　rain。　　He　tried　to　find　his　way　home；　but　missed
it；　not　so　much；　however；　but　that　he　recovered　it　as　soon　as　it
began　to　clear；　and　just　as　they　were　coming　out　to　look　for　him；
he　appeared　before　them；　dripping；　shivering；　very　pale　and　worn；
with　the　handkerchief　still　about　his　head。

At　sight　of　him；　Dick　slipped　back　to　his　sister；　and　said；　rather
roughly；　〃There　now；　you　may　leave　off　crying：　he　is　come　home；　and
to…morrow　I　take　him　to　Cape　Town。〃

Christopher　crept　in；　a　dismal；　sinister　figure。

〃Oh；　sir；〃　said　Phoebe；　〃was　this　a　day　for　a　Christian　to　be　out
in？　　How　could　you　go　and　frighten　us　so？〃

〃Forgive　me；　madam；〃　said　Christopher　humbly；　〃I　was　not　myself。〃

〃The　best　thing　you　can　do　now　is　to　go　to　bed；　and　let　us　send　you
up　something　warm。〃

〃You　are　very　good；〃　said　Christopher；　and　retired　with　the　air　of
one　too　full　of　great　amazing　thoughts　to　gossip。

He　slept　thirty　hours　at　a　stretch；　and　then；　awaking　in　the　dead
of　night；　he　saw　the　past　even　more　clear　and　vivid；　he　lighted　his
candle　and　began　to　grope　in　the　Cape　Gazette。　　As　to　dates；　he　now
remembered　when　he　had　sailed　from　England；　and　also　from　Madeira。
Following　up　this　clew；　he　found　in　the　Gazette　a　notice　that　H。　M。
ship　Amphitrite　had　been　spoken　off　the　Cape；　and　had　reported　the
melancholy　loss　of　a　promising　physician　and　man　of　science；　Dr。
Staines。

The　account　said　every　exertion　had　been　made　to　save　him；　but　in
vain。

Staines　ground　his　teeth　with　rage　at　this。　　〃Every　exertion！　the
false…hearted　curs。　　They　left　me　to　drown；　without　one　manly
effort　to　save　me。　　Curse　them；　and　curse　all　the　world。〃

Pursuing　his　researches　rapidly；　he　found　a　much　longer　account　of
a　raft　picked　up　by　Captain　Dodd；　with　a　white　man　on　it　and　a　dead
body；　the　white　man　having　on　him　a　considerable　sum　in　money　and
jewels。

Then　a　new　anxiety　chilled　him。　　There　was　not　a　word　to　identify
him　with　Dr。　Staines。　　The　idea　had　never　occurred　to　the　editor　of
the　Cape　Gazette。　　Still　less　would　it　occur　to　any　one　in　England。
At　this　moment　his　wife　must　be　mourning　for　him。　　〃Poorpoor
Rosa！〃

But　perhaps　the　fatal　news　might　not　have　reached　her。

That　hope　was　dashed　away　as　soon　as　found。　　Why；　these　were　all
OLD　NEWSPAPERS。　　That　gentlemanly　man　who　had　lent　them　to　him　had
said　so。

Old！　yet　they　completed　the　year　1867。

He　now　tore　through　them　for　the　dates　alone；　and　soon　found　they
went　to　1868。　　Yet　they　were　old　papers。　　He　had　sailed　in　May；
1867。

〃My　God！〃　he　cried；　in　agony；　〃I　HAVE　LOST　A　YEAR。〃

This　thought　crushed　him。　　By　and　by　he　began　to　carry　this　awful
idea　into　details。　　〃My　Rosa　has　worn　mourning　for　me；　and　put　it
off　again。　　I　am　dead　to　her；　and　to　all　the　world。〃

He　wept　long　and　bitterly。

Those　tears　cleared　his　brain　still　more。　　For　all　that；　he　was　not
yet　himself；　at　least；　I　doubt　it；　his　insanity；　driven　from　the
intellect；　fastened　one　lingering　claw　into　his　moral　nature；　and
hung　on　by　it。　　His　soul　filled　with　bitterness　and　a　desire　to　be
revenged　on　mankind　for　their　injustice；　and　this　thought　possessed
him　more　than　reason。

He　joined　the　family　at　breakfast；　and　never　a　word　all　the　time。
But　when　he　got　up　to　go；　he　said；　in　a　strange；　dogged　way；　as　if
it　went　against　the　grain；　〃God　bless　the　house　that　succors　the
afflicted。〃　　Then　he　went　out　to　brood　alone。

〃Dick；〃　said　Phoebe；　〃there's　a　change。　　I'll　never　part　with　him：
and　look；　there's　Collie　following　him；　that　never　could　abide
him。〃

〃Part　with　him？〃　said　Reginald。　　〃Of　course　not。　　He　is　a
gentleman；　and　they　are　not　so　common　in　Africa。〃

Dick；　who　hated　Falcon；　ignored　this　speech　entirely；　and　said；
〃Well；　Pheeb；　you　and　Collie　are　wiser　than　I　am。　　Take　your　own
way；　and　don't　blame　me　if　anything　happens。〃

Soon　Christopher　paid　the　penalty　of　returning　reason。　　He　suffered
all　the　poignant　agony　a　great　heart　can　endure。

So　this　was　his　reward　for　his　great　act　of　self…denial　in　leaving
his　beloved　wife。　　He　had　lost　his　patient；　he　had　lost　the　income
from　that　patient；　his　wife　was　worse　off　than　before；　and　had
doubtless　suffered　the　anguish　of　a　loving　heart　bereaved。　　His
mind；　which　now　seemed　more　vigorous　than　ever；　after　its　long
rest；　placed　her　before　his　very　eyes；　pale；　and　worn　with　grief；
in　her　widow's　cap。

At　the　picture；　he　cried　like　the　rain。　　He　could　give　her　joy；　by
writing；　but　he　could　not　prevent　her　from　suffering　a　whole　year
of　misery。

Turning　this　over　in　connection　with　their　poverty；　his　evil　genius
whispered；　〃By　this　time　she　has　received　the　six　thousand　pounds
for　your　death。　　SHE　would　never　think　of　that；　but　her　father　has：
and　there　is　her　comfort　assured；　in　spite　of　the　caitiffs　who　left
her　husband　to　drown　like　a　dog。

〃I　know　my　Rosa；〃　he　thought。　　〃She　has　swoonedah；　my　poor
darlingshe　has　ravedshe　has　wept；〃　he　wept　himself　at　the
thought〃she　has　mourned　every　indiscreet　act；　as　if　it　was　a
crime。　　But　she　HAS　done　all　this。　　Her　good　and　loving　but　shallow
nature　is　now　at　rest　from　the　agonies　of　bereavement；　and　nought
remains　but　sad　and　tender　regrets。　　She　can　better　endure　that
than　poverty：　cursed　poverty；　which　has　brought　her　and　me　to　this；
and　is　the　only　real　evil　in　the　world；　but　bodily　pain。〃

Then　came　a　struggle；　that　lasted　a　whole　week；　and　knitted　his
brows；　and　took　the　color　from　his　cheek；　but　it　ended　in　the
triumph　of　love　and　hate；　over　conscience　and　common　sense。　　His
Rosa　should　not　be　poor；　and　he　would　cheat　some　of　those
contemptible　creatures　called　men；　who　had　done　him　nothing　but
injustice；　and　at　last　had　sacrificed　his　life　like　a　rat's。

When　the　struggle　was　over；　and　the　fatal　resolution　taken；　then　he
became　calmer；　less　solitary；　and　more　sociable。

Phoebe；　who　was　secretly　watching　him　with　a　woman's　eye；　observed
this　change　in　him；　and；　with　benevolent　intentions；　invited　him
one　day　to　ride　round　the　farm　with　her。　　He　consented　readily。
She　showed　him　the　fields　devoted　to　maize　and　wheat；　and　then　the
sheepfolds。　　Tim's　sheep　were　apparently　deserted；　but　he　was
discovered　swinging　head　downwards　from　the　branch　of　a　camel…
thorn；　and　seeing　him；　it　did　strike　one　that　if　he　had　had　a　tail
he　would　have　been　swinging　by　that。　　Phoebe　called　to　him：　he
never　answered；　but　set　off　running　to　her；　and　landed　himself
under　her　nose　in　a　wheel　somersault。

〃I　hope　you　are　watching　them；　Tim；〃　said　his　mistress。

〃Iss；　missy；　always　washing　'em。〃

〃Why；　there's　one　straying　towards　the　wood　now。〃

〃He　not　go　far；〃　said　Tim　coolly。　　The　young　monkey　stole　off　a
little　way；　then　fell　flat；　and　uttered　the　cry　of　a　jackal；　with
startling　precision。　　Back　went　the　sheep　to　his　comrades　post
haste；　and　Tim　effected　a　somersault　and　a　chuckle。

〃You　are　a　clever　boy；〃　said　Phoebe。　　〃So　that　is　how　you　manage
them。〃

〃Dat　one　way；　missy；〃　said　Tim；　not　caring　to　reveal　all　his
resources　at　once。

Then　Phoebe　rode　on；　and　showed　Christopher　the　ostrich　pan。　　It
was　a　large　basin；　a　form　the　soil　often　takes　in　these　parts；　and
in　it　strutted　several　full…grown　ostriches　and　their　young；　bred
on　the　premises。　　There　was　a　little　dam　of　water；　and　plenty　of
food　about。　　They　were　herded　by　a　Kafir　infant　of　about　six；
black；　glossy；　fat；　and　clean；　being　in　the　water　six　times　a　day。

Sometime