a simpleton-第13节

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and　my　cruel　creditors　will　confine　me　for　life。〃

〃It　is　the　best　place　for　you。　　It　will　put　a　stop　to　your
wickedness；　and　I　shall　be　at　peace。　　That's　what　I　have　never
known；　night　or　day；　this　three　years。〃

〃But　you　will　not　be　happy　if　you　see　me　go　to　prison　before　your
eyes。　　Were　you　ever　inside　a　prison？　　Just　think　what　it　must　be
to　be　cooped　up　in　those　cold　grim　cells　all　alone；　for　they　use　a
debtor　like　a　criminal　now。〃

Phoebe　shuddered；　but　she　said；　bravely；　〃Well；　tell　THEM　you　have
been　a…courting。　　There　was　a　time　I'd　have　died　sooner　than　see　a
hair　of　your　head　hurt；　but　it　is　all　over　now；　you　have　worn　me
out。〃

Then　she　began　to　cry。

Falcon　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　　〃It　is　no　more　than　I　deserve；〃　said
he。　　〃I'll　pack　up　my　things；　and　go　with　the　officer。　　Give　me　one
kind　word　at　parting；　and　I'll　think　of　it　in　my　prison；　night　and
day。〃

He　withdrew　from　the　window　with　another　deep　sigh；　told
Cartwright；　cheerfully；　it　was　all　right；　and　proceeded　to　pack　up
his　traps。

Meantime　Phoebe　sat　at　her　window　and　cried　bitterly。　　Her　words
had　been　braver　than　her　heart。

Falcon　managed　to　pay　the　trifle　he　owed　for　the　lodgings；　and
presently　he　came　out　with　Cartwright；　and　the　attendant　called　a
cab。　　His　things　were　thrown　in；　and　Cartwright　invited　him　to
follow。　　Then　he　looked　up；　and　cast　a　genuine　look　of　terror　and
misery　at　Phoebe。　　He　thought　she　would　have　relented　before　this。

Her　heart　gave　way；　I　am　afraid　it　would；　even　without　that　piteous
and　mute　appeal。　　She　opened　the　window；　and　asked　Mr。　Cartwright
if　he　would　be　good　enough　to　come　and　speak　to　her。

Cartwright　committed　his　prisoner　to　the　subordinate；　and　knocked
at　the　door　of　Phoebe's　lodgings。　　She　came　down　herself　and　let
him　in。　　She　led　the　way　upstairs；　motioned　him　to　a　seat；　sat　down
by　him；　and　began　to　cry　again。　　She　was　thoroughly　unstrung。

Cartwright　was　human；　and　muttered　some　words　of　regret　that　a　poor
fellow　must　do　his　duty。

〃Oh；　it　is　not　that；〃　sobbed　Phoebe。　　〃I　can　find　the　money。　　I
have　found　more　for　him　than　that；　many's　the　time。〃　　Then；　drying
her　eyes；　〃But　you　must　know　the　world；　and　I　dare　say　you　can　see
how　'tis　with　me。〃

〃I　can；〃　said　Cartwright；　gravely。　　〃I　overheard　you　and　him；　and；
my　girl；　if　you　take　my　advice；　why；　let　him　go。　　He　is　a　gentleman
skin　deep；　and　dresses　well；　and　can　palaver　a　girl；　no　doubt；　but
bless　your　heart；　I　can　see　at　a　glance　he　is　not　worth　your　little
finger；　an　honest；　decent　young　woman　like　you。　　Why；　it　is　like
butter　fighting　with　stone。　　Let　him　go；　or　I　will　tell　you　what　it
is；　you　will　hang　for　him　some　day；　or　else　make　away　with
yourself。〃

〃Ay；　sir；〃　said　Phoebe；　〃that's　likelier；　and　if　I　was　to　let　him
go　to　prison；　I　should　sit　me　down　and　think　of　his　parting　look；
and　I　should　fling　myself　into　the　water　for　him　before　I　was　a　day
older。〃

〃Ye　mustn't　do　that　anyway。　　While　there's　life　there's　hope。〃

Upon　this　Phoebe　put　him　a　question；　and　found　him　ready　to　do
anything　for　her；　in　reasonprovided　he　was　paid　for　it。　　And　the
end　of　it　all　was；　the　prisoner　was　conveyed　to　London；　Phoebe　got
the　requisite　sum；　Falcon　was　deposited　in　a　third…class　carriage
bound　for　Essex。　　Phoebe　paid　his　debt；　and　gave　Cartwright　a
present；　and　away　rattled　the　train　conveying　the　handsome　egotist
into　temporary　retirement；　to　wit；　at　a　village　five　miles　from　the
Dales'　farm。　　She　was　too　ashamed　of　her　young　gentleman　and
herself　to　be　seen　with　him　in　her　native　village。　　On　the　road
down　he　was　full　of　little　practical　attentions；　she　received　them
coldly；　his　mellifluous　mouth　was　often　at　her　car；　pouring　thanks
and　praises　into　it；　she　never　vouchsafed　a　word　of　reply。　　All　she
did　was　to　shudder　now　and　then；　and　cry　at　intervals。　　Yet；
whenever　he　left　her　side；　her　whole　body　became　restless；　and　when
he　came　back　to　her；　a　furtive　thrill　announced　the　insane
complacency　his　bare　contact　gave　her。　　Surely；　of　all　the　forms　in
which　love　torments　the　heart；　this　was　the　most　terrible　and
pitiable。


Mr。　Lusignan　found　his　daughter　in　tears。

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter　now？〃　said　he；　a　little　peevishly。　　〃We
have　had　nothing　of　this　sort　of　thing　lately。〃

〃Papa；　it　is　because　I　have　misconducted　myself。　　I　am　a　foolish；
imprudent　girl。　　I　have　been　flirting　with　Mr。　Falcon；　and　he　has
taken　a　CRUEL　advantage　of　itproposed　to　methis　very　afternoon
actually！〃

〃Has　he？　　Well；　he　is　a　fine　fellow；　and　has　a　landed　estate　in
Norfolk。　　There's　nothing　like　land。　　They　may　well　call　it　real
propertythere　is　something　to　show；　you　can　walk　on　it；　and　ride
on　it；　and　look　out　of　window　at　it：　that　IS　property。〃

〃Oh；　papa！　what　are　you　saying？　　Would　you　have　me　marry　one　man
when　I　belong　to　another？〃

〃But　you　don't　belong　to　any　one　except　to　me。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　do。　　I　belong　to　my　dear　Christopher。〃

〃Why；　you　dismissed　him　before　my　very　eyes；　and　very　ill　you
behaved；　begging　your　pardon。　　The　man　was　your　able　physician　and
your　best　friend；　and　said　nothing　that　was　not　for　your　good；　and
you　treated　him　like　a　dog。〃

〃Yes；　but　he　has　apologized。〃

〃What　for？　being　treated　like　a　dog？〃

〃Oh；　don't　say　so；　papa！　　At　all　events；　he　has　apologized；　as　a
gentleman　should　wheneverwhenever〃

〃Whenever　a　lady　is　in　the　wrong。〃

〃Don't；　papa；　and　I　have　asked　him　to　dinner。〃

〃With　all　my　heart。　　I　shall　be　downright　glad　to　see　him　again。
You　used　him　abominably。〃

〃But　you　need　not　keep　saying　so；〃　whined　Rosa。　　〃And　that　is　not
all；　dear　papa；　the　worst　of　it　is；　Mr。　Falcon　proposing　to　me　has
opened　my　eyes。　　I　am　not　fit　to　be　trusted　alone。　　I　am　too　fond
of　dancing；　and　flirting　will　follow　somehow。　　Oh；　think　how　ill　I
was　a　few　months　ago；　and　how　unhappy　you　were　about　me！　　They　were
killing　me。　　He　came　and　saved　me。　　Yes；　papa；　I　owe　all　this
health　and　strength　to　Christopher。　　I　did　take　them　off；　the　very
next　day；　and　see　the　effect　of　it　and　my　long　walks。　　I　owe　him　my
life；　and　what　I　value　far　more；　my　good　looks。　　La！　I　wish　I　had
not　told　you　that。　　And　after　all　this；　don't　I　belong　to　my
Christopher？　　How　could　I　be　happy　or　respect　myself　if　I　married
any　one　else？　　And　oh；　papa！　he　looks　wan　and　worn。　　He　has　been
fretting　for　his　Simpleton。　　Oh；　dear！　I　mustn't　think　of　thatit
makes　me　cry；　and　you　don't　like　scenes；　do　you？〃

〃Hate　'em！〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Rosa；　coaxingly；　〃I'll　tell　you　how　to　end　them。
Marry　your　Simpleton　to　the　only　man　who　is　fit　to　take　care　of
her。　　Oh；　papa！　think　of　his　deep；　deep　affection　for　me；　and　pray
don't　snub　him　ifby　any　chanceafter　dinnerhe　should　HAPPEN　to
ask　yousomething。〃

〃Oh；　then　it　is　possible　that；　by　the　merest　chance；　the　gentleman
you　have　accidentally　asked　to　dinner；　may；　by　some　strange
fortuity；　be　surprised　into　asking　me　a　second　time　for　something
very　much　resembling　my　daughter's　handeh？〃

Rosa　colored　high。　　〃He　might；　you　know。　　How　can　I　tell　what
gentlemen　will　say　when　the　ladies　have　retired　and　they　are　left
alone　withwith〃

〃With　the　bottle。　　Ay；　that's　true；　when　the　wine　is　in；　the　wit　is
out。〃

Said　Rosa；　〃Well；　if　he　should　happen　to　be　so　foolish；　pray　think
of　ME；　of　all　we　owe　him；　and　how　much　I　love　him；　and　ought　to
love　him。〃　　She　then　bestowed　a　propitiatory　kiss；　and　ran　off　to
dress　for　dinner；　it　was　a　much　longer　operation　to…day　than　usual。

Dr。　Staines　was　punctual。　　Mr。　Lusignan　commented　favorably　on
that。

〃He　always　is；〃　said　Rosa；　eagerly。

They　dined　together。　　Mr。　Lusignan　chatted　freely；　but　Staines　and
Rosa　were　under　a　feeling　of　restraint；　Staines　in　particular；　he
could　not　help　feeling　that　before　long　his　fate　must　be　settled。
He　would　either　obtain　Rosa's　hand；　or　have　to　resign　her　to　some
man　of　fortune　who　would　step　in；　for　beauty　such　as　hers　could　not
long　lack　brilliant　offers。　　Longing；　though　dreading；　to　know　his
fate；　he　was　glad　when　dinner　ended。

Rosa　sat　with　them　a　little　while　after　dinner；　then　rose；　bestowed
another　propitiatory　kiss　on　her　father's　head；　and　retired　with　a
modest　blush；　and　a　look　at　Christopher　that　was　almost　divine。

It　inspired　him　with　the　courage　of　lions；　and　he　commenced　the
attack　at　once。


CHAPTER　V。


〃Mr。　Lusignan；〃　said　he；　〃the　last　time　I　was　here　you　gave　me　some
hopes　that　you　might　be　prevailed　on　to　trust　that　angel's　health
and　happiness　to　my　care。〃

〃Well；　Dr。　Staines；　I　will　not　beat　about　the　bush　with　you。　　My
judgment　is　still　against　this　marriage；　you　need　not　look　so
alarmed；　it　does　not　follow　I　shall　forbid　it。　　I　feel　I　have
hardly　a　right　to；　for　my　Rosa　might　be　in　her　grave　now　but　for
you；　and；　another　thing；　when　I　interfered　between　you　two　I　had　no
proof　you　were　a　man　of　ability；　I　had　only　your　sweetheart's　word
for　that；　and　I　never　knew　a　case　before　where　a　young　lady's　swan
did　not　turn　out　a　goose。　　Your　rare　ability　gives　you　another
chance　in　the　professional　battle　that　is　before　you；　indeed；　it
puts　a　different　face　on　the　whole　matter。　　I　still　think　it
premature。　　Come　now；　would　it　not　be　much　wiser　to　wait；　and
secure　a　good　practice　before