a simpleton-第78章
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〃It was anything but true。 I had suffered so in England； I had
been so happy here： too happy to last。 Ah！ well； it is all over。
Let us think of the matter in hand。 Sure that was not the only
letter you gave my husband？ Didn't you write to HER？〃
〃Of course I did； but that was enclosed to you； and not to be given
to her until you had broken the joyful news to her。 Yes； Mrs。
Falcon； I wrote and told her everything： my loss at sea； how I was
saved； after； by your kindness。 Our journeys； from Cape Town； and
then to the diggings； my sudden good fortune； my hopes； my joy
O my poor Rosa！ and now I suppose she will never get it。 It is too
cruel of him。 I shall go home by the next steamer。 I CAN'T stay
here any longer； for you or anybody。 Oh； and I enclosed my ruby
ring that she gave me； for I thought she might not believe you
without that。〃
〃Let me think；〃 said Phoebe； turning ashy pale。 〃For mercy's sake；
let me think！
〃He has read both those letters； sir。
〃She will never see hers： any more than I shall see mine。〃
She paused again； thinking harder and harder。
〃We must take two places in the next mail steamer。 I must look
after my husband； AND YOU AFTER YOUR WIFE。〃
CHAPTER XXV。
Mrs。 Falcon's bitter feeling against Dr。 Staines did not subside；
it merely went out of sight a little。 They were thrown together by
potent circumstances； and in a manner connected by mutual
obligations； so an open rupture seemed too unnatural。 Still Phoebe
was a woman； and； blinded by her love for her husband； could not
forgive the innocent cause of their present unhappy separation；
though the fault lay entirely with Falcon。
Staines took her on board the steamer； and paid her every
attention。 She was also civil to him； but it was a cold and
constrained civility。
About a hundred miles from land the steamer stopped； and the
passengers soon learned there was something wrong with her
machinery。 In fact； after due consultation； the captain decided to
put back。
This irritated and distressed Mrs。 Falcon so that the captain；
desirous to oblige her； hailed a fast schooner； that tacked across
her bows； and gave Mrs。 Falcon the option of going back with him；
or going on in the schooner； with whose skipper he was acquainted。
Staines advised her on no account to trust to sails； when she could
have steam with only a delay of four or five days； but she said；
〃Anything sooner than go back。 I can't； I can't on such an
errand。〃
Accordingly she was put on board the schooner； and Staines； after
some hesitation； felt bound to accompany her。
It proved a sad error。 Contrary winds assailed them the very next
day； and with such severity that they had repeatedly to lie to。
On one of these occasions； with a ship reeling under them like a
restive horse； and the waves running mountains high； poor Phoebe's
terrors overmastered both her hostility and her reserve。 〃Doctor；〃
said she； 〃I believe 'tis God's will we shall never see England。 I
must try and die more like a Christian than I have lived； forgiving
all who have wronged me； and you； that have been my good friend and
my worst enemy； but you did not mean it。 Sir； what has turned me
against you soyour wife was my husband's sweetheart before he
married me。〃
〃My wife your husband'syou are dreaming。〃
〃Nay； sir； once she came to my shop； and I saw directly I was
nothing to him； and he owned it all to me； he had courted her； and
she jilted him； so he said。 Why should he tell me a lie about
that？ I'd lay my life 'tis true。 And now you have sent him to her
your own self； and； at sight of her； I shall be nothing again。
Well； when this ship goes down； they can marry； and I hope he will
be happy； happier than I can make him； that tried my best； God
knows。〃
This conversation surprised Staines not a little。 However； he
said； with great warmth； it was false。 His wife had danced and
flirted with some young gentleman at one time； when there was a
brief misunderstanding between him and her； but sweetheart she had
never had； except him。 He courted her fresh from school。 〃Now； my
good soul；〃 said he； 〃make your mind easy； the ship is a good one；
and well handled； and in no danger whatever； and my wife is in no
danger from your husband。 Since you and your brother tell me that
he is a villain； I am bound to believe you。 But my wife is an
angel。 In our miserable hour of parting； she vowed not to marry
again； should I be taken from her。 Marry again！ what am I talking
of？ Why； if he visits her at all； it will be to let her know I am
alive； and give her my letter。 Do you mean to tell me she will
listen to vows of love from him； when her whole heart is in rapture
for me？ Such nonsense！〃
This burst of his did not affront her； and did not comfort her。
At last the wind abated； and after a wearisome calm； a light breeze
came； and the schooner crept homeward。
Phoebe restrained herself for several days； but at last she came
back to the subject； this time it was in an apologetic tone at
starting。 〃I know you think me a foolish woman；〃 she said； 〃but my
poor Reginald could never resist a pretty face； and she is so
lovely； and you should have seen how he turned when she came in to
my place。 Oh； sir； there has been more between them than you know
of； and when I think that he will have been in England so many
months before we get there； oh； doctor； sometimes I feel as I
should go mad； my head it is like a furnace； and see； my brow is
all wrinkled again。〃
Then Staines tried to comfort her； assured her she was tormenting
herself idly； her husband would perhaps have spent some of the
diamond money on his amusement； but what if he had？ he should
deduct it out of the big diamond； which was also their joint
property； and the loss would hardly be felt。 〃As to my wife；
madam； I have but one anxiety； lest he should go blurting it out
that I am alive； and almost kill her with joy。〃
〃He will not do that； sir。 He is no fool。〃
〃I am glad of it； for there is nothing else to fear。〃
〃Man； I tell you there is everything to fear。 You don't know him
as I do； nor his power over women。〃
〃Mrs。 Falcon； are you bent on affronting me？〃
〃No； sir； Heaven forbid！〃
〃Then please to close this subject forever。 In three weeks we
shall be in England。〃
〃Ay； but he has been there six months。〃
He bowed stiffly to her； went to his cabin； and avoided the poor
foolish woman as much as he could without seeming too unkind。
CHAPTER XXVI。
Mrs。 Staines made one or two movementsto stop Lord Tadcaster
with her hand； that expressive feature with which； at such times； a
sensitive woman can do all but speak。
When at last he paused for her reply； she said； 〃Me marry again！
Oh！ for shame！〃
〃Mrs。 StainesRosayou will marry again； some day。〃
〃Never。 Me take another husband； after such a man as I have lost！
I should be a monster。 Oh； Lord Tadcaster； you have been so kind
to me； so sympathizing。 You made me believe you loved my
Christopher； too； and now you have spoiled all。 It is too cruel。〃
〃Oh！ Mrs。 Staines； do you think me capable of feigningdon't you
see my love for you has taken you by surprise？ But how could I
visit youlook on youhear youmingle my regrets with yours；
yours were the deepest； of course； but mine were honest。〃
〃I believe it。〃 And she gave him her hand。 He held it； and kissed
it； and cried over it； as the young will； and implored her； on his
knees； not to condemn herself to life…long widowhood； and him to
despair。
Then she cried； too； but she was firm； and by degrees she made him
see that her heart was inaccessible。
Then at last he submitted with tearful eyes； but a valiant heart。
She offered friendship timidly。
But he was too much of a man to fall into that trap。 〃No；〃 he
said： 〃I could not； I could not。 Love or nothing。〃
〃You are right；〃 said she； pityingly。 〃Forgive me。 In my
selfishness and my usual folly； I did not see this coming on； or I
would have spared you this mortification。〃
〃Never mind that；〃 gulped the little earl。 〃I shall always be
proud I knew you； and proud I loved you； and offered you my hand。〃
Then the magnani
