a simpleton-第9章
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gone in a week。〃
〃I wish YOU were gone nowexposing me in this cruel way；〃 said
Rosa； angry with herself for having said an idiotic thing； and
furious with him for having made her say it。
〃Oh； Rosa！〃 said Christopher； in a voice of tenderest reproach。
But Mr。 Lusignan interfered promptly。 〃Rosa； no noise。 I will not
have you snapping at your best friend and mine。 If you are
excited； you had better retire to your own room and compose
yourself。 I hate a clamor。〃
Rosa made a wry face at this rebuke； and then began to cry quietly。
Every tear was like a drop of blood from Christopher's heart。
〃Pray don't scold her； sir；〃 said he； ready to snivel himself。
〃She meant nothing unkind： it is only her pretty sprightly way； and
she did not really imagine a love so reverent as mine〃
〃Don't YOU interfere between my father and me；〃 said this
reasonable young lady； now in an ungovernable state of feminine
irritability。
〃No； Rosa；〃 said Christopher； humbly。 〃Mr。 Lusignan；〃 said he； 〃I
hope you will tell her that； from the very first； I was unwilling
to enter on this subject with HER。 Neither she nor I can forget my
double character。 I have not said half as much to her as I ought；
being her physician； and yet you see I have said more than she can
bear from me； who； she knows； love her and revere her。 Then； once
for all； do pray let me put this delicate matter into your hands：
it is a case for parental authority。〃
〃Unfatherly tyranny； that means；〃 said Rosa。 〃What business have
gentlemen interfering in such things？ It is unheard of。 I will
not submit to it； even from papa。〃
〃Well； you need not scream at me；〃 said Mr。 Lusignan； and he
shrugged his shoulders to Staines。 〃She is impracticable； you see。
If I do my duty； there will be a disturbance。〃
Now this roused the bile of Dr。 Staines。 〃What； sir！〃 said he；
〃you could separate her and me by your authority； here in this very
room； and yet； when her life is at stake； you abdicate！ You could
part her from a man who loved her with every drop of his heart；
and she said she loved him； or； at all events； preferred him to
others；and you cannot part her from a miserable corset； although
you see in her poor wasted face that it is carrying her to the
churchyard。 In that case； sir； there is but one thing for you to
do；withdraw your opposition and let me marry her。 As her lover I
am powerless； but invest me with a husband's authority； and you
will soon see the roses return to her cheek； and her elastic figure
expanding； and her eye beaming with health and the happiness that
comes of perfect health。〃
Mr。 Lusignan made an answer neither of his hearers expected。 He
said； 〃I have a great mind to take you at your word。 I am too old
and fond of quiet to drive a Simpleton in single harness。〃
This contemptuous speech； and； above all； the word Simpleton； which
had been applied to her pretty freely by young ladies at school；
and always galled her terribly； inflicted so intolerable a wound on
Rosa's vanity； that she was ready to burst： on that； of course； her
stays contributed their mite of physical uneasiness。 Thus
irritated mind and body； she burned to strike in return； and as she
could not slap her father in the presence of another； she gave it
Christopher back…handed。
〃You can turn me out of doors；〃 said she； 〃if you are tired of your
daughter； but I am not such a SIMPLETON as to marry a tyrant。 No；
he has shown the cloven foot in time。 A husband's AUTHORITY；
indeed！〃 Then she turned her hand； and gave it him direct。 〃You
told me a different story when you were paying your court to me；
then you were to be my servant；all hypocritical sweetness。 You
had better go and marry a Circassian slave。 They don't wear stays；
and they do wear trousers； so she will be unfeminine enough； even
for you。 No English lady would let her husband dictate to her
about such a thing。 I can have as many husbands as I like； without
falling into the clutches of a tyrant。 You are a rude； indelicate
And so please understand it is all over between you and me。〃
Both her auditors stood aghast； for she uttered this conclusion
with a dignity of which the opening gave no promise； and the
occasion； weighed in masculine balances； was not worthy。
〃You do not mean that。 You cannot mean it；〃 said Dr。 Staines；
aghast。
〃I do mean it；〃 said she； firmly； 〃and； if you are a gentleman； you
will not compel me to say it twicethree times； I mean。〃
At this dagger…stroke Christopher turned very pale； but he
maintained his dignity。 〃I am a gentleman；〃 said he； quietly； 〃and
a very unfortunate one。 Good…by； sir； thank you kindly。 Good…by；
Rosa； God bless you！ Oh； pray take a thought！ Remember； your life
and death are in your own hand now。 I am powerless。〃
And he left the house in sorrow； and just； but not pettish；
indignation。
When he was gone； father and daughter looked at each other； and
there was the silence that succeeds a storm。
Rosa； feeling the most uneasy； was the first to express her
satisfaction。 〃There； HE is gone； and I am glad of it。 Now you
and I shall never quarrel again。 I was quite right。 Such
impertinence！ Such indelicacy！ A fine prospect for me if I had
married such a man！ However； he is gone； and so there's an end of
it。 The idea！ telling a young lady； before her father； she is
tight…laced！ If you had not been there I could have forgiven him。
But I am not； it is a story。 Now；〃 suddenly exalting her voice； 〃I
know you believe him。〃
〃I say nothing；〃 whispered papa； hoping to still her by example。
This ruse did not succeed。
〃But you look volumes；〃 cried she： 〃and I can't bear it。 I won't
bear it。 If you don't believe ME； ask my MAID。〃 And with this
felicitous speech； she rang the bell。
〃You'll break the wire if you don't mind；〃 suggested her father；
piteously。
〃All the better！ Why should not wires be broken as well as my
heart？ Oh； here she is！ Now； Harriet； come here。〃
〃Yes； miss。〃
〃And tell the truth。 AM I tight…laced？〃
Harriet looked in her face a moment to see what was required of
her； and then said； 〃That you are not； miss。 I never dressed a
young lady as wore 'em easier than you do。〃
〃There； papa！ That will do； Harriet。〃
Harriet retired as far as the keyhole； she saw something was up。
〃Now；〃 said Rosa； 〃you see I was right； and； after all； it was a
match you did not approve。 Well； it is all over； and now you may
write to your favorite； Colonel Bright。 If he comes here； I'll box
his old ears。 I hate him。 I hate them all。 Forgive your wayward
girl。 I'll stay with you all my days。 I dare say that will not be
long； now I have quarrelled with my guardian angel； and all for
what？ Papa！ papa！ how CAN you sit there and not speak me one word
of comfort？ 'SIMPLETON？' Ah！ that I am to throw away a love a
queen is scarcely worthy of； and all for what？ Really； if it
wasn't for the ingratitude and wickedness of the thing； it is too
laughable。 Ha！ ha！oh！ oh！ oh！ha！ ha！ ha！〃
And off she went into hysterics； and began to gulp and choke
frightfully。
Her father cried for help in dismay。 In ran Harriet； saw； and
screamed； but did not lose her head； this veracious person whipped
a pair of scissors off the table； and cut the young lady's stay…
laces directly。 Then there was a burst of imprisoned beauty； a
deep； deep sigh of relief came from a bosom that would have done
honor to Diana； and the scene soon concluded with fits of harmless
weeping； renewed at intervals。
When it had settled down to this； her father； to soothe her； said
he would write to Dr。 Staines； and bring about a reconciliation； if
she liked。
〃No；〃 said she； 〃you shall kill me sooner。 I should die of shame。〃
She added； 〃Oh； pray； from this hour； never mention his name to me。〃
And then she had another cry。
Mr。 Lusignan was a sensible man： he dropped the subject for the
present； but he made up his mind to one thingthat he would never
part with Dr。 Staines as a physician。
Next day Rosa kept her own room until dinner…time； and was as
unhappy as she deserved to be。 She spent her time in sewing on
stiff flannel linings and crying。 She ha
