a simpleton-第64章

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remarked；　〃I　suppose　you　will　want　to　go　back　to　the　Cape。　　Such
enormous　estates　as　yours　will　want　looking　after。〃

〃Enormous　estates！〃　said　Staines　to　himself。　　〃Then　they　must　have
grown　very　fast　in　a　few　months。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Falcon；　〃but　I　think　of　showing　her　a　little　of
Europe　first。〃

Staines　thought　this　still　more　mysterious；　he　waited　to　hear　more；
but　the　succeeding　remarks　were　of　an　ordinary　kind。

He　noticed；　however；　that　Falcon　spoke　of　his　wife　by　her　Christian
name；　and　that　neither　party　mentioned　Christopher　Staines。　　He
seemed　quite　out　of　their　little　world。

He　began　to　feel　a　strange　chill　creep　down　him。

Presently　Falcon　went　off　to　join　Rosa；　and　Staines　thought　it　was
quite　time　to　ask　the　old　gentleman　whether　Falcon　had　executed　his
commission；　or　not。

He　was　only　hesitating　how　to　do　it；　not　liking　to　pounce　in　the
dark　on　a　man　who　abhorred　everything　like　excitement；　when　Rosa
herself　came　flying　out　in　great　agitation。

Oh！　the　thrill　he　felt　at　the　sight　of　her！　　With　all　his　self…
possession；　he　would　have　sprung　forward　and　taken　her　in　his　arms
with　a　mighty　cry　of　love；　if　she　had　not　immediately　spoken　words
that　rooted　him　to　the　spot　with　horror。　　But　she　came　with　the
words　in　her　very　mouth；　〃Papa；　I　am　come　to　tell　you　I　cannot；　and
will　not；　marry　Mr。　Falcon。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　you　will；　my　dear。〃

〃Never！　　I'll　die　sooner。　　Not　that　you　will　care　for　that。　　I　tell
you　I　saw　my　Christopher　last　nightin　a　dream。　　He　had　a　beard；
but　I　saw　him；　oh；　so　plain；　and　he　said；　'Is　this　the　way　you　keep
your　promise？'　　That　is　enough　for　me。　　I　have　prayed；　again　and
again；　to　his　star；　for　light。　　I　am　so　perplexed　and　harassed　by
you　all；　and　you　make　me　believe　what　you　like。　　Well；　I　have　had　a
revelation。　　It　is　not　my　poor　lost　darling's　wish　I　should　wed
again。　　I　don't　believe　Mr。　Falcon　any　more。　　I　hear　nothing　but
lies　by　day。　　The　truth　comes　to　my　bedside　at　night。　　I　will　not
marry　this　man。〃

〃Consider；　Rosa；　your　credit　is　pledged。　　You　must　not　be　always
jilting　him　heartlessly。　　Dreams！　nonsense。　　ThereI　love　peace。
It　is　no　use　your　storming　at　me；　rave　to　the　moon　and　the　stars；
if　you　like；　and　when　you　have　done；　do　pray　come　in；　and　behave
like　a　rational　woman；　who　has　pledged　her　faith　to　an　honorable
man；　and　a　man　of　vast　estatesa　man　that　nursed　your　husband　in
his　last　illness；　found　your　child；　at　a　great　expense；　when　you
had　lost　him；　and　merits　eternal　gratitude；　not　eternal　jilting。　　I
have　no　patience　with　you。〃

The　old　gentleman　retired　in　high　dudgeon。

Staines　stood　in　the　black　shade　of　his　cedar…tree；　rooted　to　the
ground　by　this　revelation　of　male　villany　and　female　credulity。

He　did　not　know　what　on　earth　to　do。　　He　wanted　to　kill　Falcon；　but
not　to　terrify　his　own　wife　to　death。　　It　was　now　too　clear　she
thought　he　was　dead。

Rosa　watched　her　father's　retiring　figure　out　of　sight。　　〃Very
well；〃　said　she；　clenching　her　teeth；　then　suddenly　she　turned；　and
looked　up　to　heaven。　　〃Do　you　hear？〃　said　she；　〃my　Christie's　star？
I　am　a　poor　perplexed　creature。　　I　asked　you　for　a　sign；　and　that
very　night　I　saw　him　in　a　dream。　　Why　should　I　marry　out　of
gratitude？　　Why　should　I　marry　one　man；　when　I　love　another？　　What
does　it　matter　his　being　dead？　　I　love　him　too　well　to　be　wife　to
any　living　man。　　They　persuade　me；　they　coax　me；　they　pull　me；　they
push　me。　　I　see　they　will　make　me。　　But　I　will　outwit　them。　　See
see！〃　and　she　held　up　a　little　phial　in　the　moonlight。　　〃This　shall
cut　the　knot　for　me；　this　shall　keep　me　true　to　my　Christie；　and
save　me　from　breaking　promises　I　ought　never　to　have　made。　　This
shall　unite　me　once　more　with　him　I　killed；　and　loved。〃

She　meant　she　would　kill　herself　the　night　before　the　wedding；
which　perhaps　she　would　not；　and　perhaps　she　would。　　Who　can　tell？
The　weak　are　violent。　　But　Christopher；　seeing　the　poison　so　near
her　lips；　was　perplexed；　took　two　strides；　wrenched　it　out　of　her
hand；　with　a　snarl　of　rage；　and　instantly　plunged　into　the　shade
again。

Rosa　uttered　a　shriek；　and　flew　into　the　house。

The　farther　she　got；　the　more　terrified　she　became；　and　soon
Christopher　heard　her　screaming　in　the　drawing…room　in　an　alarming
way。　　They　were　like　the　screams　of　the　insane。

He　got　terribly　anxious；　and　followed　her。　　All　the　doors　were
open。

As　he　went　up…stairs；　he　heard　her　cry；　〃His　ghost！　his　ghost！　　I
have　seen　his　ghost！　　No；　no。　　I　feel　his　hand　upon　my　arm　now。　　A
beard！　and　so　he　had　in　the　dream！　　He　is　alive。　　My　darling　is
alive。　　You　have　deceived　me。　　You　are　an　impostora　villain。　　Out
of　the　house　this　moment；　or　he　shall　kill　you。〃

〃Are　you　mad？〃　cried　Falcon。　　〃How　can　he　be　alive；　when　I　saw　him
dead？〃

This　was　too　much。　　Staines　gave　the　door　a　blow　with　his　arm；　and
strode　into　the　apartment；　looking　white　and　tremendous。

Falcon　saw　death　in　his　face；　gave　a　shriek；　drew　his　revolver；　and
fired　at　him　with　as　little　aim　as　he　had　at　the　lioness；　then　made
for　the　open　window。　　Staines　seized　a　chair；　followed　him；　and
hurled　it　at　him；　and　the　chair　and　the　man　went　through　the　window
together；　and　then　there　was　a　strange　thud　heard　outside。

Rosa　gave　a　loud　scream；　and　swooned　away。

Staines　laid　his　wife　flat　on　the　floor；　got　the　women　about　her；
and　at　last　she　began　to　give　the　usual　signs　of　returning　life。

Staines　said　to　the　oldest　woman　there；　〃If　she　sees　me；　she　will
go　off　again。　　Carry　her　to　her　room；　and　tell　her；　by　degrees；
that　I　am　alive。〃

All　this　time　Papa　Lusignan　had　sat　trembling　and　whimpering　in　a
chair；　moaning；　〃This　is　a　painful　scenevery　painful。〃　　But　at
last　an　idea　struck　him〃WHY；　YOU　HAVE　ROBBED　THE　OFFICE！〃

Scarcely　was　Mrs。　Staines　out　of　the　room；　when　a　fly　drove　up；　and
this　was　immediately　followed　by　violent　and　continuous　screaming
close　under　the　window。

〃Oh；　dear！〃　sighed　Papa　Lusignan。

They　ran　down；　and　found　Falcon　impaled　at　full　length　on　the
spikes　of　the　villa；　and　Phoebe　screaming　over　him；　and　trying　in
vain　to　lift　him　off　them。　　He　had　struggled　a　little；　in　silent
terror；　but　had　then　fainted　from　fear　and　loss　of　blood；　and　lying
rather　inside　the　rails；　which　were　high；　he　could　not　be
extricated　from　the　outside。

As　soon　as　his　miserable　condition　was　discovered；　the　servants　ran
down　into　the　kitchen；　and　so　up　to　the　rails　by　the　area　steps。
These　rails　had　caught　him；　one　had　gone　clean　through　his　arm；　the
other　had　penetrated　the　fleshy　part　of　the　thigh；　and　a　third
pierced　his　ear。

They　got　him　off；　but　he　was　insensible；　and　the　place　drenched
with　his　blood。

Phoebe　clutched　Staines　by　the　arm。　　〃Let　me　know　the　worst；〃　said
she。　　〃Is　he　dead？〃

Staines　examined　him；　and　said　〃No。〃

〃Can　you　save　him？〃

〃I？〃

〃Yes。　　Who　can；　if　you　cannot？　　Oh；　have　mercy　on　me！〃　and　she　went
on　her　knees　to　him；　and　put　her　forehead　on　his　knees。

He　was　touched　by　her　simple　faith；　and　the　noble　traditions　of　his
profession　sided　with　his　gratitude　to　this　injured　woman。　　〃My
poor　friend；〃　said　he；　〃I　will　do　my　best；　for　YOUR　sake。〃

He　took　immediate　steps　for　stanching　the　blood；　and　the　fly
carried　Phoebe　and　her　villain　to　the　inn　at　Gravesend。

Falcon　came　to　on　the　road；　but　finding　himself　alone　with　Phoebe；
shammed　unconsciousness　of　everything　but　pain。

Staines；　being　thoroughly　enraged　with　Rosa；　yet　remembering　his
solemn　vow　never　to　abuse　her　again；　saw　her　father；　and　told　him
to　tell　her　he　should　think　over　her　conduct　quietly；　not　wishing
to　be　harder　upon　her　than　she　deserved。

Rosa；　who　had　been　screaming；　and　crying　for　joy；　ever　since　she
came　to　her　senses；　was　not　so　much　afflicted　at　this　message　as
one　might　have　expected。　　He　was　alive；　and　all　things　else　were
trifles。

Nevertheless；　when　day　after　day　went　by；　and　not　even　a　line　from
Christopher；　she　began　to　fear　he　would　cast　her　off　entirely；　the
more　so　as　she　heard　he　was　now　and　then　at　Gravesend　to　visit　Mrs。
Falcon　at　the　inn。

While　matters　were　thus；　Uncle　Philip　burst　on　her　like　a　bomb。
〃He　is　alive！　he　is　alive！　he　is　alive！〃　　And　they　had　a　cuddle
over　it。

〃Oh；　Uncle　Philip！　　Have　you　seen　him？〃

〃Seen　him？　　Yes。　　He　caught　me　on　the　hop；　just　as　I　came　in　from
Italy。　　I　took　him　for　a　ghost。〃

〃Oh；　weren't　you　frightened？〃

〃Not　a　bit。　　I　don't　mind　ghosts。　　I'd　have　half　a　dozen　to　dinner
every　day；　if　I　might　choose　'em。　　I　couldn't　stand　stupid　ones。
But　I　say；　his　temper　isn't　improved　by　all　this　dying：　he　is　in　an
awful　rage　with　you；　and　what　for？〃

〃O　uncle！　what　for？　　Because　I'm　the　vilest　of　women！〃

〃Vilest　of　fiddlesticks！　　It's　his　fault；　not　yours。　　Shouldn't
have　died。　　It's　always　a　dangerous　experiment。〃

〃I　shall　die　if　he　will　not　forgive　me。　　He　keeps　away　from　me　and
from　his　child。〃

〃I'll　tell　you。　　He　heard；　in　Gravesend；　your　banns　had　been　cried：
that　has　moved　the　peevish　fellow's　bile。〃

〃It　was　done　without　my　consent。　　Papa　will　tell　you　so；　and；　O
uncle；　if　you　knew　the　arts；　the　forged　letter　in　my　darling's
hand；　the　way　he　wrought　on　me！　　O　villain！　villain！　　Uncle；
forgive　your　poor　silly　niece；　that　the　world　is　too　wicked　and　too
clever　for　her　to　live　in。〃

〃Because　you　are　too　good　and　innocent；〃　said　Uncle　Philip。
〃There；　don't　you　be　down…hearted。　　I'll　soon　bring　you　two
together　againa　couple　of　ninnies。　　I'll　tell　you　what　is　the
first　thing：　you　must　come　and　live　with　me。　　Come　at　once；　bag　and
baggage。　　He　won't　show　here；　the　sulky　brute。〃

Philip　Staines　had　a　large　house　in　Cavendish　Square；　a　crusty　old
patient；　like　himself；　had　left　him。　　It　was　his　humor　to　live　in　a
corner　of　this　mansion；　though　the　whole　was　capitally　furnished　by
his　judicious　purchases　at　auctions。

He　gave　Rosa　and　her　boy　and　his　nurse　the　entire　first　floor；　and
told　her　she　was　there　for　life。　　〃Look　here；〃　said　he；　〃this　last
affair　has　opened　my　eyes。　　Such　women　as　you　are　the　sweeteners　of
existence。　　You　leave　my　roof　no　more。　　Your　husband　will　make　the
same　discovery。　　Let　him　run　about；　and　be　miserable　a　bit。　　He
will　have　to　come　to　book。〃

She　shook　her　head　sadly。

〃My　Christopher　will　never　say　a　harsh　word　to　me。　　All　the　worse
for　me。　　He　will　quietly　abandon　a　creature　so　inferior　to　him。〃

〃Stuff！〃

Now；　she　was　always　running　to　the　window；　in　hope　that　Christopher
would　call　on　his　uncle；　and　that　she　might　see　him；　and　one　day
she　gave　a　scream　so　eloquent；　Philip　knew　what　it　meant。　　〃Get　you
behind　that　screen；　you　and　your　boy；〃　said　he；　〃and　be　as　still　as
mice。　　Stop！　give　me　that　letter　the　scoundrel　forged；　and　the
ring。〃

This　was　hardly　done；　and　Rosa　out　of　sight；　and　trembling　from
head　to　foot；　when　Christopher　was　announced。　　Philip　received　him
very　affectionately；　but　wasted　no　time。

〃Been　to　Kent　Villa　yet？〃

〃No；〃　was　the　grim　reply。

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　I　have　sworn　never　to　say　an　angry　word　to　her　again；　and；
if　I　was　to　go　there；　I　should　say　a　good　many　angry　ones。　　Oh；
when　I　think　that　her　folly　drove　me　to　sea；　to　do　my　best　for　her；
and　that　I　was　nearer　death　for　that　woman　than　ever　man　was；　and
lost　my　reason　for