a simpleton-第5章

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beating　pulse；　by　love's　electric　current；　set　his　own　heart
throbbing　in　a　moment！

He　put　her　hand　gently；　reluctantly　down；　and　said；　〃Oblige　me　by
turning　this　way。〃　　She　turned；　and　he　winced　internally　at　the
change　in　her；　but　his　face　betrayed　nothing。　　He　looked　at　her
full；　and；　after　a　pause；　put　her　some　questions：　one　was　as　to　the
color　of　the　hemorrhage。　　She　said　it　was　bright　red。

〃Not　a　tinge　of　purple？〃

〃No；〃　said　she　hopefully；　mistaking　him。

He　suppressed　a　sigh。

Then　he　listened　at　her　shoulder…blade　and　at　her　chest；　and　made
her　draw　her　breath　while　he　was　listening。　　The　acts　were　simple；
and　usual　in　medicine；　but　there　was　a　deep；　patient；　silent
intensity　about　his　way　of　doing　them。

Mr。　Lusignan　crept　nearer；　and　stood　with　both　hands　on　a　table；
and　his　old　head　bowed；　awaiting　yet　dreading　the　verdict。

Up　to　this　time；　Dr。　Staines；　instead　of　tapping　and　squeezing；　and
pulling　the　patient　about；　had　never　touched　her　with　his　hand；　and
only　grazed　her　with　his　ear；　but　now　he　said　〃Allow　me；〃　and　put
both　hands　to　her　waist；　more　lightly　and　reverently　than　I　can
describe；　〃Now　draw　a　deep　breath；　if　you　please。〃

〃There！〃

〃If　you　could　draw　a　deeper　still；〃　said　he；　insinuatingly。

〃There；　then！〃　said　she；　a　little　pettishly。

Dr。　Staines's　eye　kindled。

〃Hum！〃　said　he。　　Then；　after　a　considerable　pause；　〃Are　you　better
or　worse　after　each　hemorrhage？〃

〃La！〃　said　Rosa；　〃they　never　asked　me　that。　　Why；　better。〃

〃No　faintness？〃

〃Not　a　bit。〃

〃Rather　a　sense　of　relief；　perhaps？〃

〃Yes；　I　feel　lighter　and　better。〃

The　examination　was　concluded。

Dr。　Staines　looked　at　Rosa；　and　then　at　her　father。　　The　agony　in
that　aged　face；　and　the　love　that　agony　implied；　won　him；　and　it
was　to　the　parent　he　turned　to　give　his　verdict。

〃The　hemorrhage　is　from　the　lungs〃

Lusignan　interrupted　him：　〃From　the　lungs！〃　cried　he；　in　dismay。

〃Yes；　a　slight　congestion　of　the　lungs。〃

〃But　not　incurable！　　Oh；　not　incurable；　doctor！〃

〃Heaven　forbid！　　It　is　curableeasilyby　removing　the　cause。〃

〃And　what　is　the　cause？〃

〃The　cause？〃he　hesitated；　and　looked　rather　uneasy。〃Well；　the
cause；　sir；　istight　stays。〃

The　tranquillity　of　the　meeting　was　instantly　disturbed。　　〃Tight
stays！　　Me！〃　cried　Rosa。　　〃Why；　I　am　the　loosest　girl　in　England。
Look；　papa！〃　　And；　without　any　apparent　effort；　she　drew　herself
in；　and　poked　her　little　fist　between　her　sash　and　her　gown。
〃There！〃

Dr。　Staines　smiled　sadly　and　a　little　sarcastically：　he　was
evidently　shy　of　encountering　the　lady　in　this　argument；　but　he　was
more　at　his　ease　with　her　father；　so　he　turned　towards　him　and
lectured　him　freely。

〃That　is　wonderful；　sir；　and　the　first　four　or　five　female　patients
that　favored　me　with　it；　made　me　disbelieve　my　other　senses；　but
Miss　Lusignan　is　now　about　the　thirtieth　who　has　shown　me　that
marvellous　feat；　with　a　calm　countenance　that　belies　the　herculean
effort。　　Nature　has　her　every…day　miracles：　a　boa…constrictor；
diameter　seventeen　inches；　can　swallow　a　buffalo；　a　woman；　with　her
stays　bisecting　her　almost；　and　lacerating　her　skin；　can　yet　for
one　moment　make　herself　seem　slack；　to　deceive　a　juvenile
physician。　　The　snake　is　the　miracle　of　expansion；　the　woman　is　the
prodigy　of　contraction。〃

〃Highly　grateful　for　the　comparison！〃　cried　Rosa。　　〃Women　and
snakes！〃

Dr。　Staines　blushed　and　looked　uncomfortable。　　〃I　did　not　mean　to
be　offensive；　it　certainly　was　a　very　clumsy　comparison。〃

〃What　does　that　matter？〃　said　Mr。　Lusignan；　impatiently。　　〃Be
quiet；　Rosa；　and　let　Dr。　Staines　and　me　talk　sense。〃

〃Oh；　then　I　am　nobody　in　the　business！〃　said　this　wise　young　lady。

〃You　are　everybody；〃　said　Staines；　soothingly。　　〃But；〃　suggested
he；　obsequiously；　〃if　you　don't　mind；　I　would　rather　explain　my
views　to　your　fatheron　this　one　subject。〃

〃And　a　pretty　subject　it　is！〃

Dr。　Staines　then　invited　Mr。　Lusignan　to　his　lodgings；　and　promised
to　explain　the　matter　anatomically。　　〃Meantime；〃　said　he；　〃would
you　be　good　enough　to　put　your　hands　to　my　waist；　as　I　did　to　the
patient's。〃

Mr。　Lusignan　complied；　and　the　patient　began　to　titter　directly；　to
put　them　out　of　countenance。

〃Please　observe　what　takes　place　when　I　draw　a　full　breath。

〃Now　apply　the　same　test　to　the　patient。　　Breathe　your　best；
please；　Miss　Lusignan。〃

The　patient　put　on　a　face　full　of　saucy　mutiny。

〃To　oblige　us　both。〃

〃Oh；　how　tiresome！〃

〃I　am　aware　it　is　rather　laborious；〃　said　Staines；　a　little　dryly；
〃but　to　oblige　your　father！〃

〃Oh；　anything　to　oblige　papa；〃　said　she；　spitefully。　　〃There！　　And
I　do　hope　it　will　be　the　lastla！　no；　I　don't　hope　that；　neither。〃

Dr。　Staines　politely　ignored　her　little　attempts　to　interrupt　the
argument。　　〃You　found；　sir；　that　the　muscles　of　my　waist；　and　my
intercostal　ribs　themselves；　rose　and　fell　with　each　inhalation　and
exhalation　of　air　by　the　lungs。〃

〃I　did；　but　my　daughter's　waist　was　like　dead　wood；　and　so　were　her
lower　ribs。〃

At　this　volunteer　statement；　Rosa　colored　to　her　temples。　　〃Thanks；
papa！　　Pack　me　off　to　London；　and　sell　me　for　a　big　doll！〃

〃In　other　words；〃　said　the　lecturer；　mild　and　pertinacious；　〃with
us　the　lungs　have　room　to　blow；　and　the　whole　bony　frame　expands
elastic　with　them；　like　the　woodwork　of　a　blacksmith's　bellows；　but
with　this　patient；　and　many　of　her　sex；　that　noble　and　divinely
framed　bellows　is　crippled　and　confined　by　a　powerful　machine　of
human　construction；　so　it　works　lamely　and　feebly：　consequently　too
little　air；　and　of　course　too　little　oxygen；　passes　through　that
spongy　organ　whose　very　life　is　air。　　Now　mark　the　special　result
in　this　case：　being　otherwise　healthy　and　vigorous；　our　patient's
system　sends　into　the　lungs　more　blood　than　that　one　crippled　organ
can　deal　with；　a　small　quantity　becomes　extravasated　at　odd　times；
it　accumulates；　and　would　become　dangerous；　then　Nature；
strengthened　by　sleep；　and　by　some　hours'　relief　from　the
diabolical　engine；　makes　an　effort　and　flings　it　off：　that　is　why
the　hemorrhage　comes　in　the　morning；　and　why　she　is　the　better　for
it；　feeling　neither　faint　nor　sick；　but　relieved　of　a　weight。
This；　sir；　is　the　rationale　of　the　complaint；　and　it　is　to　you　I
must　look　for　the　cure。　　To　judge　from　my　other　female　patients；
and　from　the　few　words　Miss　Lusignan　has　let　fall；　I　fear　we　must
not　count　on　any　very　hearty　co…operation　from　her：　but　you　are　her
father；　and　have　great　authority；　I　conjure　you　to　use　it　to　the
full；　as　you　once　used　itto　my　sorrowin　this　very　room。　　I　am
forgetting　my　character。　　I　was　asked　here　only　as　her　physician。
Good…evening。〃

He　gave　a　little　gulp；　and　hurried　away；　with　an　abruptness　that
touched　the　father　and　offended　the　sapient　daughter。

However；　Mr。　Lusignan　followed　him；　and　stopped　him　before　he　left
the　house；　and　thanked　him　warmly；　and　to　his　surprise；　begged　him
to　call　again　in　a　day　or　two。

〃Well；　Rosa；　what　do　you　say？〃

〃I　say　that　I　am　very　unfortunate　in　my　doctors。　　Mr。　Wyman　is　a
chatterbox　and　knows　nothing。　　Dr。　Snell　is　Mr。　Wyman's　echo。
Christopher　is　a　genius；　and　they　are　always　full　of　crotchets。　　A
pretty　doctor！　　Gone　away；　and　not　prescribed　for　me！〃

Mr。　Lusignan　admitted　it　was　odd。　　〃But；　after　all；〃　said　he；　〃if
medicine　does　you　no　good？〃

〃Ah！　but　any　medicine　HE　had　prescribed　would　have　done　me　good；
and　that　makes　it　all　the　unkinder。〃

〃If　you　think　so　highly　of　his　skill；　why　not　take　his　advice？　　It
can　do　no　harm。〃

〃No　harm？　　Why；　if　I　was　to　leave　them　off　I　should　catch　a
dreadful　cold；　and　that　would　be　sure　to　settle　on　my　chest；　and
carry　me　off；　in　my　present　delicate　state。　　Besides；　it　is　so
unfeminine　not　to　wear　them。〃

This　staggered　Mr。　Lusignan；　and　he　was　afraid　to　press　the　point；
but　what　Staines　had　said　fermented　in　his　mind。

Dr。　Snell　and　Mr。　Wyman　continued　their　visits　and　their
prescriptions。

The　patient　got　a　little　worse。

Mr。　Lusignan　hoped　Christopher　would　call　again；　but　he　did　not。

When　Dr。　Staines　had　satisfied　himself　that　the　disorder　was　easily
curable；　then　wounded　pride　found　an　entrance　even　into　his　loving
heart。　　That　two　strangers　should　have　been　consulted　before　him！
He　was　only　sent　for　because　they　could　not　cure　her。

As　he　seemed　in　no　hurry　to　repeat　his　visit；　Mr。　Lusignan　called
on　him；　and　said；　politely；　he　had　hoped　to　receive　another　call
ere　this。　　〃Personally；〃　said　he；　〃I　was　much　struck　with　your
observations；　but　my　daughter　is　afraid　she　will　catch　cold　if　she
leaves　off　her　corset；　and　that；　you　know；　might　be　very　serious。〃

Dr。　Staines　groaned；　and；　when　he　had　groaned；　he　lectured。
〃Female　patients　are　wonderfully　monotonous　in　this　matter；　they
have　a　programme　of　evasions；　and　whether　the　patient　is　a　lady　or
a　housemaid；　she　seldom　varies　from　that　programme。　　You　find　her
breathing　life's　air　with　half　a　bellows；　and　you　tell　her　so。
'Oh；　no；'　says　she；　and　does　the　gigantic　feat　of　contraction　we
witnessed　that　evening　at　your　house。　　But；　on　inquiry；　you　learn
there　is　a　raw　red　line　ploughed　in　her　flesh　by　the　cruel　stays。
'What　is　that？'　you　ask；　and　flatter　yourself　you　have　pinned　her。
Not　a　bit。　　'That　was　the　last　pair。　　I　changed　them；　because　they
hurt　me。'　　Driven　out　of　that　by　proofs　of　recent　laceration；　they
say；　'If　I　leave　them　off　I　should　catch　my　death　of　cold；'　which
is　equivalent　to　saying　there　is　no　flannel　in　the　shops；　no　common
sense　nor　needles　at　home。〃

He　then　laid　before　him　some　large　French　plates；　showing　the
organs　of　the　human　trunk；　and　bade　him　observe　in　how　small　a
space；　and　with　what　skill；　the　Creator　has　packed　so　many　large
yet　delicate　organs；　so　that　they　should　be　free　and　secure　from
friction；　though　so　close　to　each　other。　　He　showed　him　the　liver；
an　organ　weighing　four　pounds；　and　of　large　circumference；　the
lungs；　a　very　large　organ；　suspended　in　the　chest　and　impatient　of
pressure；　the　heart；　the　stomach；　the　spleen；　all　of　them　too
closely　and　artfully　packed　to　bear　any　further　compression。

Having　thus　taken　him　by　the　eye；　he　took　him　by　the　mind。

〃Is　it　a　small　thing　for　the　creature　to　say　to　her　Creator；　'I　can
pack　all　this　egg…china　better　than　you　can；'　and　thereupon　to　jam
all　those　vital　organs　close；　by　a　powerful；　a　very　powerful　and
ingenious　machine？　　Is　it　a　small　thing　for　that　sex；　which；　for
good　reasons；　the　Omniscient　has　made　larger　in　the　waist　than　the
male；　to　say　to　her　Creator；　'You　don't　know　your　business；　women
ought　to　be　smaller　in　the　waist　than　men；　and　shall　be　throughout
the　civilized　world'？〃

In　short；　he　delivered　so　many　true　and　pointed　things　on　this
trite　subject；　that　the　old　gentleman　was　convinced；　and　begged　him
to　come　over　that　very　evening　and　convince　Rosa。

Dr。　Staines　shook　his　head　dolefully；　and　all　his　fire　died　out　of
him　at　having　to　face　the　fair。　　〃Reason　will　be　wasted。　　Authority
is　the　only　weapon。　　My　profession　and　my　reading　have　both　taught
me　that　the　whole　character　of　her　sex　undergoes　a　change　the
moment　a　man　interferes　with　their　dress。　　From　Chaucer's　day　to
our　own；　neither　public　satire　nor　private　remonstrance　has　eve