a simpleton-第87章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
suddenly the diamonds began to pale； and the white satin dress to
melt away； and in its place there rose a pale face and a long
beard； and Christopher Staines stood before her； and said quietly；
〃Is this how you keep your vow？〃 Then he sank slowly； and the
white dress was black； and the diamonds were jet； and she awoke；
with his gentle words of remonstrance and his very tones ringing in
her ear。
This dream； co…operating with her previous agitation and
misgivings； shook her very much； she did not come down…stairs till
near dinner…time； and both her father and Falcon； who came as a
matter of course to spend his Sunday； were struck with her
appearance。 She was pale； gloomy； morose； and had an air of
desperation about her。
Falcon would not see it； he knew that it is safest to let her sex
alone when they look like that； and then the storm sometimes
subsides of itself。
After dinner； Rosa retired early； and soon she was heard walking
rapidly up and down the dressing…room。
This was quite unusual； and made a noise。
Papa Lusignan thought it inconsiderate； and after a while；
remarking gently that he was not particularly fond of sound； he
proposed they should smoke the pipe of peace on the lawn。
They did so； but after a while； finding that Falcon was not
smoking； he said； 〃Don't let me detain you。 Rosa is alone。〃
Falcon took the hint； and went to the drawing…room。 Rosa met him
on the stairs； with a scarf over her shoulders。 〃I must speak to
papa；〃 said she。 〃Where is he？〃
〃He is on the lawn； dear Rosa；〃 said Falcon； in his most dulcet
tones。 He was sure of his ally； and very glad to use him as a
buffer to receive the first shock。
So he went into the drawing…room； where all the lights were
burning； and quietly took up a book。 But he did not read a line；
he was too occupied in trying to read his own future。
The mean villain； who is incapable of remorse； is； of all men； most
capable of fear。 His villany had； to all appearance； reached the
goal； for he felt sure that all Rosa's struggles would； sooner or
later； succumb to her sense of gratitude and his strong will and
patient temper。 But when the victory was won； what a life！ He
must fly with her to some foreign country； pursued from pillar to
post by an enraged husband； and by the offended law。 And if he
escaped the vindictive foe a year or two； how could he escape that
other enemy he knew； and dreadedpoverty？ He foresaw he should
come to hate the woman he was about to wrong； and she would
instantly revenge herself； by making him an exile and； soon or
late； a prisoner； or a pauper。
While these misgivings battled with his base but ardent passion；
strange things were going on out of doorsbut they will be best
related in another sequence of events； to which indeed they fairly
belong。
CHAPTER XXIX。
Staines and Mrs。 Falcon landed at Plymouth； and went up to town by
the same train。 They parted in London； Staines to go down to
Gravesend； Mrs。 Falcon to visit her husband's old haunts； and see
if she could find him。
She did not find him； but she heard of him； and learned that he
always went down to Gravesend from Saturday till Monday。
Notwithstanding all she had said to Staines； the actual information
startled her； and gave her a turn。 She was obliged to sit down；
for her knees seemed to give way。 It was but a momentary weakness。
She was now a wife and a mother； and had her rights。 She said to
herself； 〃My rogue has turned that poor woman's head long before
this； no doubt。 But I shall go down and just bring him away by the
ear。〃
For once her bitter indignation overpowered every other sentiment；
and she lost no time； but late as it was went down to Gravesend；
ordered a private sitting…room and bedroom for the night； and took
a fly to Kent Villa。
But Christopher Staines had the start of her。 He had already gone
down to Gravesend with his carpet…bag； left it at the inn； and
walked to Kent Villa that lovely summer night； the happiest husband
in England。
His heart had never for one instant been disturbed by Mrs。 Falcon's
monstrous suspicion； he looked on her as a monomaniac； a sensible
woman insane on one point； her husband。
When he reached the villa； however； he thought it prudent to make
sure that Falcon had come to England at all； and discharged his
commission。 He would not run the risk； small as he thought it； of
pouncing unexpected on his Rosa； being taken for a ghost； and
terrifying her； or exciting her to madness。
Now the premises of Kent Villa were admirably adapted to what they
call in war a reconnaissance。 The lawn was studded with
laurestinas and other shrubs that had grown magnificently in that
Kentish air。
Staines had no sooner set his foot on the lawn； than he heard
voices； he crept towards them from bush to bush； and standing in
impenetrable shade； he saw in the clear moonlight two figures
Mr。 Lusignan and Reginald Falcon。
These two dropped out only a word or two at intervals； but what
they did say struck Staines as odd。 For one thing； Lusignan
remarked； 〃I suppose you will want to go back to the Cape。 Such
enormous estates as yours will want looking after。〃
〃Enormous estates！〃 said Staines to himself。 〃Then they must have
grown very fast in a few months。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Falcon； 〃but I think of showing her a little of
Europe first。〃
Staines thought this still more mysterious； he waited to hear more；
but the succeeding remarks were of an ordinary kind。
He noticed； however； that Falcon spoke of his wife by her Christian
name； and that neither party mentioned Christopher Staines。 He
seemed quite out of their little world。
He began to feel a strange chill creep down him。
Presently Falcon went off to join Rosa； and Staines thought it was
quite time to ask the old gentleman whether Falcon had executed his
commission； or not。
He was only hesitating how to do it； not liking to pounce in the
dark on a man who abhorred everything like excitement； when Rosa
herself came flying out in great agitation。
Oh！ the thrill he felt at the sight of her！ With all his self…
possession； he would have sprung forward and taken her in his arms
with a mighty cry of love； if she had not immediately spoken words
that rooted him to the spot with horror。 But she came with the
words in her very mouth； 〃Papa； I am come to tell you I cannot； and
will not； marry Mr。 Falcon。〃
〃Oh； yes； you will； my dear。〃
〃Never！ I'll die sooner。 Not that you will care for that。 I tell
you I saw my Christopher last nightin a dream。 He had a beard；
but I saw him； oh； so plain； and he said； 'Is this the way you keep
your promise？' That is enough for me。 I have prayed； again and
again； to his star； for light。 I am so perplexed and harassed by
you all； and you make me believe what you like。 Well； I have had a
revelation。 It is not my poor lost darling's wish I should wed
again。 I don't believe Mr。 Falcon any more。 I hear nothing but
lies by day。 The truth comes to my bedside at night。 I will not
marry this man。〃
〃Consider； Rosa； your credit is pledged。 You must not be always
jilting him heartlessly。 Dreams！ nonsense。 ThereI love peace。
It is no use your storming at me； rave to the moon and the stars；
if you like； and when you have done； do pray come in； and behave
like a rational woman； who has pledged her faith to an honorable
man； and a man of vast estatesa man that nursed your husband in
his last illness； found your child； at a great expense； when you
had lost him； and merits eternal gratitude； not eternal jilting。 I
have no patience with you。〃
The old gentleman retired in high dudgeon。
Staines stood in the black shade of his cedar…tree； rooted to the
ground by this revelation of male villany and female credulity。
He did not know what on earth to do。 He wanted to kill Falcon； but
not to terrify his own wife to death。 It was now too clear she
thought he was dead。
Rosa watched her father's retiring figure out of sight。 〃Very
well；〃 said she； clenching her teeth； then suddenly she turned； and
looked up to heaven。 〃Do you hear？〃 said she； 〃my Christie's star？
I am a poor perplexed creature。
