第 37 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-12-07 09:25      字数:9321
  changed the subject。  But since then things have happened。  I am
  afwaid it is my duty to make you the judge whether you choose to
  sail about with that little cubRosa; I can beat about the bush no
  longer。  Is it a fit thing that a man of genius; at whose feet we
  ought all to be sitting with reverence; should drive a cab in the
  public streets?  Yes; Rosa Staines; your husband drives his
  brougham out at night; not to visit any other lady; as that
  anonymous wretch told you; but to make a few misewable shillings
  for you。〃
  〃Oh; Christie!〃
  〃It is no use; Dr。 Staines; I must and will tell her。  My dear; he
  drove ME three nights ago。  He had a cabman's badge on his poor
  arm。  If you knew what I suffered in those five minutes!  Indeed it
  seems cruel to speak of itbut I could not keep it from Rosa; and
  the reason I muster courage to say it before you; sir; it is
  because I know she has other friends who keep you out of their
  consultations; and; after all; it is the world that ought to blush;
  and not you。〃
  Her ladyship's kindly bosom heaved; and she wanted to cry; so she
  took her handkerchief out of her pocket without the least hurry;
  and pressed it delicately to her eyes; and did cry quietly; but
  without any disguise; like a brave lady; who neither cried nor did
  anything else she was ashamed to be seen at。
  As for Rosa; she sat sobbing round Christopher's neck; and kissed
  him with all her soul。
  〃Dear me!〃 said Christopher。  〃You are both very kind。  But;
  begging your pardon; it is much ado about nothing。〃
  Lady Cicely took no notice of that observation。  〃So; Rosa dear;〃
  said she; 〃I think you are the person to decide whether he had not
  better sail about with that little cub; thanoh!〃
  〃I will settle that;〃 said Staines。  〃I have one beloved creature
  to provide for。  I may have another。  I MUST make money。  Turning a
  brougham into a cab; whatever you may think; is an honest way of
  making it; and I am not the first doctor who has coined his
  brougham at night。  But if there is a good deal of money to be made
  by sailing with Lord Tadcaster; of course I should prefer that to
  cab…driving; for I have never made above twelve shillings a night。〃
  〃Oh; as to that; she shall give you fifteen hundred a year。〃
  〃Then I jump at it。〃
  〃What! and leave ME?〃
  〃Yes; love: leave youfor your good; and only for a time。  Lady
  Cicely; it is a noble offer。  My darling Rosa will have every
  comfortay; every luxury; till I come home; and then we will start
  afresh with a good balance; and with more experience than we did at
  first。〃
  Lady Cicely gazed on him with wonder。  She said; 〃Oh! what stout
  hearts men have!  No; no; don't let him go。  See; he is acting。
  His great heart is torn with agony。  I will have no hand in parting
  man and wifeno; not for a day。〃  And she hurried away in rare
  agitation。
  Rosa fell on her knees; and asked Christopher's pardon for having
  been jealous; and that day she was a flood of divine tenderness。
  She repaid him richly for driving the cab。  But she was unnaturally
  cool about Lady Cicely; and the exquisite reason soon came out。
  〃Oh yes!  She is very good; very kind; but it is not for me now!
  No! you shall not sail about with her cub of a cousin; and leave me
  at such a time。〃
  Christopher groaned。
  〃Christie; you shall not see that lady again。  She came here to
  part us。  SHE IS IN LOVE WITH YOU。  I was blind not to see it
  before。〃
  Next day; as Lady Cicely sat alone in the morning…room thinking
  over this very scene; a footman brought in a card and a note。  〃Dr。
  Staines begs particularly to see Lady Cicely Treherne。〃
  The lady's pale cheek colored; she stood irresolute a single
  moment。  〃I will see Dr。 Staines;〃 said she。
  Dr。 Staines came in; looking pale and worn; he had not slept a wink
  since she saw him last。
  She looked at him full; and divined this at a glance。  She motioned
  him to a seat; and sat down herself; with her white hand pressing
  her forehead; and her head turned a little away from him。
  CHAPTER XIII。
  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