a simpleton-第42章
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He told her he had come to thank her for her great kindness； and to
accept the offer。
She sighed。 〃I hoped it was to decline it。 Think of the misery of
separation； both to you and her。〃
〃It will be misery。 But we are not happy as it is； and she cannot
bear poverty。 Nor is it fair she should； when I can give her every
comfort by just playing the man for a year or two。〃 He then told
Lady Cicely there were more reasons than he chose to mention： go he
must； and would； and he implored her not to let the affair drop。
In short； he was sad but resolved； and she found she must go on
with it； or break faith with him。 She took her desk； and wrote a
letter concluding the bargain for him。 She stipulated for half the
year's fee in advance。 She read Dr。 Staines the letter。
〃You ARE a friend！〃 said he。 〃I should never have ventured on
that； it will be a godsend to my poor Rosa。 You will be kind to
her when I am gone？〃
〃I will。〃
〃So will Uncle Philip； I think。 I will see him before I go； and
shake hands。 He has been a good friend to me； but he was too hard
upon HER； and I could not stand that。〃
Then he thanked and blessed her again； with the tears in his eyes；
and left her more disturbed and tearful than she had ever been
since she grew to woman。 〃O cruel poverty！〃 she thought； 〃that
such a man should be torn from his home； and thank me for doing it
all for a little moneyand here are we poor commonplace creatures
rolling in it。〃
Staines hurried home； and told his wife。 She clung to him
convulsively； and wept bitterly； but she made no direct attempt to
shake his resolution； she saw； by his iron look； that she could
only afflict； not turn him。
Next day came Lady Cicely to see her。 Lady Cicely was very uneasy
in her mind； and wanted to know whether Rosa was reconciled to the
separation。
Rosa received her with a forced politeness and an icy coldness that
petrified her。 She could not stay long in face of such a
reception。 At parting； she said； sadly； 〃You look on me as an
enemy。〃
〃What else can you expect； when you part my husband and me？〃 said
Rosa； with quiet sternness。
〃I meant well；〃 said Lady Cicely sorrowfully； 〃but I wish I had
never interfered。〃
〃So do I；〃 and she began to cry。
Lady Cicely made no answer。 She went quietly away； hanging her
head sadly。
Rosa was unjust； but she was not rude nor vulgar； and Lady Cicely's
temper was so well governed that it never blinded her heart。 She
withdrew； but without the least idea of quarrelling with her
afflicted friend； or abandoning her。 She went quietly home； and
wrote to Lady ； to say that she should be glad to receive Dr。
Staines's advance as soon as convenient； since Mrs。 Staines would
have to make fresh arrangements； and the money might be useful。
The money was forthcoming directly。 Lady Cicely brought it to Dear
Street； and handed it to Dr。 Staines。 His eyes sparkled at the
sight of it。
〃Give my love to Rosa；〃 said she softly； and cut her visit very
short。
Staines took the money to Rosa； and said； 〃See what our best friend
has brought us。 You shall have four hundred； and I hope； after the
bitter lessons you have had； you will be able to do with that for
some months。 The two hundred I shall keep as a reserve fund for
you to draw on。〃
〃No； no！〃 said Rosa。 〃I shall go and live with my father； and
never spend a penny。 O Christie； if you knew how I hate myself for
the folly that is parting us！ Oh； why don't they teach girls sense
and money； instead of music and the globes？〃
But Christopher opened a banking account for her； and gave her a
check…book； and entreated her to pay everything by check； and run
no bills whatever； and she promised。 He also advertised the Bijou；
and put a bill in the window： 〃The lease of this house； and the
furniture； to be sold。〃
Rosa cried bitterly at sight of it； thinking how high in hope they
were； when they had their first dinner there； and also when she
went to her first sale to buy the furniture cheap。
And now everything moved with terrible rapidity。 The Amphitrite
was to sail from Plymouth in five days； and； meantime； there was so
much to be done； that the days seemed to gallop away。
Dr。 Staines forgot nothing。 He made his will in duplicate； leaving
all to his wife； he left one copy at Doctors' Commons and another
with his lawyer； inventoried all his furniture and effects in
duplicate； too； wrote to Uncle Philip； and then called on him to
seek a reconciliation。 Unfortunately； Dr。 Philip was in Scotland。
At last this sad pair went down to Plymouth together； there to meet
Lord Tadcaster and go on board H。M。S。 Amphitrite； lying out at
anchor； under orders for the Australian Station。
They met at the inn； as appointed； and sent word of their arrival
on board the frigate； asking to remain on shore till the last
minute。
Dr。 Staines presented his patient to Rosa； and after a little while
drew him apart and questioned him professionally。 He then asked
for a private room。 Here he and Rosa really took leave； for what
could the poor things say to each other on a crowded quay？ He
begged her forgiveness； on his knees； for having once spoken
harshly to her； and she told him； with passionate sobs； he had
never spoken harshly to her； her folly it was had parted them。
Poor wretches！ they clung together with a thousand vows of love and
constancy。 They were to pray for each other at the same hours： to
think of some kind word or loving act； at other stated hours； and
so they tried to fight with their suffering minds against the cruel
separation； and if either should die； the other was to live wedded
to memory； and never listen to love from other lips； but no！ God
was pitiful； He would let them meet again ere long； to part no
more。 They rocked in each other's arms； they cried over each
otherit was pitiful。
At last the cruel summons came； they shuddered； as if it was their
death…blow。 Christopher； with a face of agony； was yet himself；
and would have parted then： and so best。 But Rosa could not。 She
would see the last of him； and became almost wild and violent when
he opposed it。
Then he let her come with him to Milbay Steps； but into the boat he
would not let her step。
The ship's boat lay at the steps； manned by six sailors； all
seated； with their oars tossed in two vertical rows。 A smart middy
in charge conducted them； and Dr。 Staines and Lord Tadcaster got
in； leaving Rosa； in charge of her maid； on the quay。
〃Shove off〃〃Down〃〃Give way。〃
Each order was executed so swiftly and surely that； in as many
seconds； the boat was clear； the oars struck the water with a loud
splash； and the husband was shot away like an arrow； and the wife's
despairing cry rang on the stony quay； as many a poor woman's cry
had rung before。
In half a minute the boat shot under the stern of the frigate。
They were received on the quarter…deck by Captain Hamilton： he
introduced them to the officersa torture to poor Staines； to have
his mind taken for a single instant from his wifethe first
lieutenant came aft； and reported； 〃Ready for making sail； sir。〃
Staines seized the excuse； rushed to the other side of the vessel；
leaned over the taffrail； as if he would fly ashore； and stretched
out his hands to his beloved Rosa； and she stretched out her hands
to him。 They were so near； he could read the expression of her
face。 It was wild and troubled； as one who did not yet realize the
terrible situation； but would not be long first。
〃HANDS MAKE SAILAWAY； ALOFTUP ANCHOR〃rang in Christopher's
ear； as if in a dream。 All his soul and senses were bent on that
desolate young creature。 How young and amazed her lovely face！
Yet this bewildered child was about to become a mother。 Even a
stranger's heart might have yearned with pity for her： how much
more her miserable husband's！
The capstan was manned； and worked to a merry tune that struck
chill to the bereaved； yards were braced for casting； anchor hove；
catted； and fished； sail was spread with amazing swiftness； the
ship's head dipped； and slowly and gracefully paid off towards the
breakwater； and she stood out to sea under swiftly…s
