a simpleton-第10章
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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； suggested the bird of prey a little too much： but to fair
doves； born to be clutched； this similitude perhaps was not very
alarming； even if they observed it。
Rosa danced several times with him； and told him he danced like an
angel。 He informed her that was because； for once； he was dancing
with an angel。 She laughed and blushed。 He flattered deliciously；
and it cost him little； for he fell in love with her that night；
deeper than he had ever been in his whole life of intrigue。 He
asked leave to call on her： she looked a little shy at that； and
did not respond。 He instantly withdrew his proposal； with an
apology and a sigh that raised her pity。 However； she was not a
forward girl； even when excited by dancing and charmed with her
partner； so she left him to find his own way out of that
difficulty。
He was not long about it。 At the end of the next waltz he asked
her if he might venture to solicit an introduction to her father。
〃Oh； certainly；〃 said she。 〃What a selfish girl I am！ this is
terribly dull for him。〃
The introduction being made； and Rosa being engaged for the next
three dances； Mr。 Falcon sat by Mr。 Lusignan and entertained him。
For this little piece of apparent self…denial he was paid in
various coin： Lusignan found out he was the son of an old
acquaintance； and so the door of Kent Villa opened to him；
meantime； Rosa Lusignan never passed him； even in the arms of a
cavalry officer； without bestowing a glance of approval and
gratitude on him。 〃What a good…hearted young man！〃 thought she。
〃How kind of him to amuse papa； and now I can stay so much longer。〃
Falcon followed up the dance by a call； and was infinitely
agreeable： followed up the call by another； and admired Rosa with
so little disguise that Mr。 Lusignan said to her； 〃I think you have
made a conquest。 His father had considerable estates in Essex。 I
presume he inherits them。〃
〃Oh； never mind his estates；〃 said Rosa； 〃he dances like an angel；
and gossips charmingly； and IS so nice。〃
Christopher Staines pined for this girl in silence： his fine frame
got thinner； his pale cheek paler； as she got rosier and rosier；
and how？ Why； by following the very advice she had snubbed him for
giving her。 At last； he heard she had been the belle of a ball；
and that she had been seen walking miles from home； and blooming as
a Hebe。 Then his deep anxiety ceased； his pride stung him
furiously； he began to think of his own value； and to struggle with
all his might against his deep love。 Sometimes he would even
inveigh against her； and call her a fickle； ungrateful girl；
capable of no strong passion but vanity。 Many a hard term he
applied to her in his sorrowful solitude； but not a word when he
had a hearer。 He found it hard to rest： he kept dashing up to
London and back。 He plunged furiously into study。 He groaned and
sighed； and fought the hard and bitter fight that is too often the
lot of the deep that love the shallow。 Strong； but single…hearted；
no o
