a simpleton-第4章
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of derangement： not that there is any lesion； only a tendency to
congestion。 I am treating her accordingly； and have no doubt of
the result。〃
〃Who is the ablest physician hereabouts？〃 asked Lusignan； abruptly。
〃Dr。 Snell； I think。〃
〃Give me his address。〃
〃I'll write to him； if you like； and appoint a consultation。〃 He
added； with vast but rather sudden alacrity； 〃It will be a great
satisfaction to my own mind。〃
〃Then send to him； if you please； and let him be here to…morrow
morning； if not； I shall take her to London for advice at once。〃
On this understanding they parted； and Lusignan went at once to his
daughter。 〃O my child！〃 said he； deeply distressed； 〃how could you
hide this from me？〃
〃Hide what； papa？〃 said the girl； looking the picture of
unconsciousness。
〃That you have been spitting blood。〃
〃Who told you that？〃 said she； sharply。
〃Wyman。 He is attending you。〃
Rosa colored with anger。 〃Chatterbox！ He promised me faithfully
not to。〃
〃But why； in Heaven's name？ What！ would you trust this terrible
thing to a stranger； and hide it from your poor father？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Rosa； quietly。
The old man would not scold her now； he only said； sadly； 〃I see
how it is： because I will not let you marry poverty； you think I do
not love you。〃 And he sighed。
〃O papa！ the idea！〃 said Rosa。 〃Of course； I know you love me。 It
was not that； you dear； darling； foolish papa。 There！ if you must
know； it was because I did not want you to be distressed。 I
thought I might get better with a little physic； and； if not； why；
then I thought； 'Papa is an old man； la！ I dare say I shall last
his time；' and so； why should I poison your latter days with
worrying about ME？〃
Mr。 Lusignan stared at her； and his lip quivered； but he thought
the trait hardly consistent with her superficial character。 He
could not help saying； half sadly； half bitterly； 〃Well； but of
course you have told Dr。 Staines。〃
Rosa opened her beautiful eyes； like two suns。 〃Of course I have
done nothing of the sort。 He has enough to trouble him； without
that。 Poor fellow！ there he is； worrying and striving to make his
fortune； and gain your esteem'they go together；' you know； you
told him so。〃 （Young cats will scratch when least expected。） 〃And
for me to go and tell him I am in danger！ Why； he would go wild。
He would think of nothing but me and my health。 He would never
make his fortune： and so then； even when I am gone； he will never
get a wife； because he has only got genius and goodness and three
thousand pounds。 No； papa； I have not told poor Christopher。 I
may tease those I love。 I have been teasing YOU this ever so long；
but frighten them； and make them miserable？ No！〃
And here； thinking of the anguish that was perhaps in store for
those she loved； she wanted to cry； it almost choked her not to。
But she fought it bravely down： she reserved her tears for lighter
occasions and less noble sentiments。
Her father held out his arms to her。 She ran her footstool to him；
and sat nestling to his heart。
〃Please forgive me my misconduct。 I have not been a dutiful
daughter ever since youbut now I will。 Kiss me； my own papa！
There！ Now we are as we always were。〃
Then she purred to him on every possible topic but the one that now
filled his parental heart； and bade him good…night at last with a
cheerful smile。
Wyman was exact； and ten minutes afterwards Dr。 Snell drove up in a
carriage and pair。 He was intercepted in the hall by Wyman； and；
after a few minutes' conversation； presented to Mr。 Lusignan。
The father gave vent to his paternal anxiety in a few simple but
touching words； and was proceeding to state the symptoms as he had
gathered them from his daughter； but Dr。 Snell interrupted him
politely； and said he had heard the principal symptoms from Mr。
Wyman。 Then； turning to the latter； he said； 〃We had better
proceed to examine the patient。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Mr。 Lusignan。 〃She is in the drawing…room；〃 and
he led the way； and was about to enter the room； when Wyman
informed him it was against etiquette for him to be present at the
examination。
〃Oh； very well！〃 said he。 〃Yes； I see the propriety of that。 But
oblige me by asking her if she has anything on her mind。〃
Dr。 Snell bowed a lofty assent； for； to receive a hint from a
layman was to confer a favor on him。
The men of science were closeted full half an hour with the
patient。 She was too beautiful to be slurred over； even by a busy
doctor： he felt her pulse； looked at her tongue； and listened
attentively to her lungs； to her heart； and to the organ suspected
by Wyman。 He left her at last with a kindly assurance that the
case was perfectly curable。
At the door they were met by the anxious father； who came with
throbbing heart； and asked the doctors' verdict。
He was coolly informed that could not be given until the
consultation had taken place； the result of that consultation would
be conveyed to him。
〃And pray； why can't I be present at the consultation？ The grounds
on which two able men agree or disagree must be well worth
listening to。〃
〃No doubt；〃 said Dr。 Snell； 〃but；〃 with a superior smile； 〃my dear
sir； it is not the etiquette。〃
〃Oh； very well；〃 said Lusignan。 But he muttered； 〃So； then； a
father is nobody！〃
And this unreasonable person retired to his study； miserable； and
gave up the dining…room to the consultation。
They soon rejoined him。
Dr。 Snell's opinion was communicated by Wyman。 〃I am happy to tell
you that Dr。 Snell agrees with me； entirely： the lungs are not
affected； and the liver is congested； but not diseased。〃
〃Is that so； Dr。 Snell？〃 asked Lusignan； anxiously。
〃It is so； sir。〃 He added； 〃The treatment has been submitted to
me； and I quite approve it。〃
He then asked for a pen and paper； and wrote a prescription。 He
assured Mr。 Lusignan that the case had no extraordinary feature；
whatever； he was not to alarm himself。 Dr。 Snell then drove away；
leaving the parent rather puzzled； but； on the whole； much
comforted。
And here I must reveal an extraordinary circumstance。
Wyman's treatment was by drugs。
Dr。 Snell's was by drugs。
Dr。 Snell； as you have seen； entirely approved Wyman's treatment。
His own had nothing in common with it。 The Arctic and Antarctic
poles are not farther apart than was his prescription from the
prescription he thoroughly approved。
Amiable science！ In which complete diversity of practice did not
interfere with perfect uniformity of opinion。
All this was kept from Dr。 Staines； and he was entirely occupied in
trying to get a position that might lead to fortune； and satisfy
Mr。 Lusignan。 He called on every friend he had； to inquire where
there was an opening。 He walked miles and miles in the best
quarters of London； looking for an opening； he let it be known in
many quarters that he would give a good premium to any physician
who was about to retire； and would introduce him to his patients。
No： he could hear of nothing。
Then； after a great struggle with himself； he called upon his
uncle； Philip Staines； a retired M。D。； to see if he would do
anything for him。 He left this to the last； for a very good
reason： Dr。 Philip was an irritable old bachelor； who had assisted
most of his married relatives； but； finding no bottom to the well；
had turned rusty and crusty； and now was apt to administer kicks
instead of checks to all who were near and dear to him。 However；
Christopher was the old gentleman's favorite； and was now
desperate； so he mustered courage； and went。 He was graciously
receivedwarmly； indeed。 This gave him great hopes； and he told
his tale。
The old bachelor sided with Mr。 Lusignan。 〃What！〃 said he； 〃do you
want to marry； and propagate pauperism？ I thought you had more
sense。 Confound it all I had just one nephew whose knock at my
street…door did not make me tremble； he was a bachelor and a
thinker； and came for a friendly chat； the rest are married men；
highwaymen； who come to say； 'Stand and deliver；' and now even you
want to join the giddy throng。 Well； don't ask me to have any hand
in it。 You are a man of promise；
