a simpleton-第34章

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into　a　chair。

She　started　up　with　a　scream；　then　sank　down　again；　trembling；　and
turned　her　face　to　the　wall。

〃So　you　are　going　to　run　away　from　me！〃　said　he　savagely。

〃Ay；　Reginald；〃　said　she　meekly。

〃This　is　your　fine　love；　is　it？〃

〃You　have　worn　it　out；　dear；〃　she　said　softly；　without　turning　her
head　from　the　wall。

〃I　wish　I　could　say　as　much；　but；　curse　it；　every　time　I　leave　you
I　learn　to　love　you　more。　　I　am　never　really　happy　but　when　I　am
with　you。〃

〃Bless　you　for　saying　that；　dear。　　I　often　thought　you　MUST　find
that　out　one　day；　but　you　took　too　long。〃

〃Oh；　better　late　than　never。　　Phoebe！　　Can　you　have　the　heart　to　go
to　the　Cape；　and　leave　me　all　alone　in　the　world；　with　nobody　that
really　cares　for　me？　　Surely　you　are　not　obliged　to　go。〃

〃Yes；　my　father　left　Dick　and　me　fifteen　hundred　pounds　apiece　to
go：　that　was　the　condition。　　Poor　Dick　loves　his　unhappy　sister。
He　won't　go　without　meI　should　be　his　ruinpoor　Dick；　that
really　loves　me；　and　he　lay　a…dying　here；　and　the　good　doctor　and
meGod　bless　himwe　brought　him　back　from　the　grave。　　Ah；　you
little　know　what　I　have　gone　through。　　You　were　not　here。　　Catch
you　being　near　me　when　I　am　in　trouble。　　There；　I　must　go。　　I　must
go。　　I　will　go；　if　I　fling　myself　into　the　sea　half　way。〃

〃And；　if　you　do；　I'll　take　a　dose　of　poison；　for　I　have　thrown　away
the　truest　heart；　the　sweetest；　most　unselfish；　kindest；　generous
oh！　oh！　oh！〃

And　he　began　to　howl。

This　set　Phoebe　sobbing。　　〃Don't　cry；　dear；〃　she　murmured　through
her　tears；　〃if　you　have　really　any　love　for　me；　come　with　me。〃

〃What；　leave　England；　and　go　to　a　desert？〃

〃Love　can　make　a　desert　a　garden。〃

〃Phoebe；　I'll　do　anything　else。　　I'll　swear　not　to　leave　your　side。
I'll　never　look　at　any　other　face　but　yours。　　But　I　can't　live　in
Africa。〃

〃I　know　you　can't。　　It　takes　a　little　real　love　to　go　there　with　a
poor　girl　like　me。　　Ah；　well；　I'd　have　made　you　so　happy。　　We　are
not　poor　emigrants。　　I　have　a　horse　for　you　to　ride；　and　guns　to
shoot；　and　me　and　Dick　would　do　all　the　work　for　you。　　But　there
are　others　here　you　can't　leave　for　me。　　Well；　then；　good…by；　dear。
In　Africa；　or　here；　I　shall　always　love　you；　and　many　a　salt　tear　I
shall　shed　for　you　yet；　many　a　one　I　have；　as　well　you　know。　　God
bless　you。　　Pray　for　poor　Phoebe；　that　goes　against　her　will　to
Africa；　and　leaves　her　heart　with　thee。〃

This　was　too　much　even　for　the　selfish　Reginald。　　He　kneeled　at　her
knees；　and　took　her　hand；　and　kissed　it；　and　actually　shed　a　tear
or　two　over　it。

She　could　not　speak。　　He　had　no　hope　of　changing　her　resolution；
and　presently　he　heard　Dick's　voice　outside；　so　he　got　up　to　avoid
him。　　〃I'll　come　again　in　the　morning；　before　you　go。〃

〃Oh；　no！　no！〃　she　gasped。　　〃Unless　you　want　me　to　die　at　your　feet。
I　am　almost　dead　now。〃

Reginald　slipped　out　by　the　kitchen。

Dick　came　in；　and　found　his　sister　leaning　with　her　head　back
against　the　wall。　　〃Why；　Phoebe；〃　said　he；　〃whatever　is　the
matter？〃　and　he　took　her　by　the　shoulder。

She　moaned；　and　he　felt　her　all　limp　and　powerless。

〃What　is　it；　lass？　　Whatever　is　the　matter？　　Is　it　about　going
away？〃

She　would　not　speak　for　a　long　time。

When　she　did　speak；　it　was　to　say　something　for　which　my　male
reader　may　not　be　prepared。　　But　it　will　not　surprise　the　women。

〃O　Dickforgive　me！〃

〃Why；　what　for？〃

〃Forgive　me；　or　else　kill　me：　I　don't　care　which。〃

〃I　do；　though。　　There；　I　forgive　you。　　Now　what's　your　crime？〃

〃I　can't　go。　　Forgive　me！〃

〃Can't　go？〃

〃I　can't。　　Forgive　me！〃

〃I'm　blessed　if　I　don't　believe　that　vagabond　has　been　here
tormenting　of　you　again。〃

〃Oh；　don't　miscall　him。　　He　is　penitent。　　Yes；　Dick；　he　has　been
here　crying　to　meand　I　can't　leave　him。　　I　can'tI　can't。　　Dear
Dick！　you　are　young　and　stout…hearted；　take　all　the　things　over；
and　make　your　fortune　out　there；　and　leave　your　poor　foolish　sister
behind。　　I　should　only　fling　myself　into　the　salt　sea　if　I　left　him
now；　and　that　would　be　peace　to　me；　but　a　grief　to　thee。〃

〃Lordsake；　Phoebe；　don't　talk　so。　　I　can't　go　without　you。　　And　do
but　think；　why；　the　horses　are　on　board　by　now；　and　all　the　gear。
It's　my　belief　a　good　hiding　is　all　you　want；　to　bring　you　to　your
senses；　but　I　han't　the　heart　to　give　you　one；　worse　luck。　　Blessed
if　I　know　what　to　say　or　do。〃

〃I　won't　go！〃　cried　Phoebe；　turning　violent　all　of　a　sudden。　　〃No；
not　if　I　am　dragged　to　the　ship　by　the　hair　of　my　head。　　Forgive
me！〃　　And　with　that　word　she　was　a　mouse　again。

〃Eh；　but　women　are　kittle　cattle　to　drive；〃　said　poor　Dick
ruefully。　　And　down　he　sat　at　a　nonplus；　and　very　unhappy。

Phoebe　sat　opposite；　sullen；　heart…sick；　wretched　to　the　core；　but
determined　not　to　leave　Reginald。

Then　came　an　event　that　might　have　been　foreseen；　yet　it　took　them
both　by　surprise。

A　light　step　was　heard；　and　a　graceful；　though　seedy；　figure
entered　the　room　with　a　set　speech　in　his　mouth：　〃Phoebe；　you　are
right。　　I　owe　it　to　your　long　and　faithful　affection　to　make　a
sacrifice　for　you。　　I　will　go　to　Africa　with　you。　　I　will　go　to　the
end　of　the　world；　sooner　than　you　shall　say　I　care　for　any　woman　on
earth　but　you。〃

Both　brother　and　sister　were　so　unprepared　for　this；　that　they
could　hardly　realize　it　at　first。

Phoebe　turned　her　great；　inquiring　eyes　on　the　speaker；　and　it　was
a　sight　to　see　amazement；　doubt；　hope；　and　happiness　animating　her
features；　one　after　another。

〃Is　this　real？〃　said　she。

〃I　will　sail　with　you　to…morrow；　Phoebe；　and　I　will　make　you　a　good
husband；　if　you　will　have　me。〃

〃That　is　spoke　like　a　man；〃　said　Dick。　　〃You　take　him　at　his　word；
Phoebe；　and　if　he　ill…uses　you　out　there；　I'll　break　every　bone　in
his　skin。〃

〃How　dare　you　threaten　him？〃　said　Phoebe。　　〃You　had　best　leave　the
room。〃

Out　went　poor　Dick；　with　the　tear　in　his　eye　at　being　snubbed　so。
While　he　was　putting　up　the　shutters；　Phoebe　was　making　love　to　her
pseudo　penitent。　　〃My　dear；〃　said　she；　〃trust　yourself　to　me。　　You
don't　know　all　my　love　yet；　for　I　have　never　been　your　wife；　and　I
would　not　be　your　jade；　that　is　the　only　thing　I　ever　refused　you。
Trust　yourself　to　me。　　Why；　you　never　found　happiness　with　others；
try　it　with　me。　　It　shall　be　the　best　day's　work　you　ever　did；
going　out　in　the　ship　with　me。　　You　don't　know　how　happy　a　loving
wife　can　make　her　husband。　　I'll　pet　you　out　there　as　man　was　never
petted。　　And　besides；　it　isn't　for　life；　Dick　and　me　will　soon　make
a　fortune　out　there；　and　then　I'll　bring　you　home；　and　see　you
spend　it　any　way　you　like　but　one。　　Oh；　how　I　love　you！　do　you　love
me　a　little？　　I　worship　the　ground　you　walk　on。　　I　adore　every　hair
of　your　head！〃　　Her　noble　arm　went　round　his　neck　in　a　moment；　and
the　grandeur　of　her　passion　electrified　him　so　far　that　he　kissed
her　affectionately；　if　not　quite　so　warmly　as　she　did　him：　and　so
it　was　all　settled。　　The　maid　was　discharged　that　night　instead　of
the　morning；　and　Reginald　was　to　occupy　her　bed。　　Phoebe　went　up…
stairs　with　her　heart　literally　on　fire；　to　prepare　his　sleeping…
room；　and　so　Dick　and　Reginald　had　a　word。

〃I　say；　Dick；　how　long　will　this　voyage　be？〃

〃Two　months；　sir；　I　am　told。〃

〃Please　to　cast　your　eyes　on　this　suit　of　mine。　　Don't　you　think　it
is　rather　seedyto　go　to　Africa　with？　　Why；　I　shall　disgrace　you
on　board　the　ship。　　I　say；　Dick；　lend　me　three　sovs。；　just　to　buy　a
new　suit　at　the　slop…shop。〃

〃Well；　brother…in…law；〃　said　Dick；　〃I　don't　see　any　harm　in　that。
I'll　go　and　fetch　them　for　you。〃

What　does　this　sensible　Dick　do　but　go　up…stairs　to　Phoebe；　and
say；　〃He　wants　three　pounds　to　buy　a　suit；　am　I　to　lend　it　him？〃

Phoebe　was　shaking　and　patting　her　penitent's　pillow。　　She　dropped
it　on　the　bed　in　dismay。　　〃Oh；　Dick；　not　for　all　the　world！　　Why；
if　he　had　three　sovereigns；　he'd　desert　me　at　the　water's　edge。
Oh；　God　help　me；　how　I　love　him！　　God　forgive　me；　how　I　mistrust
him！　　Good　Dick！　kind　Dick！　say　we　have　suits　of　clothes；　and　we'll
fit　him　like　a　prince；　as　he　ought　to　be；　on　board　ship；　but　not　a
shilling　of　money：　and；　my　dear；　don't　put　the　weight　on　ME。　　You
understand？〃

〃Ay；　mistress；　I　understand。〃

〃G