a simpleton-第8节

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loosen　it；　she　can't。　　Once　there；　the　temptation　is　too　strong。
Off　with　it；　and；　take　my　word；　you　will　be　one　of　the　healthiest
and　most　vigorous　young　ladies　in　Europe。〃

Rosa　looked　rueful；　and　almost　sullen。　　She　said　she　had　parted
with　her　doctors　for　him；　but　she　really　could　not　go　about　without
stays。　　〃They　are　as　loose　as　they　can　be。　　See！〃

〃That　part　of　the　programme　is　disposed　of；〃　said　Christopher。
〃Please　go　on　to　No。　2。　　How　about　the　raw　red　line　where　the　loose
machine　has　sawed　you？〃

〃What　red　line？　　No　such　thing！　　Somebody　or　other　has　been　peeping
in　at　my　window。　　I'll　have　the　ivy　cut　down　to…morrow。〃

〃Simpleton！〃　said　Mr。　Lusignan；　angrily。　　〃You　have　let　the　cat　out
of　the　bag。　　There　is　such　a　mark；　then；　and　this　extraordinary
young　man　has　discerned　it　with　the　eye　of　science。〃

〃He　never　discerned　it　at　all；〃　said　Rosa；　red　as　fire；　〃and；　what
is　more；　he　never　will。〃

〃I　don't　want　to。　　I　should　be　very　sorry　to。　　I　hope　it　will　be
gone　in　a　week。〃

〃I　wish　YOU　were　gone　nowexposing　me　in　this　cruel　way；〃　said
Rosa；　angry　with　herself　for　having　said　an　idiotic　thing；　and
furious　with　him　for　having　made　her　say　it。

〃Oh；　Rosa！〃　said　Christopher；　in　a　voice　of　tenderest　reproach。

But　Mr。　Lusignan　interfered　promptly。　　〃Rosa；　no　noise。　　I　will　not
have　you　snapping　at　your　best　friend　and　mine。　　If　you　are
excited；　you　had　better　retire　to　your　own　room　and　compose
yourself。　　I　hate　a　clamor。〃

Rosa　made　a　wry　face　at　this　rebuke；　and　then　began　to　cry　quietly。

Every　tear　was　like　a　drop　of　blood　from　Christopher's　heart。
〃Pray　don't　scold　her；　sir；〃　said　he；　ready　to　snivel　himself。
〃She　meant　nothing　unkind：　it　is　only　her　pretty　sprightly　way；　and
she　did　not　really　imagine　a　love　so　reverent　as　mine〃

〃Don't　YOU　interfere　between　my　father　and　me；〃　said　this
reasonable　young　lady；　now　in　an　ungovernable　state　of　feminine
irritability。

〃No；　Rosa；〃　said　Christopher；　humbly。　　〃Mr。　Lusignan；〃　said　he；　〃I
hope　you　will　tell　her　that；　from　the　very　first；　I　was　unwilling
to　enter　on　this　subject　with　HER。　　Neither　she　nor　I　can　forget　my
double　character。　　I　have　not　said　half　as　much　to　her　as　I　ought；
being　her　physician；　and　yet　you　see　I　have　said　more　than　she　can
bear　from　me；　who；　she　knows；　love　her　and　revere　her。　　Then；　once
for　all；　do　pray　let　me　put　this　delicate　matter　into　your　hands：
it　is　a　case　for　parental　authority。〃

〃Unfatherly　tyranny；　that　means；〃　said　Rosa。　　〃What　business　have
gentlemen　interfering　in　such　things？　　It　is　unheard　of。　　I　will
not　submit　to　it；　even　from　papa。〃

〃Well；　you　need　not　scream　at　me；〃　said　Mr。　Lusignan；　and　he
shrugged　his　shoulders　to　Staines。　　〃She　is　impracticable；　you　see。
If　I　do　my　duty；　there　will　be　a　disturbance。〃

Now　this　roused　the　bile　of　Dr。　Staines。　　〃What；　sir！〃　said　he；
〃you　could　separate　her　and　me　by　your　authority；　here　in　this　very
room；　and　yet；　when　her　life　is　at　stake；　you　abdicate！　　You　could
part　her　from　a　man　who　loved　her　with　every　drop　of　his　heart；
and　she　said　she　loved　him；　or；　at　all　events；　preferred　him　to
others；and　you　cannot　part　her　from　a　miserable　corset；　although
you　see　in　her　poor　wasted　face　that　it　is　carrying　her　to　the
churchyard。　　In　that　case；　sir；　there　is　but　one　thing　for　you　to
do；withdraw　your　opposition　and　let　me　marry　her。　　As　her　lover　I
am　powerless；　but　invest　me　with　a　husband's　authority；　and　you
will　soon　see　the　roses　return　to　her　cheek；　and　her　elastic　figure
expanding；　and　her　eye　beaming　with　health　and　the　happiness　that
comes　of　perfect　health。〃

Mr。　Lusignan　made　an　answer　neither　of　his　hearers　expected。　　He
said；　〃I　have　a　great　mind　to　take　you　at　your　word。　　I　am　too　old
and　fond　of　quiet　to　drive　a　Simpleton　in　single　harness。〃

This　contemptuous　speech；　and；　above　all；　the　word　Simpleton；　which
had　been　applied　to　her　pretty　freely　by　young　ladies　at　school；
and　always　galled　her　terribly；　inflicted　so　intolerable　a　wound　on
Rosa's　vanity；　that　she　was　ready　to　burst：　on　that；　of　course；　her
stays　contributed　their　mite　of　physical　uneasiness。　　Thus
irritated　mind　and　body；　she　burned　to　strike　in　return；　and　as　she
could　not　slap　her　father　in　the　presence　of　another；　she　gave　it
Christopher　back…handed。

〃You　can　turn　me　out　of　doors；〃　said　she；　〃if　you　are　tired　of　your
daughter；　but　I　am　not　such　a　SIMPLETON　as　to　marry　a　tyrant。　　No；
he　has　shown　the　cloven　foot　in　time。　　A　husband's　AUTHORITY；
indeed！〃　　Then　she　turned　her　hand；　and　gave　it　him　direct。　　〃You
told　me　a　different　story　when　you　were　paying　your　court　to　me；
then　you　were　to　be　my　servant；all　hypocritical　sweetness。　　You
had　better　go　and　marry　a　Circassian　slave。　　They　don't　wear　stays；
and　they　do　wear　trousers；　so　she　will　be　unfeminine　enough；　even
for　you。　　No　English　lady　would　let　her　husband　dictate　to　her
about　such　a　thing。　　I　can　have　as　many　husbands　as　I　like；　without
falling　into　the　clutches　of　a　tyrant。　　You　are　a　rude；　indelicate
And　so　please　understand　it　is　all　over　between　you　and　me。〃

Both　her　auditors　stood　aghast；　for　she　uttered　this　conclusion
with　a　dignity　of　which　the　opening　gave　no　promise；　and　the
occasion；　weighed　in　masculine　balances；　was　not　worthy。

〃You　do　not　mean　that。　　You　cannot　mean　it；〃　said　Dr。　Staines；
aghast。

〃I　do　mean　it；〃　said　she；　firmly；　〃and；　if　you　are　a　gentleman；　you
will　not　compel　me　to　say　it　twicethree　times；　I　mean。〃

At　this　dagger…stroke　Christopher　turned　very　pale；　but　he
maintained　his　dignity。　　〃I　am　a　gentleman；〃　said　he；　quietly；　〃and
a　very　unfortunate　one。　　Good…by；　sir；　thank　you　kindly。　　Good…by；
Rosa；　God　bless　you！　　Oh；　pray　take　a　thought！　　Remember；　your　life
and　death　are　in　your　own　hand　now。　　I　am　powerless。〃

And　he　left　the　house　in　sorrow；　and　just；　but　not　pettish；
indignation。

When　he　was　gone；　father　and　daughter　looked　at　each　other；　and
there　was　the　silence　that　succeeds　a　storm。

Rosa；　feeling　the　most　uneasy；　was　the　first　to　express　her
satisfaction。　　〃There；　HE　is　gone；　and　I　am　glad　of　it。　　Now　you
and　I　shall　never　quarrel　again。　　I　was　quite　right。　　Such
impertinence！　　Such　indelicacy！　　A　fine　prospect　for　me　if　I　had
married　such　a　man！　　However；　he　is　gone；　and　so　there's　an　end　of
it。　　The　idea！　telling　a　young　lady；　before　her　father；　she　is
tight…laced！　　If　you　had　not　been　there　I　could　have　forgiven　him。
But　I　am　not；　it　is　a　story。　　Now；〃　suddenly　exalting　her　voice；　〃I
know　you　believe　him。〃

〃I　say　nothing；〃　whispered　papa；　hoping　to　still　her　by　example。
This　ruse　did　not　succeed。

〃But　you　look　volumes；〃　cried　she：　〃and　I　can't　bear　it。　　I　won't
bear　it。　　If　you　don't　believe　ME；　ask　my　MAID。〃　　And　with　this
felicitous　speech；　she　rang　the　bell。

〃You'll　break　the　wire　if　you　don't　mind；〃　suggested　her　father；
piteously。

〃All　the　better！　　Why　should　not　wires　be　broken　as　well　as　my
heart？　　Oh；　here　she　is！　　Now；　Harriet；　come　here。〃

〃Yes；　miss。〃

〃And　tell　the　truth。　　AM　I　tight…laced？〃

Harriet　looked　in　her　face　a　moment　to　see　what　was　required　of
her；　and　then　said；　〃That　you　are　not；　miss。　　I　never　dressed　a
young　lady　as　wore　'em　easier　than　you　do。〃

〃There；　papa！　　That　will　do；　Harriet。〃

Harriet　retired　as　far　as　the　keyhole；　she　saw　something　was　up。

〃Now；〃　said　Rosa；　〃you　see　I　was　right；　and；　after　all；　it　was　a
match　you　did　not　approve。　　Well；　it　is　all　over；　and　now　you　may
write　to　your　favorite；　Colonel　Bright。　　If　he　comes　here；　I'll　box
his　old　ears。　　I　hate　him。　　I　hate　them　all。　　Forgive　your　wayward
girl。　　I'll　stay　with　you　all　my　days。　　I　dare　say　that　will　not　be
long；　now　I　have　quarrelled　with　my　guardian　angel；　and　all　for
what？　　Papa！　papa！　how　CAN　you　sit　there　and　not　speak　me　one　word
of　comfort？　　'SIMPLETON？'　　Ah！　that　I　am　to　throw　away　a　love　a
queen　is　scarcely　worthy　of；　and　all　for　what？　　Really；　if　it
wasn't　for　the　ingratitude　and　wickedness　of　the　thing；　it　is　too
laughable。　　Ha！　ha！oh！　oh！　oh！ha！　ha！　ha！〃

And　off　she　went　into　hysterics；　and　began　to　gulp　and　choke
frightfully。

Her　father　cried　for　help　in　dismay。　　In　ran　Harriet；　saw；　and
screamed；　but　did　not　lose　her　head；　this　veracious　person　whipped
a　pair　of　scissors　off　the　table；　and　cut　the　young　lady's　stay…
laces　directly。　　Then　there　was　a　burst　of　imprisoned　beauty；　a
deep；　deep　sigh　of　relief　came　from　a　bosom　that　would　have　done
honor　to　Diana；　and　the　scene　soon　concluded　with　fits　of　harmless
weeping；　renewed　at　intervals。

When　it　had　settled　down　to　this；　her　father；　to　soothe　her；　said
he　would　write　to　Dr。　Staines；　and　bring　about　a　reconciliation；　if
she　liked。

〃No；〃　said　she；　〃you　shall　kill　me　sooner。　　I　should　die　of　shame。〃

She　added；　〃Oh；　pray；　from　this　hour；　never　mention　his　name　to　me。〃

And　then　she　had　another　cry。

Mr。　Lusignan　was　a　sensible　man：　he　dropped　the　subject　for　the
present；　but　he　made　up　his　mind　to　one　thingthat　he　would　never
part　with　Dr。　Staines　as　a　physician。

Next　day　Rosa　kept　her　own　room　until　dinner…time；　and　was　as
unhappy　as　she　deserved　to　be。　　She　spent　her　time　in　sewing　on
stiff　flannel　linings　and　crying。　　She　half　hoped　Christop