a simpleton-第7章

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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　Christopher　would
write　to　her；　so　that　she　might　write　back　that　she　forgave　him。
But　not　a　line。

At　half…past　six　her　volatile　mind　took　a　turn；　real　or　affected。
She　would　cry　no　more　for　an　ungrateful　fellow；ungrateful　for　not
seeing　through　the　stone　walls　how　she　had　been　employed　all　the
morning；　and　making　it　up。　　So　she　bathed　her　red　eyes；　made　a
great　alteration　in　her　dress；　and　came　dancing　into　the　room
humming　an　Italian　ditty。

As　they　were　sitting　together　in　the　dining…room　after　dinner；　two
letters　came　by　the　same　post　to　Mr。　Lusignan　from　Mr。　Wyman　and
Dr。　Snell。

Mr。　Wyman's　letter：


DEAR　SIR；I　am　sorry　to　hear　from　Miss　Lusignan　that　she　intends
to　discontinue　medical　advice。　　The　disorder　was　progressing
favorably；　and　nothing　to　be　feared；　under　proper　treatment。

Yours；　etc。


Dr。　Snell's　letter：


DEAR　SIR；Miss　Lusignan　has　written　to　me　somewhat　impatiently　and
seems　disposed　to　dispense　with　my　visits。　　I　do　not；　however；
think　it　right　to　withdraw　without　telling　you　candidly　that　this
is　an　unwise　step。　　Your　daughter's　health　is　in　a　very　precarious
condition。

Yours；　etc。


Rosa　burst　out　laughing。　　〃I　have　nothing　to　fear；　and　I'm　on　the
brink　of　the　grave。　　That　comes　of　writing　without　a　consultation。
If　they　had　written　at　one　table；　I　should　have　been　neither　well
nor　ill。　　Poor　Christopher！〃　and　her　sweet　face　began　to　work
piteously。

〃There！　there！　drink　a　glass　of　wine。〃

She　did；　and　a　tear　with　it；　that　ran　into　the　glass　like
lightning。

Warned　by　this　that　grief　sat　very　near　the　bright；　hilarious
surface；　Mr。　Lusignan　avoided　all　emotional　subjects　for　the
present。　　Next　day；　however；　he　told　her　she　might　dismiss　her
lover；　but　no　power　should　make　him　dismiss　his　pet　physician；
unless　her　health　improved。

〃I　will　not　give　you　that　excuse　for　inflicting　him　on　me　again；〃
said　the　young　hypocrite。

She　kept　her　word。　　She　got　better　and　better；　stronger；　brighter；
gayer。

She　took　to　walking　every　day；　and　increasing　the　distance；　till
she　could　walk　ten　miles　without　fatigue。

Her　favorite　walk　was　to　a　certain　cliff　that　commanded　a　noble
view　of　the　sea。　　To　get　to　it　she　must　pass　through　the　town　of
Gravesend；　and　we　may　be　sure　she　did　not　pass　so　often　through
that　city　without　some　idea　of　meeting　the　lover　she　had　used　so
ill；　and　eliciting　an　APOLOGY　from　him。　　Sly　puss！

When　she　had　walked　twenty　times；　or　thereabouts；　through　the　town；
and　never　seen　him；　she　began　to　fear　she　had　offended　him　past
hope。　　Then　she　used　to　cry　at　the　end　of　every　walk。

But　by　and　by　bodily　health；　vanity；　and　temper　combined　to　rouse
the　defiant　spirit。　　Said　she；　〃If　he　really　loved　me；　he　would　not
take　my　word　in　such　a　hurry。　　And　besides；　why　does　he　not　watch
me；　and　find　out　what　I　am　doing；　and　where　I　walk？〃

At　last　she　really　began　to　persuade　herself　that　she　was　an　ill…
used　and　slighted　girl。　　She　was　very　angry　at　times；　and
disconsolate　at　others；　a　mixed　state　in　which　hasty　and　impulsive
young　ladies　commit　lifelong　follies。

Mr。　Lusignan　observed　the　surface　only：　he　saw　his　invalid　daughter
getting　better　every　day；　till　at　last　she　became　a　picture　of
health　and　bodily　vigor。　　Relieved　of　his　fears；　he　troubled　his
head　but　little　about　Christopher　Staines。　　Yet　he　esteemed　him；
and　had　got　to　like　him；　but　Rosa　was　a　beauty；　and　could　do　better
than　marry　a　struggling　physician；　however　able。　　He　launched　out
into　a　little　gayety；　resumed　his　quiet　dinner…parties；　and；　after
some　persuasion；　took　his　now　blooming　daughter　to　a　ball　given　by
the　officers　of　Chatham。

She　was　the　belle　of　the　ball　beyond　dispute；　and　danced　with
ethereal　grace　and　athletic　endurance。　　She　was　madly　fond　of
waltzing；　and　here　she　encountered　what　she　was　pleased　to　call　a
divine　dancer。　　It　was　a　Mr。　Reginald　Falcon；　a　gentleman　who　had
retired　to　the　seaside　to　recruit　his　health　and　finances　sore
tried　by　London　and　Paris。　　Falcon　had　run　through　his　fortune；　but
had　acquired；　in　the　process；　certain　talents　which；　as　they　cost
the　acquirer　dear；　so　they　sometimes　repay　him；　especially　if　he　is
not　overburdened　with　principle；　and　adopts　the　notion　that；　the
world　having　plucked　him；　he　has　a　right　to　pluck　the　world。　　He
could　play　billiards　well；　but　never　so　well　as　when　backing
himself　for　a　heavy　stake。　　He　could　shoot　pigeons　well；　and　his
shooting　improved　under　that　which　makes　some　marksmen　missa
heavy　bet　against　the　gun。　　He　danced　to　perfection；　and　being　a
well…bred；　experienced；　brazen；　adroit　fellow；　who　knew　a　little　of
everything　that　was　going；　he　had　always　plenty　to　say。　　Above　all；
he　had　made　a　particular　study　of　the　fair　sex；　had　met　with　many
successes；　many　rebuffs；　and；　at　last；　by　keen　study　of　their
minds；　and　a　habit　he　had　acquired　of　watching　their　faces；　and
shifting　his　helm　accordingly；　had　learned　the　great　art　of
pleasing　them。　　They　admired　his　face；　to　me；　the　short　space
between　his　eyes　and　his　hair；　his　aquiline　nose；　and　thin　straight
lips；　suggeste