a simpleton-第15章
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which love torments the heart； this was the most terrible and
pitiable。
Mr。 Lusignan found his daughter in tears。
〃Why； what is the matter now？〃 said he； a little peevishly。 〃We
have had nothing of this sort of thing lately。〃
〃Papa； it is because I have misconducted myself。 I am a foolish；
imprudent girl。 I have been flirting with Mr。 Falcon； and he has
taken a CRUEL advantage of itproposed to methis very afternoon
actually！〃
〃Has he？ Well； he is a fine fellow； and has a landed estate in
Norfolk。 There's nothing like land。 They may well call it real
propertythere is something to show； you can walk on it； and ride
on it； and look out of window at it： that IS property。〃
〃Oh； papa！ what are you saying？ Would you have me marry one man
when I belong to another？〃
〃But you don't belong to any one except to me。〃
〃Oh； yes； I do。 I belong to my dear Christopher。〃
〃Why； you dismissed him before my very eyes； and very ill you
behaved； begging your pardon。 The man was your able physician and
your best friend； and said nothing that was not for your good； and
you treated him like a dog。〃
〃Yes； but he has apologized。〃
〃What for？ being treated like a dog？〃
〃Oh； don't say so； papa！ At all events； he has apologized； as a
gentleman should wheneverwhenever〃
〃Whenever a lady is in the wrong。〃
〃Don't； papa； and I have asked him to dinner。〃
〃With all my heart。 I shall be downright glad to see him again。
You used him abominably。〃
〃But you need not keep saying so；〃 whined Rosa。 〃And that is not
all； dear papa； the worst of it is； Mr。 Falcon proposing to me has
opened my eyes。 I am not fit to be trusted alone。 I am too fond
of dancing； and flirting will follow somehow。 Oh； think how ill I
was a few months ago； and how unhappy you were about me！ They were
killing me。 He came and saved me。 Yes； papa； I owe all this
health and strength to Christopher。 I did take them off； the very
next day； and see the effect of it and my long walks。 I owe him my
life； and what I value far more； my good looks。 La！ I wish I had
not told you that。 And after all this； don't I belong to my
Christopher？ How could I be happy or respect myself if I married
any one else？ And oh； papa！ he looks wan and worn。 He has been
fretting for his Simpleton。 Oh； dear！ I mustn't think of thatit
makes me cry； and you don't like scenes； do you？〃
〃Hate 'em！〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Rosa； coaxingly； 〃I'll tell you how to end them。
Marry your Simpleton to the only man who is fit to take care of
her。 Oh； papa！ think of his deep； deep affection for me； and pray
don't snub him ifby any chanceafter dinnerhe should HAPPEN to
ask yousomething。〃
〃Oh； then it is possible that； by the merest chance； the gentleman
you have accidentally asked to dinner； may； by some strange
fortuity； be surprised into asking me a second time for something
very much resembling my daughter's handeh？〃
Rosa colored high。 〃He might； you know。 How can I tell what
gentlemen will say when the ladies have retired and they are left
alone withwith〃
〃With the bottle。 Ay； that's true； when the wine is in； the wit is
out。〃
Said Rosa； 〃Well； if he should happen to be so foolish； pray think
of ME； of all we owe him； and how much I love him； and ought to
love him。〃 She then bestowed a propitiatory kiss； and ran off to
dress for dinner； it was a much longer operation to…day than usual。
Dr。 Staines was punctual。 Mr。 Lusignan commented favorably on
that。
〃He always is；〃 said Rosa； eagerly。
They dined together。 Mr。 Lusignan chatted freely； but Staines and
Rosa were under a feeling of restraint； Staines in particular； he
could not help feeling that before long his fate must be settled。
He would either obtain Rosa's hand； or have to resign her to some
man of fortune who would step in； for beauty such as hers could not
long lack brilliant offers。 Longing； though dreading； to know his
fate； he was glad when dinner ended。
Rosa sat with them a little while after dinner； then rose； bestowed
another propitiatory kiss on her father's head； and retired with a
modest blush； and a look at Christopher that was almost divine。
It inspired him with the courage of lions； and he commenced the
attack at once。
CHAPTER V。
〃Mr。 Lusignan；〃 said he； 〃the last time I was here you gave me some
hopes that you might be prevailed on to trust that angel's health
and happiness to my care。〃
〃Well； Dr。 Staines； I will not beat about the bush with you。 My
judgment is still against this marriage； you need not look so
alarmed； it does not follow I shall forbid it。 I feel I have
hardly a right to； for my Rosa might be in her grave now but for
you； and； another thing； when I interfered between you two I had no
proof you were a man of ability； I had only your sweetheart's word
for that； and I never knew a case before where a young lady's swan
did not turn out a goose。 Your rare ability gives you another
chance in the professional battle that is before you； indeed； it
puts a different face on the whole matter。 I still think it
premature。 Come now； would it not be much wiser to wait； and
secure a good practice before you marry a mere child？ There！
there！ I only advise； I don't dictate； you shall settle it
together； you two wiseacres。 Only I must make one positive
condition。 I have nothing to give my child during my lifetime； but
one thing I have done for her； years ago I insured my life for six
thousand pounds； and you must do the same。 I will not have her
thrown on the world a widow； with a child or two； perhaps； to
support； and not a farthing； you know the insecurity of mortal
life。〃
〃I do！ I do！ Why； of course I will insure my life； and pay the
annual premium out of my little capital； until income flows in。〃
〃Will you hand me over a sum sufficient to pay that premium for
five years？〃
〃With pleasure。〃
〃Then I fear；〃 said the old gentleman； with a sigh； 〃my opposition
to the match must cease here。 I still recommend you to wait； but
there！ I might just as well advise fire and tow to live neighbors
and keep cool。〃
To show the injustice of this simile； Christopher Staines started
up with his eyes all aglow； and cried out； rapturously； 〃Oh； sir；
may I tell her？〃
〃Yes； you may tell her；〃 said Lusignan； with a smile。 〃Stopwhat
are you going to tell her？〃
〃That you consent； sir。 God bless you！ God bless you！ Oh！〃
〃Yes； but that I advise you to wait。〃
〃I'll tell her all；〃 said Staines； and rushed out even as he spoke；
and upset a heavy chair with a loud thud。
〃Ah！ ah！〃 cried the old gentleman in dismay； and put his fingers in
his earstoo late。 〃I see；〃 said he； 〃there will be no peace and
quiet now till they are out of the house。〃 He lighted a soothing
cigar to counteract the fracas。
〃Poor little Rosa！ a child but yesterday； and now to encounter the
cares of a wife； and perhaps a mother。 Ah！ she is but young； but
young。〃
The old gentleman prophesied truly； from that moment he had no
peace till he withdrew all semblance of dissent； and even of
procrastination。
Christopher insured his life for six thousand pounds； and assigned
the policy to his wife。 Four hundred pounds was handed to Mr。
Lusignan to pay the premiums until the genius of Dr。 Staines should
have secured him that large professional income； which does not
come all at once； even to the rare physician； who is Capax；
Efficax； Sagax。
The wedding…day was named。 The bridesmaids were selected； the
guests invited。 None refused but Uncle Philip。 He declined； in
his fine bold hand； to countenance in person an act of folly he
disapproved。 Christopher put his letter away with a momentary
sigh； and would not show it Rosa。 All other letters they read
together； charming pastime of that happy period。 Presents poured
in。 Silver teapots； coffeepots； sugar…basins； cream…jugs； fruit…
dishes； silver…gilt inkstands； albums； photograph…books； little
candlesticks； choice little services of china； shell salt…cellars
in a case lined with maroon velvet； a Bible； superb in binding and
clasps； and everything but the textthat was illegible； a silk
scarf from Benares； a gold chain fro
