a simpleton-第68节

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two　barrels　of　his　revolver？〃

〃Three　thousand　pounds！〃　cried　Dale。　　〃You　trusted　HIM　with　three
thousand　pounds？〃

〃Certainly。　　They　were　worth　about　three　thousand　pounds　in　Cape
Town；　and　half　as　much　again　in〃

Phoebe　started　up　in　a　moment。　　〃Thank　God！〃　she　cried。　　〃There's
hope　for　me。　　Oh；　Dick；　he　is　not　dead：　HE　HAS　ONLY　DESERTED　ME。〃

And　with　these　strange　and　pitiable　words；　she　fell　to　sobbing　as
if　her　great　heart　would　burst　at　last。


CHAPTER　XXIV。


There　came　a　reaction；　and　Phoebe　was　prostrated　with　grief　and
alarm。　　Her　brother　never　doubted　now　that　Reginald　had　run　to　Cape
Town　for　a　lark。　　But　Phoebe；　though　she　thought　so　too；　could　not
be　sure；　and　so　the　double　agony　of　bereavement　and　desertion
tortured　her　by　turns；　and　almost　together。　　For　the　first　time
these　many　years；　she　was　so　crushed　she　could　not　go　about　her
business；　but　lay　on　a　little　sofa　in　her　own　room；　and　had　the
blinds　down；　for　her　head　ached　so　she　could　not　bear　the　light。

She　conceived　a　bitter　resentment　against　Staines；　and　told　Dick
never　to　let　him　into　her　sight；　if　he　did　not　want　to　be　her
death。

In　vain　Dick　made　excuses　for　him：　she　would　hear　none。　　For　once
she　was　as　unreasonable　as　any　other　living　woman：　she　could　see
nothing　but　that　she　had　been　happy；　after　years　of　misery；　and
should　be　happy　now　if　this　man　had　never　entered　her　house。　　〃Ah；
Collie！〃　she　cried；　〃you　were　wiser　than　I　was。　　You　as　good　as
told　me　he　would　make　me　smart　for　lodging　and　curing　him。　　And　I
was　SO　happy！〃

Dale　communicated　this　as　delicately　as　he　could　to　Staines。
Christopher　was　deeply　grieved　and　wounded。　　He　thought　it　unjust；
but　he　knew　it　was　natural：　he　said；　humbly；　〃I　feel　guilty　myself；
Mr。　Dale；　and　yet；　unless　I　had　possessed　omniscience；　what　could　I
do？　　I　thought　of　her　in　allpoor　thing！　poor　thing！〃

The　tears　were　in　his　eyes；　and　Dick　Dale　went　away　scratching　his
head　and　thinking　it　over。　　The　more　he　thought；　the　less　he　was
inclined　to　condemn　him。

Staines　himself　was　much　troubled　in　mind；　and　lived　on　thorns。　　He
wanted　to　be　off　to　England；　grudged　every　day；　every　hour；　he
spent　in　Africa。　　But　Mrs。　Falcon　was　his　benefactress；　he　had
been；　for　months　and　months；　garnering　up　a　heap　of　gratitude
towards　her。　　He　had　not　the　heart　to　leave　her　bad　friends；　and　in
misery。　　He　kept　hoping　Falcon　would　return；　or　write。

Two　days　after　his　return；　he　was　seated；　disconsolate；　gluing
garnets　and　carbuncles　on　to　a　broad　tapering　bit　of　lambskin；　when
Ucatella　came　to　him　and　said；　〃My　doctor　child　sick？〃

〃No；　not　sick：　but　miserable。〃　　And　he　explained　to　her；　as　well　as
he　could；　what　had　passed。　　〃But；〃　said　he；　〃I　would　not　mind　the
loss　of　the　diamonds　now；　if　I　was　only　sure　he　was　alive。　　I　think
most　of　poor；　poor　Mrs。　Falcon。〃

While　Ucatella　pondered　this；　but　with　one　eye　of　demure　curiosity
on　the　coronet　he　was　making；　he　told　her　it　was　for　herhe　had
not　forgot　her　at　the　mines。

〃These　stones；〃　said　he；　〃are　not　valued　there；　but　see　how
glorious　they　are！〃

In　a　few　minutes　he　had　finished　the　coronet；　and　gave　it　her。　　She
uttered　a　chuckle　of　delight；　and　with　instinctive　art；　bound　it；
in　a　turn　of　her　hand；　about　her　brow；　and　then　Staines　himself　was
struck　dumb　with　amazement。　　The　carbuncles　gathered　from　those
mines　look　like　rubies；　so　full　of　fire　are　they；　and　of　enormous
size。　　The　chaplet　had　twelve　great　carbuncles　in　the　centre；　and
went　off　by　gradations　into　smaller　garnets　by　the　thousand。　　They
flashed　their　blood…red　flames　in　the　African　sun；　and　the　head　of
Ucatella；　grand　before；　became　the　head　of　the　Sphinx；　encircled
with　a　coronet　of　fire。　　She　bestowed　a　look　of　rapturous　gratitude
on　Staines；　and　then　glided　away；　like　the　stately　Juno；　to　admire
herself　in　the　nearest　glass　like　any　other　coquette；　black；　brown；
yellow；　copper；　or　white。

That　very　day；　towards　sunset；　she　burst　upon　Staines　quite
suddenly；　with　her　coronet　gleaming　on　her　magnificent　head；　and
her　eyes　like　coals　of　fire；　and　under　her　magnificent　arm；　hard　as
a　rock；　a　boy　kicking　and　struggling　in　vain。　　She　was　furiously
excited；　and；　for　the　first　time；　showed　signs　of　the　savage　in　the
whites　of　her　eyes；　which　seemed　to　turn　the　glorious　pupils　into
semicircles。　　She　clutched　Staines　by　the　shoulder　with　her　left
hand；　and　swept　along　with　the　pair；　like　dark　Fate；　or　as　potent
justice　sweeps　away　a　pair　of　culprits；　and　carried　them　to　the
little　window；　and　cried　〃Openopen！〃

Dick　Dale　was　at　dinner；　Phoebe　lying　down。　　Dick　got　up；　rather
crossly；　and　threw　open　the　window。　　〃What　is　up　now？〃　said　he
crossly：　he　was　like　two　or　three　more　Englishmenhated　to　be
bothered　at　dinner…time。

〃Dar；〃　screamed　Ucatella；　setting　down　Tim；　but　holding　him　tight
by　the　shoulder；　〃now　you　tell　what　you　see　that　night；　you　lilly
Kafir　trash；　if　you　not　tell；　I　kill　you　DEAD；〃　and　she　showed　the
whites　of　her　eyes；　like　a　wild　beast。

Tim；　thoroughly　alarmed；　quivered　out　that　he　had　seen　lilly　master
ride　up　to　the　gate　one　bright　night；　and　look　in；　and　Tim　thought
he　was　going　in：　but　he　changed　his　mind；　and　galloped　away　that
way；　and　the　monkey　pointed　south。

〃And　why　couldn't　you　tell　us　this　before？〃　questioned　Dick。

〃Me　mind　de　sheep；〃　said　Tim　apologetically。　　〃Me　not　mind　de　lilly
master：　jackals　not　eat　him。〃

〃You　no　more　sense　dan　a　sheep　yourself；〃　said　Ucatella　loftily。

〃No；　no：　God　bless　you　both；〃　cried　poor　Phoebe：　〃now　I　know　the
worst：〃　and　a　great　burst　of　tears　relieved　her　suffering　heart。

Dick　went　out　softly。　　When　he　got　outside　the　door；　he　drew　them
all　apart；　and　said；　〃Yuke；　you　ARE　a　good…hearted　girl。　　I'll
never　forget　this　while　I　live；　and；　Tim；　there's　a　shilling　for
thee；　but　don't　you　go　and　spend　it　in　Cape　smoke；　that　is　poison
to　whites；　and　destruction　to　blacks。〃

〃No；　master；〃　said　Tim。　　〃I　shall　buy　much　bread；　and　make　my
tomach　tiff；〃　then；　with　a　glance　of　reproach　at　the　domestic
caterer；　Ucatella；　〃I　almost　never　have　my　tomach　tiff。〃

Dick　left　his　sister　alone　an　hour　or　two；　to　have　her　cry　out。

When　he　went　back　to　her　there　was　a　change：　the　brave　woman　no
longer　lay　prostrate。　　She　went　about　her　business；　only　she　was
always　either　crying　or　drowning　her　tears。

He　brought　Dr。　Staines　in。　　Phoebe　instantly　turned　her　back　on　him
with　a　shudder　there　was　no　mistaking。

〃I　had　better　go；〃　said　Staines。　　〃Mrs。　Falcon　will　never　forgive
me。〃

〃She　will　have　to　quarrel　with　me　else；〃　said　Dick　steadily。　　〃Sit
you　down；　doctor。　　Honest　folk　like　you　and　me　and　Phoebe　wasn't
made　to　quarrel　for　want　of　looking　a　thing　all　round。　　My　sister
she　hasn't　looked　it　all　round；　and　I　have。　　Come；　Pheeb；　'tis　no
use　your　blinding　yourself。　　How　was　the　poor　doctor　to　know　your
husband　is　a　blackguard？〃

〃He　is　not　a　blackguard。　　How　dare　you　say　that　to　my　face？〃

〃He　is　a　blackguard；　and　always　was。　　And　now　he　is　a　thief　to
boot。　　He　has　stolen　those　diamonds；　you　know　that　very　well。〃

〃Gently；　Mr。　Dale；　you　forget：　they　are　as　much　his　as　mine。〃

〃Well；　and　if　half　a　sheep　is　mine；　and　I　take　the　whole　and　sell
him；　and　keep　the　money；　what　is　that　but　stealing？　　Why；　I　wonder
at　you；　Pheeb。　　You　was　always　honest　yourself；　and　yet　you　see　the
doctor　robbed　by　your　man；　and　that　does　not　trouble　you。　　What　has
he　done　to　deserve　it？　　He　has　been　a　good　friend　to　us。　　He　has
put　us　on　the　road。　　We　did　little　more　than　keep　the　pot　boiling
before　he　camewell；　yes；　we　stored　grain；　but　whose　advice　has
turned　that　grain　to　gold；　I　might　say？　　Well；　what's　his　offence？
He　trusted　the　diamonds　to　your　man；　and　sent　him　to　you。　　Is　he
the　first　honest　man　that　has　trusted　a　rogue？　　How　was　he　to　know？
Likely　he　judged　the　husband　by　the　wife。　　Answer　me　one　thing；
Pheeb。　　If　he　makes　away　with　fifteen　hundred　pounds　that　is　his；
or　partly　yoursfor　he　has　eaten　your　bread　ever　since　I　knew　him
and　fifteen　hundred　more　that　is　the　doctor's；　where　shall　we　find
fifteen　hundred　pounds；　all　in　a　moment；　to　pay　the　doctor　back　his
own？〃

〃My　honest　friend；〃　said　Staines；　〃you　are　tormenting　yourself　with
shadows。　　I　don't　believe　Mr。　Falcon　will　wrong　me　of　a　shilling；
and；　if　he　does；　I　shall　quietly　repay　myself　out　of　the　big
diamond。　　Yes；　my　dear　friends；　I　did　not　throw　away　your　horse；
nor　your　rifle；　nor　your　money：　I　gave　them　all；　and　the　lion's
skinI　gave　them　allfor　this。〃

And　he　laid　the　big　diamond　on　the　table。

It　was　as　big　as　a　walnut；　and　of　the　purest　water。

Dick　Dale　glanced　at　it　stupidly。　　Phoebe　turned　her　back　on　it；
with　a　cry　of　horror；　and　then　came　slowly　round　by　degrees；　and
her　eyes　were　fascinated　by　the　royal　gem。

〃Yes；〃　said　Staines　sadly；　〃I　had　to　strip　myself　of　all　to　buy　it；
and；　when　I　had　got　it；　how　proud　I　was；　and　how　happy　I　thought　we
should　all　be　over　it；　for　it　is　half　yours；　half　mine。　　Yes；　Mr。
Dale；　there　lies　six　thousand　pounds　that　belong　to　Mrs。　Falcon。〃

〃Six　thousand　pounds！〃　cried　Dick。

〃I'm　sure　of　it。　　And　so；　if　your　suspicions　are　correct；　and　poor
Falcon　should　yield　to　a　sudden　temptation；　and　spend　all