a simpleton-第35节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


wife's　profusion　and　deceit　by　the　side　of　those　signs　of　painful
industry　and　self…denial；　and　his　soul　filled　with　bitterness。
〃Deceit！　deceit！〃

Mrs。　Staines　heard　he　was　in　the　house；　and　came　to　know　about　the
trial。　　She　came　hurriedly　in；　and　caught　him　with　his　head　on　the
table；　in　an　attitude　of　prostration；　quite　new　to　him；　he　raised
his　head　directly　he　heard　her；　and　revealed　a　face；　pale；　stern；
and　wretched。

〃Oh！　what　is　the　matter　now？〃　said　she。

〃The　matter　is　what　it　has　always　been；　if　I　could　only　have　seen
it。　　You　have　deceived　me；　and　disgraced　yourself。　　Look　at　those
bills。〃

〃What　bills？　　Oh！〃

〃You　have　had　an　allowance　for　housekeeping。〃

〃It　wasn't　enough。〃

〃It　was　plenty；　if　you　had　kept　faith　with　me；　and　paid　ready
money。　　It　was　enough　for　the　first　five　weeks。　　I　am　housekeeper
now；　and　I　shall　allow　myself　two　pounds　a　week　less；　and　not　owe　a
shilling　either。〃

〃Well；　all　I　know　is；　I　couldn't　do　it：　no　woman　could。〃

〃Then；　you　should　have　come　to　me；　and　said　so；　and　I　would　have
shown　you　how。　　Was　I　in　Egypt；　or　at　the　North　Pole；　that　you
could　not　find　me；　to　treat　me　like　a　friend？　　You　have　ruined　us：
these　debts　will　sweep　away　the　last　shilling　of　our　little
capital；　but　it　isn't　that；　oh；　no！　it　is　the　miserable　deceit。〃

Rosa's　eye　caught　the　sum　total　of　Madame　Cie's　bill；　and　she
turned　pale。　　〃Oh；　what　a　cheat　that　woman　is！〃

But　she　turned　paler　when　Christopher　said；　〃That　is　the　one　honest
bill；　for　I　gave　you　leave。　　It　is　these　that　part　us：　these！
these！　　Look　at　them；　false　heart！　　There；　go　and　pack　up　your
things。　　We　can　live　here　no　longer；　we　are　ruined。　　I　must　send
you　back　to　your　father。〃

〃I　thought　you　would；　sooner　or　later；〃　said　Mrs。　Staines；　panting；
trembling；　but　showing　a　little　fight。　　〃He　told　you　I　wasn't　fit
to　be　a　poor　man's　wife。〃

〃An　honest　man's　wife；　you　mean：　that　is　what　you　are　not　fit　for。
You　will　go　home　to　your　father；　and　I　shall　go　into　some　humble
lodging　to　work　for　you。　　I'll　contrive　to　keep　you；　and　find　you　a
hundred　a　year　to　spend　in　dressthe　only　thing　your　heart　can
really　love。　　But　I　won't　have　an　enemy　here　in　the　disguise　of　a
friend；　and　I　won't　have　a　wife　about　me　I　must　treat　like　a
servant；　and　watch　like　a　traitor。〃

The　words　were　harsh；　but　the　agony　with　which　they　were　spoken
distinguished　them　from　vulgar　vituperation。

They　overpowered　poor　Rosa；　she　had　been　ailing　a　little　some　time；
and　from　remorse　and　terror；　coupled　with　other　causes；　nature　gave
way。　　Her　lips　turned　white；　she　gasped　inarticulately；　and；　with　a
little　piteous　moan；　tottered；　and　swooned　dead　away。

He　was　walking　wildly　about；　ready　to　tear　his　hair；　when　she
tottered；　he　saw　her　just　in　time　to　save　her；　and　laid　her　gently
on　the　floor；　and　kneeled　over　her。

Away　went　anger　and　every　other　feeling　but　love　and　pity　for　the
poor；　weak　creature　that；　with　all　her　faults；　was　so　lovable　and
so　loved。

He　applied　no　remedies　at　first：　he　knew　they　were　useless　and
unnecessary。　　He　laid　her　head　quite　low；　and　opened　door　and
window；　and　loosened　all　her　dress；　sighing　deeply　all　the　time　at
her　condition。

While　he　was　thus　employed；　suddenly　a　strange　cry　broke　from　him：
a　cry　of　horror；　remorse；　joy；　tenderness；　all　combined：　a　cry
compared　with　which　language　is　inarticulate。　　His　swift　and
practical　eye　had　made　a　discovery。

He　kneeled　over　her；　with　his　eyes　dilating　and　his　hands　clasped；
a　picture　of　love　and　tender　remorse。

She　stirred。

Then　he　made　haste；　and　applied　his　remedies；　and　brought　her
slowly　back　to　life；　he　lifted　her　up；　and　carried　her　in　his　arms
quite　away　from　the　bills　and　things；　that；　when　she　came　to；　she
might　see　nothing　to　revive　her　distress。　　He　carried　her　to　the
drawing…room；　and　kneeled　down　and　rocked　her　in　his　arms；　and
pressed　her　again　and　again　gently　to　his　heart；　and　cried　over
her。　　〃O　my　dove；　my　dove！　the　tender　creature　God　gave　me　to　love
and　cherish；　and　have　I　used　it　harshly？　　If　I　had　only　known！　if　I
had　only　known！〃

While　he　was　thus　bemoaning　her；　and　blaming　himself；　and　crying
over　her　like　the　rain；he；　whom　she　had　never　seen　shed　a　tear
before　in　all　his　troubles；she　was　coming　to　entirely；　and　her
quick　ears　caught　his　words；　and　she　opened　her　lovely　eyes　on　him。

〃I　forgive　you；　dear；〃　she　said　feebly。　　〃BUT　I　HOPE　YOU　WILL　BE　A
KINDER　FATHER　THAN　A　HUSBAND。〃

These　quiet　words；　spoken　with　rare　gravity　and　softness；　went
through　the　great　heart　like　a　knife。

He　gave　a　sort　of　shiver；　but　said　not　a　word。

But　that　night　he　made　a　solemn　vow　to　God　that　no　harsh　word　from
his　lips　should　ever　again　strike　a　being　so　weak；　so　loving；　and
so　beyond　his　comprehension。　　Why　look　for　courage　and　candor　in　a
creature　so　timid　and　shy；　she　could　not　even　tell　her　husband　THAT
until；　with　her　subtle　sense；　she　saw　he　had　discovered　it？


CHAPTER　XII。


To　be　a　father；　to　have　an　image　of　his　darling　Rosa；　and　a　fruit
of　their　love　to　live　and　work　for：　this　gave　the　sore　heart　a
heavenly　glow；　and　elasticity　to　bear。　　Should　this　dear　object　be
born　to　an　inheritance　of　debt；　of　poverty？　　Never。

He　began　to　act　as　if　he　was　even　now　a　father。　　He　entreated　Rosa
not　to　trouble　or　vex　herself；　he　would　look　into　their　finances；
and　set　all　straight。

He　paid　all　the　bills；　and　put　by　a　quarter's　rent　and　taxes。　　Then
there　remained　of　his　little　capital　just　ten　pounds。

He　went　to　his　printers；　and　had　a　thousand　order…checks　printed。
These　forms　ran　thus：

〃Dr。　Staines；　of　13　Dear　Street；　Mayfair　（blank　for　date）；　orders
of　（blank　here　for　tradesman　and　goods　ordered）；　for　cash。
Received　same　time　（blank　for　tradesman's　receipt）。　　Notice：　Dr。
Staines　disowns　all　orders　not　printed　on　this　form；　and　paid　for
at　date　of　order。〃

He　exhibited　these　forms；　and　warned　all　the　tradespeople；　before　a
witness　whom　he　took　round　for　that　purpose。

He　paid　off　Pearman　on　the　spot。　　Pearman　had　met　Clara；　dressed
like　a　pauper；　her　soldier　having　emptied　her　box　to　the　very
dregs；　and　he　now　offered　to　stay。　　But　it　was　too　late。

Staines　told　the　cook　Mrs。　Staines　was　in　delicate　health；　and　must
not　be　troubled　with　anything。　　She　must　come　to　him　for　all
orders。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　she。　　But　she　no　sooner　comprehended　the　check
system　fully　than　she　gave　warning。　　It　put　a　stop　to　her　wholesale
pilfering。　　Rosa's　cooks　had　made　fully　a　hundred　pounds　out　of　her
amongst　them　since　she　began　to　keep　accounts。

Under　the　male　housekeeper　every　article　was　weighed　on　delivery；
and　this　soon　revealed　that　the　butcher　and　the　fishmonger　had
habitually　delivered　short　weight　from　the　first；　besides　putting
down　the　same　thing　twice。　　The　things　were　sent　back　that　moment；
with　a　printed　form；　stating　the　nature　and　extent　of　the　fraud。

The　washerwoman；　who　had　been　pilfering　wholesale　so　long　as　Mrs。
Staines　and　her　sloppy…headed　maids　counted　the　linen；　and　then
forgot　it；　was　brought　up　with　a　run；　by　triplicate　forms；　and　by
Staines　counting　the　things　before　two　witnesses；　and　compelling
the　washerwoman　to　count　them　as　well；　and　verify　or　dispute　on　the
spot。　　The　laundress　gave　warninga　plain　confession　that　stealing
had　been　part　of　her　trade。

He　kept　the　house　well　for　three　pounds　a　week；　exclusive　of　coals；
candles；　and　wine。　　His　wife　had　had　five　pounds；　and　whatever　she
asked　for　dinner…parties；　yet　found　it　not　half　enough　upon　her
method。

He　kept　no　coachman。　　If　he　visited　a　patient；　a　man　in　the　yard
drove　him　at　a　shilling　per　hour。

By　these　means；　and　by　working　like　a　galley　slave；　he　dragged　his
expenditure　down　almost　to　a　level　with　his　income。

Rosa　was　quite　content　at　first；　and　thought　herself　lucky　to
escape　reproaches　on　such　easy　terms。

But　by　and　by　so　rigorous　a　system　began　to　gall　her。　　One　day　she
fancied　a　Bath　bun；　sent　the　new　maid　to　the　pastry…cook's。
Pastry…cook　asked　to　see　the　doctor's　order。　　Maid　could　not　show
it；　and　came　back　bunless。

Rosa　came　into　the　study　to　complain　to　her　husband。

〃A　Bath　bun；〃　said　Staines。　　〃Why；　they　are　colored　with　annotto；
to　save　an　egg；　and　annotto　is　adulterated　with　chromates　that　are
poison。　　Adulteration　upon　adulteration。　　I'll　make　you　a　real　Bath
bun。〃　　Off　coat；　and　into　the　kitchen；　and　made　her　three；　pure；
but　rather　heavy。　　He　brought　them　her　in　due　course。　　She　declined
them　languidly。　　She　was　off　the　notion；　as　they　say　in　Scotland。

〃If　I　can't　have　a　thing　when　I　want　it；　I　don't　care　for　it　at
all。〃　　Such　was　the　principle　she　laid　down　for　his　future
guidance。

He　sighed；　and　went　back　to　his　work；　she　cleared　the　plate。

One　day；　when　she　asked　for　the　carriage；　he　told　her　the　time　was
now　come　for　her　to　leave　off　carriage　exercise。　　She　must　walk
with　him　every　day；　instead。

〃But　I　don't　like　walking。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　that。　　But　it　is　necessary　to　you；　and　by　and　by
your　life　may　depend　on　it。〃

Quietly；　but　inexorably；　he　dragged　her　out　walking　every　day。

In　one　of　these　walks　she　stopped　at　a　shop　window；　and　fell　in
love　with　some　baby's　things。　　〃Oh！　I　must　have　tha