a simpleton-第37节

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changed　the　subject。　　But　since　then　things　have　happened。　　I　am
afwaid　it　is　my　duty　to　make　you　the　judge　whether　you　choose　to
sail　about　with　that　little　cubRosa；　I　can　beat　about　the　bush　no
longer。　　Is　it　a　fit　thing　that　a　man　of　genius；　at　whose　feet　we
ought　all　to　be　sitting　with　reverence；　should　drive　a　cab　in　the
public　streets？　　Yes；　Rosa　Staines；　your　husband　drives　his
brougham　out　at　night；　not　to　visit　any　other　lady；　as　that
anonymous　wretch　told　you；　but　to　make　a　few　misewable　shillings
for　you。〃

〃Oh；　Christie！〃

〃It　is　no　use；　Dr。　Staines；　I　must　and　will　tell　her。　　My　dear；　he
drove　ME　three　nights　ago。　　He　had　a　cabman's　badge　on　his　poor
arm。　　If　you　knew　what　I　suffered　in　those　five　minutes！　　Indeed　it
seems　cruel　to　speak　of　itbut　I　could　not　keep　it　from　Rosa；　and
the　reason　I　muster　courage　to　say　it　before　you；　sir；　it　is
because　I　know　she　has　other　friends　who　keep　you　out　of　their
consultations；　and；　after　all；　it　is　the　world　that　ought　to　blush；
and　not　you。〃

Her　ladyship's　kindly　bosom　heaved；　and　she　wanted　to　cry；　so　she
took　her　handkerchief　out　of　her　pocket　without　the　least　hurry；
and　pressed　it　delicately　to　her　eyes；　and　did　cry　quietly；　but
without　any　disguise；　like　a　brave　lady；　who　neither　cried　nor　did
anything　else　she　was　ashamed　to　be　seen　at。

As　for　Rosa；　she　sat　sobbing　round　Christopher's　neck；　and　kissed
him　with　all　her　soul。

〃Dear　me！〃　said　Christopher。　　〃You　are　both　very　kind。　　But；
begging　your　pardon；　it　is　much　ado　about　nothing。〃

Lady　Cicely　took　no　notice　of　that　observation。　　〃So；　Rosa　dear；〃
said　she；　〃I　think　you　are　the　person　to　decide　whether　he　had　not
better　sail　about　with　that　little　cub；　thanoh！〃

〃I　will　settle　that；〃　said　Staines。　　〃I　have　one　beloved　creature
to　provide　for。　　I　may　have　another。　　I　MUST　make　money。　　Turning　a
brougham　into　a　cab；　whatever　you　may　think；　is　an　honest　way　of
making　it；　and　I　am　not　the　first　doctor　who　has　coined　his
brougham　at　night。　　But　if　there　is　a　good　deal　of　money　to　be　made
by　sailing　with　Lord　Tadcaster；　of　course　I　should　prefer　that　to
cab…driving；　for　I　have　never　made　above　twelve　shillings　a　night。〃

〃Oh；　as　to　that；　she　shall　give　you　fifteen　hundred　a　year。〃

〃Then　I　jump　at　it。〃

〃What！　and　leave　ME？〃

〃Yes；　love：　leave　youfor　your　good；　and　only　for　a　time。　　Lady
Cicely；　it　is　a　noble　offer。　　My　darling　Rosa　will　have　every
comfortay；　every　luxury；　till　I　come　home；　and　then　we　will　start
afresh　with　a　good　balance；　and　with　more　experience　than　we　did　at
first。〃

Lady　Cicely　gazed　on　him　with　wonder。　　She　said；　〃Oh！　what　stout
hearts　men　have！　　No；　no；　don't　let　him　go。　　See；　he　is　acting。
His　great　heart　is　torn　with　agony。　　I　will　have　no　hand　in　parting
man　and　wifeno；　not　for　a　day。〃　　And　she　hurried　away　in　rare
agitation。

Rosa　fell　on　her　knees；　and　asked　Christopher's　pardon　for　having
been　jealous；　and　that　day　she　was　a　flood　of　divine　tenderness。
She　repaid　him　richly　for　driving　the　cab。　　But　she　was　unnaturally
cool　about　Lady　Cicely；　and　the　exquisite　reason　soon　came　out。
〃Oh　yes！　　She　is　very　good；　very　kind；　but　it　is　not　for　me　now！
No！　you　shall　not　sail　about　with　her　cub　of　a　cousin；　and　leave　me
at　such　a　time。〃

Christopher　groaned。

〃Christie；　you　shall　not　see　that　lady　again。　　She　came　here　to
part　us。　　SHE　IS　IN　LOVE　WITH　YOU。　　I　was　blind　not　to　see　it
before。〃

Next　day；　as　Lady　Cicely　sat　alone　in　the　morning…room　thinking
over　this　very　scene；　a　footman　brought　in　a　card　and　a　note。　　〃Dr。
Staines　begs　particularly　to　see　Lady　Cicely　Treherne。〃

The　lady's　pale　cheek　colored；　she　stood　irresolute　a　single
moment。　　〃I　will　see　Dr。　Staines；〃　said　she。

Dr。　Staines　came　in；　looking　pale　and　worn；　he　had　not　slept　a　wink
since　she　saw　him　last。

She　looked　at　him　full；　and　divined　this　at　a　glance。　　She　motioned
him　to　a　seat；　and　sat　down　herself；　with　her　white　hand　pressing
her　forehead；　and　her　head　turned　a　little　away　from　him。


CHAPTER　XIII。


He　told　her　he　had　come　to　thank　her　for　her　great　kindness；　and　to
accept　the　offer。

She　sighed。　　〃I　hoped　it　was　to　decline　it。　　Think　of　the　misery　of
separation；　both　to　you　and　her。〃

〃It　will　be　misery。　　But　we　are　not　happy　as　it　is；　and　she　cannot
bear　poverty。　　Nor　is　it　fair　she　should；　when　I　can　give　her　every
comfort　by　just　playing　the　man　for　a　year　or　two。〃　　He　then　told
Lady　Cicely　there　were　more　reasons　than　he　chose　to　mention：　go　he
must；　and　would；　and　he　implored　her　not　to　let　the　affair　drop。
In　short；　he　was　sad　but　resolved；　and　she　found　she　must　go　on
with　it；　or　break　faith　with　him。　　She　took　her　desk；　and　wrote　a
letter　concluding　the　bargain　for　him。　　She　stipulated　for　half　the
year's　fee　in　advance。　　She　read　Dr。　Staines　the　letter。

〃You　ARE　a　friend！〃　said　he。　　〃I　should　never　have　ventured　on
that；　it　will　be　a　godsend　to　my　poor　Rosa。　　You　will　be　kind　to
her　when　I　am　gone？〃

〃I　will。〃

〃So　will　Uncle　Philip；　I　think。　　I　will　see　him　before　I　go；　and
shake　hands。　　He　has　been　a　good　friend　to　me；　but　he　was　too　hard
upon　HER；　and　I　could　not　stand　that。〃

Then　he　thanked　and　blessed　her　again；　with　the　tears　in　his　eyes；
and　left　her　more　disturbed　and　tearful　than　she　had　ever　been
since　she　grew　to　woman。　　〃O　cruel　poverty！〃　she　thought；　〃that
such　a　man　should　be　torn　from　his　home；　and　thank　me　for　doing　it
all　for　a　little　moneyand　here　are　we　poor　commonplace　creatures
rolling　in　it。〃

Staines　hurried　home；　and　told　his　wife。　　She　clung　to　him
convulsively；　and　wept　bitterly；　but　she　made　no　direct　attempt　to
shake　his　resolution；　she　saw；　by　his　iron　look；　that　she　could
only　afflict；　not　turn　him。

Next　day　came　Lady　Cicely　to　see　her。　　Lady　Cicely　was　very　uneasy
in　her　mind；　and　wanted　to　know　whether　Rosa　was　reconciled　to　the
separation。

Rosa　received　her　with　a　forced　politeness　and　an　icy　coldness　that
petrified　her。　　She　could　not　stay　long　in　face　of　such　a
reception。　　At　parting；　she　said；　sadly；　〃You　look　on　me　as　an
enemy。〃

〃What　else　can　you　expect；　when　you　part　my　husband　and　me？〃　said
Rosa；　with　quiet　sternness。

〃I　meant　well；〃　said　Lady　Cicely　sorrowfully；　〃but　I　wish　I　had
never　interfered。〃

〃So　do　I；〃　and　she　began　to　cry。

Lady　Cicely　made　no　answer。　　She　went　quietly　away；　hanging　her
head　sadly。

Rosa　was　unjust；　but　she　was　not　rude　nor　vulgar；　and　Lady　Cicely's
temper　was　so　well　governed　that　it　never　blinded　her　heart。　　She
withdrew；　but　without　the　least　idea　of　quarrelling　with　her
afflicted　friend；　or　abandoning　her。　　She　went　quietly　home；　and
wrote　to　Lady　；　to　say　that　she　should　be　glad　to　receive　Dr。
Staines's　advance　as　soon　as　convenient；　since　Mrs。　Staines　would
have　to　make　fresh　arrangements；　and　the　money　might　be　useful。

The　money　was　forthcoming　directly。　　Lady　Cicely　brought　it　to　Dear
Street；　and　handed　it　to　Dr。　Staines。　　His　eyes　sparkled　at　the
sight　of　it。

〃Give　my　love　to　Rosa；〃　said　she　softly；　and　cut　her　visit　very
short。

Staines　took　the　money　to　Rosa；　and　said；　〃See　what　our　best　friend
has　brought　us。　　You　shall　have　four　hundred；　and　I　hope；　after　the
bitter　lessons　you　have　had；　you　will　be　able　to　do　with　that　for
some　months。　　The　two　hundred　I　shall　keep　as　a　reserve　fund　for
you　to　draw　on。〃

〃No；　no！〃　said　Rosa。　　〃I　shall　go　and　live　with　my　father；　and
never　spend　a　penny。　　O　Christie；　if　you　knew　how　I　hate　myself　for
the　folly　that　is　parting　us！　　Oh；　why　don't　they　teach　girls　sense
and　money；　instead　of　music　and　the　globes？〃

But　Christopher　opened　a　banking　account　for　her；　and　gave　her　a
check…book；　and　entreated　her　to　pay　everything　by　check；　and　run
no　bills　whatever；　and　she　promised。　　He　also　advertised　the　Bijou；
and　put　a　bill　in　the　window：　〃The　lease　of　this　house；　and　the
furniture；　to　be　sold。〃

Rosa　cried　bitterly　at　sight　of　it；　thinking　how　high　in　hope　they
were；　when　they　had　their　first　dinner　there；　and　also　when　she
went　to　her　first　sale　to　buy　the　furniture　cheap。

And　now　everything　moved　with　terrible　rapidity。　　The　Amphitrite
was　to　sail　from　Plymouth　in　five　days；　and；　meantime；　there　was　so
much　to　be　done；　that　the　days　seemed　to　gallop　away。

Dr。　Staines　forgot　nothing。　　He　made　his　will　in　duplicate；　leaving
all　to　his　wife；　he　left　one　copy　at　Doctors'　Commons　and　another
with　his　lawyer；　inventoried　all　his　furniture　and　effects　in
duplicate；　too；　wrote　to　Uncle　Philip；　and　then　called　on　him　to
seek　a　reconciliation。　　Unfortunately；　Dr。　Philip　was　in　Scotland。
At　last　this　sad　pair　went　down　to　Plymouth　together；　there　to　meet
Lord　Tadcaster　and　go　on　board　H。M。S。　Amphitrite；　lying　out　at
anchor；　under　orders　for　the　Australian　Station。

They　met　at　the　inn；　as　appointed；　and　sent　word　of　their　arrival
on　board　the　frigate；　asking　to　remain　on　shore　till　the　last
minute。

Dr。　Staines　presented　his　patient　to　Rosa；　and　after　a　little　while
drew　him　apart　and　questioned　him　professionally。　　He　then　asked
for　a　private　room。　　Here　he　and　Rosa　really　took　leave；　for　what
could　the　poor　things　say　to　each　other　on　a　crowded　quay？　　He
begged　her　forgiveness；　on　his　knees；　for