a simpleton-第63章

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merits；　on　the　contrary；　I　think　he　did。　　But　I　declare　to　you　that
he　did　hope　I　should　take　care　of　you　and　your　child。　　Right　or
wrong；　it　was　his　wish；　so　pray　do　not　deceive　yourself　on　that
point。〃

This　made　more　impression　on　her　than　anything　else　he　could　say；
and　she　said；　〃I　promise　you　one　thing；　I　will　never　marry　any　man
but　you。〃

Instead　of　pressing　her　further；　as　an　inferior　artist　would；　he
broke　into　raptures；　kissed　her　hand　tenderly；　and　was　in　such　high
spirits；　and　so　voluble　all　day；　that　she　smiled　sweetly　on　him；
and　thought　to　herself；　〃Poor　soul！　how　happy　I　could　make　him　with
a　word！〃

As　he　was　always　watching　her　facea　practice　he　carried　further
than　any　person　livinghe　divined　that　sentiment；　and　wrought　upon
it　so；　that　at　last　he　tormented　her　into　saying　she　would　marry
him　SOME　DAY。

When　he　had　brought　her　to　that；　he　raged　inwardly　to　think　he　had
not　two　years　to　work　in；　for　it　was　evident　she　would　marry　him　in
time。　　But　no；　it　had　taken　him　more　than　four　months；　close　siege；
to　bring　her　to　that。　　No　word　from　Phoebe。　　An　ominous　dread　hung
over　his　own　soul。　　His　wife　would　be　upon　him；　or；　worse　still；
her　brother　Dick；　who　he　knew　would　beat　him　to　a　mummy　on　the
spot；　or；　worst　of　all；　the　husband　of　Rosa　Staines；　who　would　kill
him；　or　fling　him　into　a　prison。　　He　MUST　make　a　push。

In　this　emergency　he　used　his　ally；　Mr。　Lusignan；　he　told　him　Mrs。
Staines　had　promised　to　marry　him；　but　at　some　distant　date。　　This
would　not　do；　he　must　look　after　his　enormous　interests　in　the
colony；　and　he　was　so　much　in　love　he　could　not　leave　her。

The　old　gentleman　was　desperately　fond　of　Falcon；　and　bent　on　the
match；　and　he　actually　consented　to　give　his　daughter　what　Falcon
called　a　little　push。

The　little　push　was　a　very　great　one；　I　think。

It　consisted　in　directing　the　clergyman　to　call　in　church　the　banns
of　marriage　between　Reginald　Falcon　and　Rosa　Staines。

They　were　both　in　church　together　when　this　was　done。　　Rosa　all　but
screamed；　and　then　turned　red　as　fire　and　white　as　a　ghost；　by
turns。　　She　never　stood　up　again　all　the　service；　and　in　going　home
refused　Falcon's　arm；　and　walked　swiftly　home　by　herself。　　Not　that
she　had　the　slightest　intention　of　passing　this　monstrous　thing　by
in　silence。　　On　the　contrary；　her　wrath　was　boiling　over；　and　so
hot　that　she　knew　she　should　make　a　scene　in　the　street　if　she　said
a　word　there。

Once　inside　the　house　she　turned　on　Falcon；　with　a　white　cheek　and
a　flashing　eye；　and　said；　〃Follow　me；　sir；　if　you　please。〃　　She　led
the　way　to　her　father's　study。　　〃Papa；〃　said　she；　〃I　throw　myself
on　your　protection。　　Mr。　Falcon　has　affronted　me。〃

〃Oh；　Rosa！〃　cried　Falcon；　affecting　utter　dismay。

〃Publiclypublicly：　he　has　had　the　banns　of　marriage　cried　in　the
church；　without　my　permission。〃

〃Don't　raise　your　voice　so　loud；　child。　　All　the　house　will　hear
you。〃

〃I　choose　all　the　house　to　hear　me。　　I　will　not　endure　it。　　I　will
never　marry　you　nownever！〃

〃Rosa；　my　child；〃　said　Lusignan；　〃you　need　not　scold　poor　Falcon；
for　I　am　the　culprit。　　It　was　I　who　ordered　the　banns　to　be　cried。〃

〃Oh！　papa；　you　had　no　right　to　do　such　a　thing　as　that。〃

〃I　think　I　had。　　I　exercised　parental　authority　for　once；　and　for
your　good；　and　for　the　good　of　a　true　and　faithful　lover　of　yours；
whom　you　jilted　once；　and　now　you　trifle　with　his　affection　and　his
interests。　　He　loves　you　too　well　to　leave　you；　yet　you　know　his
vast　estates　and　interests　require　supervision。〃

〃That　for　his　vast　estates！〃　said　Rosa　contemptuously。　　〃I　am　not
to　be　driven　to　the　altar　like　this；　when　my　heart　is　in　the　grave。
Don't　you　do　it　again；　papa；　or　I'll　get　up　and　forbid　the　banns；
affront　for　affront。〃

〃I　should　like　to　see　that；〃　said　the　old　gentleman　dryly。

Rosa　vouchsafed　no　reply；　but　swept　out　of　the　room；　with　burning
cheeks　and　glittering　eyes；　and　was　not　seen　all　day；　would　not
dine　with　them；　in　spite　of　three　humble；　deprecating　notes　Falcon
sent　her。

〃Let　the　spiteful　cat　alone；〃　said　old　Lusignan。　　〃You　and　I　will
dine　together　in　peace　and　quiet。〃

It　was　a　dull　dinner；　but　Falcon　took　advantage　of　the　opportunity；
impregnated　the　father　with　his　views；　and　got　him　to　promise　to
have　the　banns　cried　next　Sunday。　　He　consented。

Rosa　learned　next　Sunday　morning　that　this　was　to　be　done；　and　her
courage　failed　her。　　She　did　not　go　to　church　at　all。

She　cried　a　great　deal；　and　submitted　to　violence；　as　your　true
women　are　too　apt　to　do。　　They　had　compromised　her；　and　so
conquered　her。　　The　permanent　feelings　of　gratitude　and　esteem
caused　a　reaction　after　her　passion；　and　she　gave　up　open
resistance　as　hopeless。

Falcon　renewed　his　visits；　and　was　received　with　the　mere　sullen
languor　of　a　woman　who　has　given　in。

The　banns　were　cried　a　third　time。

Then　the　patient　Rosa　bought　laudanum　enough　to　reunite　her　to　her
Christopher；　in　spite　of　them　all；　and　having　provided　herself　with
this　resource；　became　more　cheerful；　and　even　kind　and　caressing。

She　declined　to　name　the　day　at　present；　and　that　was　awkward。
Nevertheless　the　conspirators　felt　sure　they　should　tire　her　out
into　doing　that；　before　long；　for　they　saw　their　way　clear；　and　she
was　perplexed　in　the　extreme。

In　her　perplexity；　she　used　to　talk　to　a　certain　beautiful　star　she
called　her　Christopher。　　She　loved　to　fancy　he　was　now　an
inhabitant　of　that　bright　star；　and　often　on　a　clear　night　she
would　look　up；　and　beg　for　guidance　from　this　star。　　This　I
consider　foolish：　but　then　I　am　old　and　sceptical；　she　was　still
young　and　innocent；　and　sorely　puzzled　to　know　her　husband's　real
will。

I　don't　suppose　the　star　had　anything　to　do　with　it；　except　as　a
focus　of　her　thoughts；　but　one　fine　night；　after　a　long　inspection
of　Christopher's　star；　she　dreamed　a　dream。　　She　thought　that　a
lovely　wedding…dress　hung　over　a　chair；　that　a　crown　of　diamonds　as
large　as　almonds　sparkled　ready　for　her　on　the　dressing…table；　and
she　was　undoing　her　black　gown；　and　about　to　take　it　off；　when
suddenly　the　diamonds　began　to　pale；　and　the　white　satin　dress　to
melt　away；　and　in　its　place　there　rose　a　pale　face　and　a　long
beard；　and　Christopher　Staines　stood　before　her；　and　said　quietly；
〃Is　this　how　you　keep　your　vow？〃　　Then　he　sank　slowly；　and　the
white　dress　was　black；　and　the　diamonds　were　jet；　and　she　awoke；
with　his　gentle　words　of　remonstrance　and　his　very　tones　ringing　in
her　ear。

This　dream；　co…operating　with　her　previous　agitation　and
misgivings；　shook　her　very　much；　she　did　not　come　down…stairs　till
near　dinner…time；　and　both　her　father　and　Falcon；　who　came　as　a
matter　of　course　to　spend　his　Sunday；　were　struck　with　her
appearance。　　She　was　pale；　gloomy；　morose；　and　had　an　air　of
desperation　about　her。

Falcon　would　not　see　it；　he　knew　that　it　is　safest　to　let　her　sex
alone　when　they　look　like　that；　and　then　the　storm　sometimes
subsides　of　itself。

After　dinner；　Rosa　retired　early；　and　soon　she　was　heard　walking
rapidly　up　and　down　the　dressing…room。

This　was　quite　unusual；　and　made　a　noise。

Papa　Lusignan　thought　it　inconsiderate；　and　after　a　while；
remarking　gently　that　he　was　not　particularly　fond　of　sound；　he
proposed　they　should　smoke　the　pipe　of　peace　on　the　lawn。

They　did　so；　but　after　a　while；　finding　that　Falcon　was　not
smoking；　he　said；　〃Don't　let　me　detain　you。　　Rosa　is　alone。〃

Falcon　took　the　hint；　and　went　to　the　drawing…room。　　Rosa　met　him
on　the　stairs；　with　a　scarf　over　her　shoulders。　　〃I　must　speak　to
papa；〃　said　she。　　〃Where　is　he？〃

〃He　is　on　the　lawn；　dear　Rosa；〃　said　Falcon；　in　his　most　dulcet
tones。　　He　was　sure　of　his　ally；　and　very　glad　to　use　him　as　a
buffer　to　receive　the　first　shock。

So　he　went　into　the　drawing…room；　where　all　the　lights　were
burning；　and　quietly　took　up　a　book。　　But　he　did　not　read　a　line；
he　was　too　occupied　in　trying　to　read　his　own　future。

The　mean　villain；　who　is　incapable　of　remorse；　is；　of　all　men；　most
capable　of　fear。　　His　villany　had；　to　all　appearance；　reached　the
goal；　for　he　felt　sure　that　all　Rosa's　struggles　would；　sooner　or
later；　succumb　to　her　sense　of　gratitude　and　his　strong　will　and
patient　temper。　　But　when　the　victory　was　won；　what　a　life！　　He
must　fly　with　her　to　some　foreign　country；　pursued　from　pillar　to
post　by　an　enraged　husband；　and　by　the　offended　law。　　And　if　he
escaped　the　vindictive　foe　a　year　or　two；　how　could　he　escape　that
other　enemy　he　knew；　and　dreadedpoverty？　　He　foresaw　he　should
come　to　hate　the　woman　he　was　about　to　wrong；　and　she　would
instantly　revenge　herself；　by　making　him　an　exile　and；　soon　or
late；　a　prisoner；　or　a　pauper。

While　these　misgivings　battled　with　his　base　but　ardent　passion；
strange　things　were　going　on　out　of　doorsbut　they　will　be　best
related　in　another　sequence　of　events；　to　which　indeed　they　fairly
belong。


CHAPTER　XXIX。


Staines　and　Mrs。　Falcon　landed　at　Plymouth；　and　went　up　to　town　by
the　same　train。　　They　parted　in　London；　Staines　to　go　down　to
Gravesend；　Mrs。　Falcon　to　visit　her　husband's　old　haunts；　and　see
if　she　could　find　him。

She　did　not　find　him；　but　she　heard　of　him；　and　learned　that　he
always　went　down　to　Gravesend　from　Saturday　till　Monday。

Notwithstanding　all　she　had　said　to　Staines；　the　actual　information
startled　her；　and　gave　her　a　turn。　　She　was　obliged　to　sit　down；
for　her　knees　seemed　to　give　way。　　It　was　but　a　momentary　weakness。
She　was　now　a　wife　and　a　mother；　and　had　her　rights。　　She　said　to
herself；　〃My　rogue　has　turned　that　poor　woman's　head　long　before
this；　no　doubt。　　But　I　shall　go　down　and　just　bring　him　away　by　the
ear。〃

For　once　her　bitter　indignation　overpowered　every　other　sentiment；
and　she　lost　no　time；　but　late　as　it　was　went　down　to　Gravesend；
ordered　a　private　sitting…room　and　bedroom　for　the　night；　and　took
a　fly　to　Kent　Villa。

But　Christopher　Staines　had　the　start　of　her。　　He　had　already　gone
down　to　Gravesend　with　his　carpet…bag；　left　it　at　the　inn；　and
walked　to　Kent　Villa　that　lovely　summer　night；　the　happiest　husband
in　England。

His　heart　had　never　for　one　instant　been　disturbed　by　Mrs。　Falcon's
monstrous　suspicion；　he　looked　on　her　as　a　monomaniac；　a　sensible
woman　insane　on　one　point；　her　husband。

When　he　reached　the　villa；　however；　he　thought　it　prudent　to　make
sure　that　Falcon　had　come　to　England　at　all；　and　discharged　his
commission。　　He　would　not　run　the　risk；　small　as　he　thought　it；　of
pouncing　unexpected　on　his　Rosa；　being　taken　for　a　ghost；　and
terrifying　her；　or　exciting　her　to　madness。

Now　the　premises　of　Kent　Villa　were　admirably　adapted　to　what　they
call　in　war　a　reconnaissance。　　The　lawn　was　studded　with
laurestinas　and　other　shrubs　that　had　grown　magnificently　in　that
Kentish　air。

Staines　had　no　sooner　set　his　foot　on　the　lawn；　than　he　heard
voices；　he　crept　towards　them　from　bush　to　bush；　and　standing　in
impenetrable　shade；　he　saw　in　the　clear　moonlight　two　figures
Mr。　Lusignan　and　Reginald　Falcon。

These　two　dropped　out　only　a　word　or　two　at　intervals；　but　what
they　did　say　struck　Staines　as　odd。　　For　one　thing；　Lusignan
remarked；　〃I　suppose　you　will　want　to　go　back　to　the　Cape。　　Such
enormous　estat