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！
They promised heartily； and more than one of the women began to
cry。
〃A general assent will not satisfy me；〃 said Dr。 Philip。 〃I want
every man； and every woman； to give me a hand upon it； then I shall
feel sure of you。〃
The men gave him their hands at once。 The women wiped their hands
with their aprons； to make sure they were clean； and gave him their
hands too。 The cook said； 〃If any one of us goes from it； this
kitchen will be too hot to hold her。〃
〃Nobody will go from it； cook；〃 said the doctor。 〃I'm not afraid
of that； and now since you have promised me； out of your own good
hearts； I'll try and be even with you。 If she knows nothing of it
by the tenth of March； five guineas to every man and woman in this
kitchen。 You shall see that； if you can be kind； we can be
grateful。〃
He then hurried away。 He found Mr。 Lusignan in the drawing…room；
and told him all this。 Lusignan was fluttered； but grateful。 〃Ah；
my good friend；〃 said he； 〃this is a hard trial to two old men；
like you and me。〃
〃It is；〃 said Philip。 〃It has shown me my age。 I declare I am
trembling； I； whose nerves were iron。 But I have a particular
contempt for servants。 Mercenary wretches！ I think Heaven
inspired me to talk to them。 After all； who knows？ perhaps we
might find a way to their hearts； if we did not eternally shock
their vanity； and forget that it is； and must be； far greater than
our own。 The women gave me their tears； and the men were earnest。
Not one hand lay cold in mine。 As for your kitchen…maid； I'd trust
my life to that girl。 What a grip she gave me！ What strength！
What fidelity was in it！ My hand was never GRASPED before。 I
think we are safe for a few days more。〃
Lusignan sighed。 〃What does it all come to？ We are pulling the
trigger gently； that is all。〃
〃No； no； that is not it。 Don't let us confound the matter with
similes； please。 Keep them for children。〃
Mrs。 Staines left her bed； and would have left her room； but Dr。
Philip forbade it strictly。
One day； seated in her arm…chair； she said to the nurse； before Dr。
Philip； 〃Nurse； why do the servants look so curiously at me？〃
Mrs。 Briscoe cast a hasty glance at Dr。 Philip； and then said； 〃I
don't know； madam。 I never noticed that。〃
〃Uncle； why did nurse look at you before she answered such a simple
question？〃
〃I don't know。 What question？〃
〃About the servants。〃
〃Oh； about the servants！〃 said he contemptuously。
〃You should not turn up your nose at them； for they are all most
kind and attentive。 Only； I catch them looking at me so strangely；
reallyas if they〃
〃Rosa； you are taking me quite out of my depth。 The looks of
servant girls！ Why； of course a lady in your condition is an
object of especial interest to them。 I dare say they are saying to
one another； 'I wonder when my turn will come！' A fellow…feeling
makes us wondrous kindthat is a proverb； is it not？〃
〃To be sure。 I forgot that。〃
She said no more； but seemed thoughtful； and not quite satisfied。
On this Dr。 Philip begged the maids to go near her as little as
possible。 〃You are not aware of it；〃 said he； 〃but your looks； and
your manner of speaking； rouse her attention； and she is quicker
than I thought she was； and observes very subtly。〃
This was done； and then she complained that nobody came near her。
She insisted on coming down…stairs； it was so dull。
Dr。 Philip consented； if she would be content to receive no visits
for a week。
She assented to that； and now passed some hours every day in the
drawing…room。 In her morning wrappers； so fresh and crisp； she
looked lovely； and increased in health and strength every day。
Dr。 Philip used to look at her； and his very flesh would creep at
the thought that； ere long； he must hurl this fair creature into
the dust of affliction； must； with a word； take the ruby from her
lips； the rose from her cheeks； the sparkle from her glorious eyes
eyes that beamed on him with sweet affection； and a mouth that
never opened； but to show some simplicity of mind； or some pretty
burst of the sensitive heart。
He put off； and put off； and at last cowardice began to whisper；
〃Why tell her the whole truth at all？ Why not take her through
stages of doubt； alarm； and； after all； leave a grain of hope till
her child gets so rooted in her heart that〃 But conscience and
good sense interrupted this temporary thought； and made him see to
what a horrible life of suspense he should condemn a human
creature； and live a perpetual lie； and be always at the edge of
some pitfall or other。
One day； while he sat looking at her； with all these thoughts； and
many more； coursing through his mind； she looked up at him； and
surprised him。 〃Ah！〃 said she gravely。
〃What is the matter； my dear？〃
〃Oh； nothing；〃 said she cunningly。
〃Uncle； dear；〃 said she presently； 〃when do we go to Herne Bay？〃
Now； Dr。 Philip had given that up。 He had got the servants at Kent
Villa on his side； and he felt safer here than in any strange
place： so he said； 〃I don't know： that all depends。 There is
plenty of time。〃
〃No； uncle；〃 said Rosa gravely。 〃I wish to leave this house。 I
can hardly breathe in it。〃
〃What！ your native air？〃
〃Mystery is not my native air； and this house is full of mystery。
Voices whisper at my door； and the people don't come in。 The maids
cast strange looks at me； and hurry away。 I scolded that pert girl
Jane； and she answered me as meek as Moses。 I catch you looking at
me； with love； and something else。 What is that something？ It
is Pity： that is what it is。 Do you think； because I am called a
simpleton； that I have no eyes； nor ears； nor sense？ What is this
secret which you are all hiding from one person； and that is me？
Ah！ Christopher has not written these five weeks。 Tell me the
truth； for I will know it；〃 and she started up in wild excitement。
Then Dr。 Philip saw the hour was come。
He said； 〃My poor girl； you have read us right。 I am anxious about
Christopher； and all the servants know it。〃
〃Anxious； and not tell ME； his wife； the woman whose life is bound
up in his。〃
〃Was it for us to retard your convalescence； and set you fretting；
and perhaps destroy your child？ Rosa； my darling； think what a
treasure Heaven has sent you； to love and care for。〃
〃Yes；〃 said she； trembling； 〃Heaven has been good to me； I hope
Heaven will always be as good to me。 I don't deserve it； but then
I tell God so。 I am very grateful； and very penitent。 I never
forget that； if I had been a good wife； my husbandfive weeks is a
long time。 Why do you tremble so？ Why are you so palea strong
man like you？ CALAMITY！ CALAMITY！〃
Dr。 Philip hung his head。
She looked at him； started wildly up； then sank back into her
chair。 So the stricken deer leaps； then falls。 Yet even now she
put on a deceitful calm； and said； 〃Tell me the truth。 I have a
right to know。〃
He stammered out； 〃There is a report of an accident at sea。〃
She kept silence。
〃Of a passenger drownedout of that ship。 This； coupled with his
silence； fills our hearts with fear。〃
〃It is worseyou are breaking it to meyou have gone too far to
stop。 One word： is he alive？ Oh； say he is alive！〃
Philip rang the bell hard； and said in a troubled voice； 〃Rosa；
think of your child。〃
〃Not when my husband Is he alive or dead？〃
〃It is hard to say； with such a terrible report about； and no
letters；〃 faltered the old man； his courage failing him。
〃What are you afraid of？ Do you think I can't die； and go to him？
Alive； or dead？〃 and she stood before him； raging and quivering in
every limb。
The nurse came in。
〃Fetch her child；〃 he cried； 〃God have mercy on her。〃
〃Ah； then he is dead；〃 said she； with stony calmness。 〃I drove him
to sea； and he is dead。〃
The nurse rushed in； and held the child to her。
She would not look at it。
〃Dead！〃
〃Yes； our poor Christie is gonebut his child is herethe image
of him。 Do not forget the mother。 Have pity on his child and
yours。〃
〃Take it out of my sight！〃 she screamed。 〃Away with it； or I shall
murder it； as I have murdered its father。 My dear Christie； before
all that live！ I have killed him。 I shall die for him。 I shall
go to him。〃 She raved and tore her hair。 Servants rushed in。
Rosa was carried to her bed； screaming and raving； and her black
hair all down on both sides； a piteous sight。
Swoon followed swoon； and that very night brain fever set in with
all its sad accompaniments； a poor bereaved creature； tossing and
moaning； pale； anxious； but resolute faces of the nurse and the
kitchen…maid watching： on one table a pail of ice； and on another
the long； thick raven hair of our poor Simpleton； lying on clean
silver paper。 Dr。 Philip had cut it all off with his own hand； and
he was now folding it up； and crying over it； for he thought to
himself； 〃Perhaps in a few days more only this will be left of her
on earth。〃
CHAPTER XV。
Staines fell head…foremost into the sea with a heavy plunge。 Being
an excellent swimmer； he struck out the moment he touched the
water； and that arrested his dive； and brought him up with a slant；
shocked and panting； drench