a simpleton-第57章

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〃It　was　anything　but　true。　　I　had　suffered　so　in　England；　I　had
been　so　happy　here：　too　happy　to　last。　　Ah！　well；　it　is　all　over。
Let　us　think　of　the　matter　in　hand。　　Sure　that　was　not　the　only
letter　you　gave　my　husband？　　Didn't　you　write　to　HER？〃

〃Of　course　I　did；　but　that　was　enclosed　to　you；　and　not　to　be　given
to　her　until　you　had　broken　the　joyful　news　to　her。　　Yes；　Mrs。
Falcon；　I　wrote　and　told　her　everything：　my　loss　at　sea；　how　I　was
saved；　after；　by　your　kindness。　　Our　journeys；　from　Cape　Town；　and
then　to　the　diggings；　my　sudden　good　fortune；　my　hopes；　my　joy
O　my　poor　Rosa！　and　now　I　suppose　she　will　never　get　it。　　It　is　too
cruel　of　him。　　I　shall　go　home　by　the　next　steamer。　　I　CAN'T　stay
here　any　longer；　for　you　or　anybody。　　Oh；　and　I　enclosed　my　ruby
ring　that　she　gave　me；　for　I　thought　she　might　not　believe　you
without　that。〃

〃Let　me　think；〃　said　Phoebe；　turning　ashy　pale。　　〃For　mercy's　sake；
let　me　think！

〃He　has　read　both　those　letters；　sir。

〃She　will　never　see　hers：　any　more　than　I　shall　see　mine。〃

She　paused　again；　thinking　harder　and　harder。

〃We　must　take　two　places　in　the　next　mail　steamer。　　I　must　look
after　my　husband；　AND　YOU　AFTER　YOUR　WIFE。〃


CHAPTER　XXV。


Mrs。　Falcon's　bitter　feeling　against　Dr。　Staines　did　not　subside；
it　merely　went　out　of　sight　a　little。　　They　were　thrown　together　by
potent　circumstances；　and　in　a　manner　connected　by　mutual
obligations；　so　an　open　rupture　seemed　too　unnatural。　　Still　Phoebe
was　a　woman；　and；　blinded　by　her　love　for　her　husband；　could　not
forgive　the　innocent　cause　of　their　present　unhappy　separation；
though　the　fault　lay　entirely　with　Falcon。

Staines　took　her　on　board　the　steamer；　and　paid　her　every
attention。　　She　was　also　civil　to　him；　but　it　was　a　cold　and
constrained　civility。

About　a　hundred　miles　from　land　the　steamer　stopped；　and　the
passengers　soon　learned　there　was　something　wrong　with　her
machinery。　　In　fact；　after　due　consultation；　the　captain　decided　to
put　back。

This　irritated　and　distressed　Mrs。　Falcon　so　that　the　captain；
desirous　to　oblige　her；　hailed　a　fast　schooner；　that　tacked　across
her　bows；　and　gave　Mrs。　Falcon　the　option　of　going　back　with　him；
or　going　on　in　the　schooner；　with　whose　skipper　he　was　acquainted。

Staines　advised　her　on　no　account　to　trust　to　sails；　when　she　could
have　steam　with　only　a　delay　of　four　or　five　days；　but　she　said；
〃Anything　sooner　than　go　back。　　I　can't；　I　can't　on　such　an
errand。〃

Accordingly　she　was　put　on　board　the　schooner；　and　Staines；　after
some　hesitation；　felt　bound　to　accompany　her。

It　proved　a　sad　error。　　Contrary　winds　assailed　them　the　very　next
day；　and　with　such　severity　that　they　had　repeatedly　to　lie　to。

On　one　of　these　occasions；　with　a　ship　reeling　under　them　like　a
restive　horse；　and　the　waves　running　mountains　high；　poor　Phoebe's
terrors　overmastered　both　her　hostility　and　her　reserve。　　〃Doctor；〃
said　she；　〃I　believe　'tis　God's　will　we　shall　never　see　England。　　I
must　try　and　die　more　like　a　Christian　than　I　have　lived；　forgiving
all　who　have　wronged　me；　and　you；　that　have　been　my　good　friend　and
my　worst　enemy；　but　you　did　not　mean　it。　　Sir；　what　has　turned　me
against　you　soyour　wife　was　my　husband's　sweetheart　before　he
married　me。〃

〃My　wife　your　husband'syou　are　dreaming。〃

〃Nay；　sir；　once　she　came　to　my　shop；　and　I　saw　directly　I　was
nothing　to　him；　and　he　owned　it　all　to　me；　he　had　courted　her；　and
she　jilted　him；　so　he　said。　　Why　should　he　tell　me　a　lie　about
that？　　I'd　lay　my　life　'tis　true。　　And　now　you　have　sent　him　to　her
your　own　self；　and；　at　sight　of　her；　I　shall　be　nothing　again。
Well；　when　this　ship　goes　down；　they　can　marry；　and　I　hope　he　will
be　happy；　happier　than　I　can　make　him；　that　tried　my　best；　God
knows。〃

This　conversation　surprised　Staines　not　a　little。　　However；　he
said；　with　great　warmth；　it　was　false。　　His　wife　had　danced　and
flirted　with　some　young　gentleman　at　one　time；　when　there　was　a
brief　misunderstanding　between　him　and　her；　but　sweetheart　she　had
never　had；　except　him。　　He　courted　her　fresh　from　school。　　〃Now；　my
good　soul；〃　said　he；　〃make　your　mind　easy；　the　ship　is　a　good　one；
and　well　handled；　and　in　no　danger　whatever；　and　my　wife　is　in　no
danger　from　your　husband。　　Since　you　and　your　brother　tell　me　that
he　is　a　villain；　I　am　bound　to　believe　you。　　But　my　wife　is　an
angel。　　In　our　miserable　hour　of　parting；　she　vowed　not　to　marry
again；　should　I　be　taken　from　her。　　Marry　again！　what　am　I　talking
of？　　Why；　if　he　visits　her　at　all；　it　will　be　to　let　her　know　I　am
alive；　and　give　her　my　letter。　　Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　she　will
listen　to　vows　of　love　from　him；　when　her　whole　heart　is　in　rapture
for　me？　　Such　nonsense！〃

This　burst　of　his　did　not　affront　her；　and　did　not　comfort　her。

At　last　the　wind　abated；　and　after　a　wearisome　calm；　a　light　breeze
came；　and　the　schooner　crept　homeward。

Phoebe　restrained　herself　for　several　days；　but　at　last　she　came
back　to　the　subject；　this　time　it　was　in　an　apologetic　tone　at
starting。　　〃I　know　you　think　me　a　foolish　woman；〃　she　said；　〃but　my
poor　Reginald　could　never　resist　a　pretty　face；　and　she　is　so
lovely；　and　you　should　have　seen　how　he　turned　when　she　came　in　to
my　place。　　Oh；　sir；　there　has　been　more　between　them　than　you　know
of；　and　when　I　think　that　he　will　have　been　in　England　so　many
months　before　we　get　there；　oh；　doctor；　sometimes　I　feel　as　I
should　go　mad；　my　head　it　is　like　a　furnace；　and　see；　my　brow　is
all　wrinkled　again。〃

Then　Staines　tried　to　comfort　her；　assured　her　she　was　tormenting
herself　idly；　her　husband　would　perhaps　have　spent　some　of　the
diamond　money　on　his　amusement；　but　what　if　he　had？　he　should
deduct　it　out　of　the　big　diamond；　which　was　also　their　joint
property；　and　the　loss　would　hardly　be　felt。　　〃As　to　my　wife；
madam；　I　have　but　one　anxiety；　lest　he　should　go　blurting　it　out
that　I　am　alive；　and　almost　kill　her　with　joy。〃

〃He　will　not　do　that；　sir。　　He　is　no　fool。〃

〃I　am　glad　of　it；　for　there　is　nothing　else　to　fear。〃

〃Man；　I　tell　you　there　is　everything　to　fear。　　You　don't　know　him
as　I　do；　nor　his　power　over　women。〃

〃Mrs。　Falcon；　are　you　bent　on　affronting　me？〃

〃No；　sir；　Heaven　forbid！〃

〃Then　please　to　close　this　subject　forever。　　In　three　weeks　we
shall　be　in　England。〃

〃Ay；　but　he　has　been　there　six　months。〃

He　bowed　stiffly　to　her；　went　to　his　cabin；　and　avoided　the　poor
foolish　woman　as　much　as　he　could　without　seeming　too　unkind。


CHAPTER　XXVI。


Mrs。　Staines　made　one　or　two　movementsto　stop　Lord　Tadcaster
with　her　hand；　that　expressive　feature　with　which；　at　such　times；　a
sensitive　woman　can　do　all　but　speak。

When　at　last　he　paused　for　her　reply；　she　said；　〃Me　marry　again！
Oh！　for　shame！〃

〃Mrs。　StainesRosayou　will　marry　again；　some　day。〃

〃Never。　　Me　take　another　husband；　after　such　a　man　as　I　have　lost！
I　should　be　a　monster。　　Oh；　Lord　Tadcaster；　you　have　been　so　kind
to　me；　so　sympathizing。　　You　made　me　believe　you　loved　my
Christopher；　too；　and　now　you　have　spoiled　all。　　It　is　too　cruel。〃

〃Oh！　Mrs。　Staines；　do　you　think　me　capable　of　feigningdon't　you
see　my　love　for　you　has　taken　you　by　surprise？　　But　how　could　I
visit　youlook　on　youhear　youmingle　my　regrets　with　yours；
yours　were　the　deepest；　of　course；　but　mine　were　honest。〃

〃I　believe　it。〃　　And　she　gave　him　her　hand。　　He　held　it；　and　kissed
it；　and　cried　over　it；　as　the　young　will；　and　implored　her；　on　his
knees；　not　to　condemn　herself　to　life…long　widowhood；　and　him　to
despair。

Then　she　cried；　too；　but　she　was　firm；　and　by　degrees　she　made　him
see　that　her　heart　was　inaccessible。

Then　at　last　he　submitted　with　tearful　eyes；　but　a　valiant　heart。

She　offered　friendship　timidly。

But　he　was　too　much　of　a　man　to　fall　into　that　trap。　　〃No；〃　he
said：　〃I　could　not；　I　could　not。　　Love　or　nothing。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　she；　pityingly。　　〃Forgive　me。　　In　my
selfishness　and　my　usual　folly；　I　did　not　see　this　coming　on；　or　I
would　have　spared　you　this　mortification。〃

〃Never　mind　that；〃　gulped　the　little　earl。　　〃I　shall　always　be
proud　I　knew　you；　and　proud　I　loved　you；　and　offered　you　my　hand。〃

Then　the　magnanimous　little　fellow　blessed　her；　and　left　her；　and
discontinued　his　visits。

Mr。　Lusignan　found　her　crying；　and　got　the　truth　out　of　her。　　He
was　in　despair。　　He　remonstrated　kindly；　but　firmly。　　Truth　compels
me　to　say　that　she　politely　ignored　him。　　He　observed　that
phenomenon；　and　said；　〃Very　well　then；　I　shall　telegraph　for　Uncle
Philip。〃

〃Do；〃　said　the　rebel。　　〃He　is　always　welcome。〃

Philip；　telegraphed；　came　down　that　evening；　likewise　his　little
black　bag。　　He　found　them　in　the　drawing…room：　papa　with　the　Pall
Mall　Gazette；　Rosa　seated；　sewing；　at　a　lamp。　　She　made　little
Christie's　clothes　herself；fancy　that！

Having　ascertained　that　the　little　boy　was　well；　Philip；　adroitly
hiding　that　he　had　come　down　torn　with　anxiety　on　that　head；
inquired　with　a　show　of　contemptuous　indifference；　whose　cat　was
dead。

〃Nobody's；〃　said　Lusignan　crossly。　　Then　he　turned　and　pointed　the
Gazette　at　his　offspring。　　〃Do　you　see　that　young　lady　stitching
there　so　demurely？〃

Philip　carefully　wiped　and　then　put　on　his　spectacles。

〃I　see　her；〃　said　he。　　〃She　does　look　a　little　too　innocent。　　None
of　them　are　really　so　innocent　as　all　that。　　Has　she　been　swearing
at　the　nurse；　and　boxing　her　ears？〃

〃Worse　than　that。　　She　has　been　and　refused　the　Earl　of　Tadcaster。〃

〃Refused　himwhat！　has　that　little　monkey　had　the　audacity？〃

〃The　condescension；　you　mean。　　Yes。〃

〃And　she　has　refused　him？〃

〃And　twenty　thousand　a　year。〃

〃What　immorality！〃

〃Worse。　　What　absurdity！〃

〃How　is　it　to　be　accounted　for？　　Is　it　the　old　story？　　'I　could
never　love　him。'　　No；　that's　inadequate；　for　they　all　love　a　title
and　twenty　thousand　a　year。〃

Rosa　sewed　on　all　this　time　in　demure　and　absolute　silence。

〃She　ignores　us；〃　said　Philip。　　〃It　is　intolerable。　　She　does　not
appreciate　our　politeness　in　talking　at　her。　　Let　us　arraign　her
before　our　sacred　tribunal；　and　have　her　into　court。　　Now；
mistress；　the　Senate　of　Venice　is　assembled；　and　you　must　be
pleased　to　tell　us　why　you　refused　a　title　and　twenty　thousand　a
year；　with　a　small　but　symmetrical　earl　tacked　on。〃

Rosa　laid　down　her　work；　and　said　quietly；　〃Uncle；　almost　the　last
words　that　passed　between　me　and　my　Christopher；　we　promised　each
other　solemnly　never　to　marry　again　till　death　should　us　part。　　You
know　how　deep　my　sorrow　has　been　that　I　can　find　so　few　wishes　of
my　lost　Christopher　to　obey。　　Well；　to…day　I　have　had　an
opportunity　at　last。　　I　have　obeyed　my　own　lost　one；　it　has　cost　me
a　tear　or　two；　but；　for　all　that；　it　has　given　me　one　little　gleam
of　happiness。　　Ah；　foolish　woman；　that　obeys　too　late！〃

And　with　this　the　tears　began　to　run。

All　this　seemed　a　little　too　high…flown　to　Mr。　Lusignan。　　〃There；〃
said　he；　〃see　on　what　a　straw　her　mind　turns。　　So；　but　for　that；
you　would　have　done　the　right　thing；　and　married　the　earl？〃

〃I　dare　say　I　shouldat　the　timeto　stop　his　crying。〃

And　with　this　listless　remark　she　quietly　took　up　her　sewing　again。

The　sagacious　Philip　looked　at　her　gravely。　　He　though