首页 >出版文学> A Simpleton>第17章

第17章

  OnthisDr。Philipbeggedthemaidstogonearheraslittleaspossible。"Youarenotawareofit,"saidhe,"butyourlooks,andyourmannerofspeaking,rouseherattention,andsheisquickerthanIthoughtshewas,andobservesverysubtly。"
  Thiswasdone;andthenshecomplainedthatnobodycamenearher。
  Sheinsistedoncomingdown-stairs;itwassodull。
  Dr。Philipconsented,ifshewouldbecontenttoreceivenovisitsforaweek。
  Sheassentedtothat;andnowpassedsomehourseverydayinthedrawing-room。Inhermorningwrappers,sofreshandcrisp,shelookedlovely,andincreasedinhealthandstrengtheveryday。
  Dr。Philipusedtolookather,andhisveryfleshwouldcreepatthethoughtthat,erelong,hemusthurlthisfaircreatureintothedustofaffliction;must,withaword,taketherubyfromherlips,therosefromhercheeks,thesparklefromhergloriouseyes——
  eyesthatbeamedonhimwithsweetaffection,andamouththatneveropened,buttoshowsomesimplicityofmind,orsomeprettyburstofthesensitiveheart。
  Heputoff,andputoff,andatlastcowardicebegantowhisper,"Whytellherthewholetruthatall?Whynottakeherthroughstagesofdoubt,alarm,and,afterall,leaveagrainofhopetillherchildgetssorootedinherheartthat"——Butconscienceandgoodsenseinterruptedthistemporarythought,andmadehimseetowhatahorriblelifeofsuspenseheshouldcondemnahumancreature,andliveaperpetuallie,andbealwaysattheedgeofsomepitfallorother。
  Oneday,whilehesatlookingather,withallthesethoughts,andmanymore,coursingthroughhismind,shelookedupathim,andsurprisedhim。"Ah!"saidshegravely。
  "Whatisthematter,mydear?"
  "Oh,nothing,"saidshecunningly。
  "Uncle,dear,"saidshepresently,"whendowegotoHerneBay?"
  Now,Dr。Philiphadgiventhatup。HehadgottheservantsatKentVillaonhisside,andhefeltsaferherethaninanystrangeplace:sohesaid,"Idon'tknow:thatalldepends。Thereisplentyoftime。"
  "No,uncle,"saidRosagravely。"Iwishtoleavethishouse。I
  canhardlybreatheinit。"
  "What!yournativeair?"
  "Mysteryisnotmynativeair;andthishouseisfullofmystery。
  Voiceswhisperatmydoor,andthepeopledon'tcomein。Themaidscaststrangelooksatme,andhurryaway。IscoldedthatpertgirlJane,andsheansweredmeasmeekasMoses。Icatchyoulookingatme,withlove,andsomethingelse。Whatisthatsomething——?ItisPity:thatiswhatitis。Doyouthink,becauseIamcalledasimpleton,thatIhavenoeyes,norears,norsense?Whatisthissecretwhichyouareallhidingfromoneperson,andthatisme?
  Ah!Christopherhasnotwrittenthesefiveweeks。Tellmethetruth,forIwillknowit,"andshestartedupinwildexcitement。
  ThenDr。Philipsawthehourwascome。
  Hesaid,"Mypoorgirl,youhavereadusright。IamanxiousaboutChristopher,andalltheservantsknowit。"
  "Anxious,andnottellME;hiswife;thewomanwhoselifeisboundupinhis。"
  "Wasitforustoretardyourconvalescence,andsetyoufretting,andperhapsdestroyyourchild?Rosa,mydarling,thinkwhatatreasureHeavenhassentyou,toloveandcarefor。"
  "Yes,"saidshe,trembling,"Heavenhasbeengoodtome;IhopeHeavenwillalwaysbeasgoodtome。Idon'tdeserveit;butthenItellGodso。Iamverygrateful,andverypenitent。Ineverforgetthat,ifIhadbeenagoodwife,myhusband——fiveweeksisalongtime。Whydoyoutrembleso?Whyareyousopale——astrongmanlikeyou?CALAMITY!CALAMITY!"
  Dr。Philiphunghishead。
  Shelookedathim,startedwildlyup,thensankbackintoherchair。Sothestrickendeerleaps,thenfalls。Yetevennowsheputonadeceitfulcalm,andsaid,"Tellmethetruth。Ihavearighttoknow。"
  Hestammeredout,"Thereisareportofanaccidentatsea。"
  Shekeptsilence。
  "Ofapassengerdrowned——outofthatship。This,coupledwithhissilence,fillsourheartswithfear。"
  "Itisworse——youarebreakingittome——youhavegonetoofartostop。Oneword:ishealive?Oh,sayheisalive!"
  Philiprangthebellhard,andsaidinatroubledvoice,"Rosa,thinkofyourchild。"
  "Notwhenmyhusband——Ishealiveordead?"
  "Itishardtosay,withsuchaterriblereportabout,andnoletters,"falteredtheoldman,hiscouragefailinghim。
  "Whatareyouafraidof?DoyouthinkIcan'tdie,andgotohim?
  Alive,ordead?"andshestoodbeforehim,ragingandquiveringineverylimb。
  Thenursecamein。
  "Fetchherchild,"hecried;"Godhavemercyonher。"
  "Ah,thenheisdead,"saidshe,withstonycalmness。"Idrovehimtosea,andheisdead。"
  Thenurserushedin,andheldthechildtoher。
  Shewouldnotlookatit。
  "Dead!"
  "Yes,ourpoorChristieisgone——buthischildishere——theimageofhim。Donotforgetthemother。Havepityonhischildandyours。"
  "Takeitoutofmysight!"shescreamed。"Awaywithit,orIshallmurderit,asIhavemurdereditsfather。MydearChristie,beforeallthatlive!Ihavekilledhim。Ishalldieforhim。Ishallgotohim。"Sheravedandtoreherhair。Servantsrushedin。
  Rosawascarriedtoherbed,screamingandraving,andherblackhairalldownonbothsides,apiteoussight。
  Swoonfollowedswoon,andthatverynightbrainfeversetinwithallitssadaccompaniments;apoorbereavedcreature,tossingandmoaning;pale,anxious,butresolutefacesofthenurseandthekitchen-maidwatching:ononetableapailofice,andonanotherthelong,thickravenhairofourpoorSimpleton,lyingoncleansilverpaper。Dr。Philiphadcutitalloffwithhisownhand,andhewasnowfoldingitup,andcryingoverit;forhethoughttohimself,"Perhapsinafewdaysmoreonlythiswillbeleftofheronearth。"
  CHAPTERXV。
  Stainesfellhead-foremostintotheseawithaheavyplunge。Beinganexcellentswimmer,hestruckoutthemomenthetouchedthewater,andthatarrestedhisdive,andbroughthimupwithaslant,shockedandpanting,drenchedandconfused。Thenextmomenthesaw,asthroughafog——hiseyesbeingfullofwater——somethingfallfromtheship。Hebreastedthebigwaves,andswamtowardsit:itroseonthetopofawave,andhesawitwasalife-buoy。
  Encumberedwithwetclothes,heseemedimpotentinthebigwaves;
  theythrewhimupsohigh,anddownsolow。
  Almostexhausted,hegottothelife-buoy,andclutcheditwithafiercegraspandawildcryofdelight。Hegotitoverhishead,and,placinghisarmsroundthebuoyantcircle,stoodwithhisbreastandheadoutofwater,gasping。
  Henowdrewalongbreath,andgothiswethairoutofhiseyes,alreadysmartingwithsaltwater,and,raisinghimselfonthebuoy,lookedoutforhelp。
  Hesaw,tohisgreatconcern,theshipalreadyatadistance。Sheseemedtohaveflown,andshewasstilldriftingfastawayfromhim。
  Hesawnosignsofhelp。Hisheartbegantoturnascoldashisdrenchedbody。Ahorriblefearcrossedhim。
  Butpresentlyhesawtheweather-boatfilled,andfallintothewater;andthenawaverolledbetweenhimandtheship,andheonlysawhertopmast。
  Thenexttimeheroseonamightywavehesawtheboatstogetherasternofthevessel,butnotcominghisway;andthegloomwasthickening,theshipbecomingindistinct,andallwasdoubtandhorror。
  Alifeofagonypassedinafewminutes。
  Heroseandfelllikeacorkonthebuoyantwaves——roseandfell,andsawnothingbuttheship'slights,nowterriblydistant。
  Butatlast,asheroseandfell,hecaughtafewfitfulglimpsesofasmallerlightrisingandfallinglikehimself。"Aboat!"hecried,andraisinghimselfashighashecould,shouted,cried,imploredforhelp。Hestretchedhishandsacrossthewater。"Thisway!thisway!"
  Thelightkeptmoving,butitcamenonearer。Theyhadgreatlyunderratedthedrift。Theotherboathadnolight。
  Minutespassedofsuspense,hope,doubt,dismay,terror。Thoseminutesseemedhours。
  Intheagonyofsuspensethequakingheartsentbeadsofsweattothebrow,thoughthebodywasimmersed。
  Andthegloomdeepened,andthecoldwavesflunghimuptoheavenwiththeirgiantarms,andthendownagaintohell:andstillthatlight,hisonlyhope,wasseveralhundredyardsfromhim。
  Onlyforamomentatatimecouldhiseyeballs,strainingwithagony,catchthiswill-o'-the-wisp,theboat'slight。Itgropedtheseaupanddown,butcamenonear。
  Whenwhatseemeddaysofagonyhadpassed,suddenlyarocketroseinthehorizon——soitseemedtohim。
  Thelostmangaveashriekofjoy;sopronearewetointerpretthingshopefully。
  Misery!Thenexttimehesawthatlittlelight,thatsolitarysparkofhope,itwasnotquitesonearasbefore。Amortalsicknessfellonhisheart。Theshiphadrecalledtheboatsbyrocket。
  Heshrieked,hecried,hescreamed,heraved。"Oh,Rosa!Rosa!forhersake,men,men,donotleaveme。Iamhere!here!"
  Invain。Themiserablemansawtheboat'slittlelightretire,recede,andmeltintotheship'slargerlight,andthatlightglidedaway。
  Then,acold,deadlystuporfellonhim。Then,death'sicyclawseizedhisheart,andseemedtorunfromittoeverypartofhim。
  Hewasadeadman。Onlyaquestionoftime。Nothingtogainbyfloating。
  Butthedespairingmindcouldnotquittheworldinpeace,andevenhereinthecold,cruelsea,thequiveringbodyclungtothisfragmentoflife,andwincedatdeath'stouch,thoughmoremerciful。
  Hedespisedthisweakness;heragedatit;hecouldnotovercomeit。
  Unabletoliveortodie,condemnedtofloatslowly,hourbyhour,downintodeath'sjaws。
  Toalong,death-likestuporsucceededfrenzy。Furyseizedthisgreatandlong-sufferingmind。Itroseagainstthecrueltyandinjusticeofhisfate。Hecursedtheworld,whosestupidityhaddrivenhimtosea,hecursedremorselessnature;andatlastherailedontheGodwhomadehim,andmadethecruelwater,thatwaswaitingforhisbody。"God'sjustice!God'smercy!God'spower!
  theyarealllies,"heshouted,"dreams,chimeras,likeHimtheall-powerfulandgood,menbabbleofbythefire。IftherewasaGodmorepowerfulthanthesea,andonlyhalfasgoodasmenare,hewouldpitymypoorRosaandme,andsendahurricanetodrivethosecaitiffsbacktothewretchtheyhaveabandoned。Naturealoneismighty。Oh,ifIcouldhaveheronmyside,andonlyGodagainstme!ButsheisasdeaftoprayerasHeis:asmechanicalandremorseless。Iamabubblemeltingintothesea。SoulIhavenone;mybodywillsoonbenothing,nothing。Soendsanhonest,lovinglife。Ialwaystriedtolovemyfellow-creatures。Cursethem!cursethem!Cursetheearth!Cursethesea!Curseallnature:thereisnootherGodformetocurse。"
  Themooncameout。
  Heraisedhisheadandstaringeyeballs,andcursedher。
  Thewindbegantowhistle,andflungsprayinhisface。
  Heraisedhisfallenheadandstaringeyeballs,andcursedthewind。
  Whilehewasthusraving,hebecamesensibleofablackobjecttowindward。
  Itlookedlikearail,andamanleaningonit。
  Hestared,heclearedthewethairfromhiseyes,andstaredagain。
  Thething,beinglargerthanhimselfandpartlyoutofwater,wasdriftingtoleewardfasterthanhimself。
  Hestaredandtrembled,andatlastitcamenearlyabreast,black,black。
  Hegavealoudcry,andtriedtoswimtowardsit;butencumberedwithhislife-buoy,hemadelittleprogress。Thethingdriftedabreastofhim,buttenyardsdistant。
  Astheyeachrosehighuponthewaves,hesawitplainly。
  Itwastheveryraftthathadbeentheinnocentcauseofhissadfate。
  Heshoutedwithhope,heswam,hestruggled;hegotnearit,butnottoit;itdriftedpast,andhelosthischanceofinterceptingit。Hestruggledafterit。Thelife-buoywouldnotlethimcatchit。
  Thenhegaveacryofagony,rage,despair,andflungoffthelife-
  buoy,andriskedallonthisonechance。
  Hegainsalittleontheraft。
  Heloses。
  Hegains:hecries,"Rosa!Rosa!"andstruggleswithallhissoul,aswellashisbody:hegains。
  Butwhenalmostwithinreach,awavehalfdrownshim,andheloses。
  Hecries,"Rosa!Rosa!"andswimshighandstrong。"Rosa!Rosa!
  Rosa!"
  Heisnearit。Hecries,"Rosa!Rosa!"andwithalltheenergyofloveandlifeflingshimselfalmostoutofthewater,andcatchesholdofthenearestthingontheraft。
  Itwasthedeadman'sleg。
  Itseemedasifitwouldcomeawayinhisgrasp。Hedarednottrytopullhimselfupbythat。Butheheldonbyit,panting,exhausting,faint。
  Thisfaintnessterrifiedhim。"Oh,"thoughthe,"ifIfaintnow,allisover。"
  Holdingbythatterribleandstrangesupport,hemadeagrasp,andcaughtholdofthewoodworkatthebottomoftherail。Hetriedtodrawhimselfup。Impossible。
  Hewasnobetteroffthanwithhislife-buoy。
  Butinsituationssodreadful,menthinkfast;heworkedgraduallyroundthebottomoftheraftbyhishands,tillhegottoleeward,stillholdingon。Therehefoundasolidblockofwoodattheedgeoftheraft。Heprisedhimselfcarefullyup;theraftinthatpartthensankalittle:hegothiskneeuponthetimberoftheraft,andwithawildcryseizedthenearestupright,andthrewbotharmsrounditandclungtight。Thenfirsthefoundbreathtospeak。
  "THANKGOD!"hecried,kneelingonthetimber,andgraspingtheuprightpost——"OH,THANKGOD!THANKGOD!"
  CHAPTERXVI。
  "ThankGod!"why,accordingtohistheory,itshouldhavebeen"ThankNature。"ButIobservethat,insuchcases,evenphilosophersareungratefultothemistresstheyworship。
  OurphilosophernotonlythankedGod,butbeingonhisknees,prayedforgivenessforhislateravings,prayedhard,withonearmcurledroundtheupright,lestthesea,whicheverandanonrushedoverthebottomoftheraft,shouldswallowhimupinamoment。
  Thenherosecarefully,andwedgedhimselfintothecorneroftheraftoppositetothatotherfigure,ominousrelicofthewildvoyagethenew-comerhadenteredupon;heputbotharmsovertherail,andstooderect。
  Themoonwasnowup;butsowasthebreeze:fleecycloudsflewwithvastrapidityacrossherbrightface,anditwasbyfitfulthoughvividglancesStainesexaminedtheraftandhiscompanion。
  Theraftwaslarge,andwellmadeoftimberstiedandnailedtogether,andastrongrailranrounditrestingonseveraluprights。Therewerealsosomeblocksofaverylightwoodscrewedtothehorizontaltimbers,andthesemadeitfloathigh。
  Butwhatarrestedandfascinatedtheman'sgazewashisdeadcompanion,solesurvivor,doubtless,ofahorriblevoyage,sincetheraftwasnotmadeforone,norbyone。
  Itwasaskeleton,ornearly,whoseclothestheseabirdshadtorn,andpeckedeverylimbinallthefleshyparts;therestofthebodyhaddriedtodarkleatheronthebones。Theheadwaslittlemorethananeyelessskull;butinthefitfulmoonlight,thosehugehollowcavernsseemedgiganticlamp-likeeyes,andglaredathimfiendishly,appallingly。
  Hesickenedatthesight。Hetriednottolookatit;butitwouldbelookedat,andthreatenhiminthemoonlight,withgreatlack-
  lustreeyes。
  Thewindwhistled,andlashedhisfacewithspraytornoffthebigwaves,andthewaterwasnearlyuptohisknees,andtherafttossedsowildly,itwasallhecoulddotoholdoninhiscorner:
  inwhichstruggle,stillthosemonstrouslack-lustreeyes,likelampsofdeath,glaredathiminthemoon;allelsewasdark,exceptthefierycrestsoftheblackmountain-billows,tumblingandragingallaround。
  Whatanight!
  But,beforemorning,thebreezesank,themoonset,andasombrequietsucceeded,withonlythatgrimfigureinoutlinedimlyvisible。Owingtothemotionstillretainedbythewaves,itseemedtonodandrear,andbeeverpreparingtorushuponhim。
  Thesunroseglorious,onalovelyscene;theskywasaverymosaicofcolorssweetandvivid,andthetranquil,ripplingsea,peach-
  coloredtothehorizon,withlinesofdiamondswherethemyriadripplesbrokeintosmiles。
  Staineswasasleep,exhausted。Soonthelightawokehim,andhelookedup。Whatanincongruouspicturemethiseye:thatheavenofcolorallaboveandaround,andrightbeforehim,likeadevilstuckinmid-heaven,thatgrinningcorpse,whosefateforeshadowedhisown。
  Butdaylightisagreatstrengthenerofthenerves;thefigurenolongerappalledhim——amanwhohadlonglearnedtolookwithScience'scalmeyeuponthedead。Whentheseabecamelikeglass,andfrompeach-colordeepenedtorose,hewalkedalongtheraft,andinspectedthedeadman。Hefounditwasamanofcolor,butnotablack。Thebodywasnotkeptinitsplace,ashehadsupposed,merelybybeingjammedintotheanglecausedbytherail;
  itwasalsolashedtothecorneruprightbyalong,stoutbelt。
  Stainesconcludedthishadkeptthebodythere,anditscompanionshadbeensweptaway。
  Thiswasnotlostonhim:heremovedthebeltforhisownuse:hethenfounditwasnotonlyabelt,butareceptacle;itwasnearlyfullofsmall,hardsubstancesthatfeltlikestones。
  Whenhehadtakenitoffthebody,hefeltacompunction。"Oughthetorobthedead,andexposeittobesweptintotheseaatthefirstwave,likeadeaddog?"
  Hewasabouttoreplacethebelt,whenamiddlecourseoccurredtohim。Hewasamanwhoalwayscarriedcertainusefullittlethingsabouthim,viz。,needles,thread,scissors,andstring。Hetookapieceofstring,andeasilysecuredthispoorlightskeletontotheraft。Thebelthestrappedtotherail,andkeptforhisownneed。
  Andnowhungergnawedhim。Nofoodwasnear。Therewasnothingbutthelovelyseaandsky,mosaicwithcolor,andthatgrim,ominousskeleton。
  Hungercomesandgoesmanytimesbeforeitbecomesinsupportable。
  Allthatdayandnight,andthenextday,hesuffereditspangs;
  andthenitbecametorture,butthethirstmaddening。
  Towardsnightfellagentlerain。Hespreadahandkerchiefandcaughtit。Hesuckedthehandkerchief。
  Thisrevivedhim,andevenallayedinsomedegreethepangsofhunger。
  Nextdaywascloudless。Ahotsunglaredonhisunprotectedhead,andbattereddownhisenfeebledframe。
  Heresistedaswellashecould。Heoftendippedhishead,andasoftenthepersistentsun,withcruelglare,madeitsmokeagain。
  Nextdaythesame:butthestrengthtomeetitwaswaning。HelaydownandthoughtofRosa,andweptbitterly。Hetookthedeadman'sbelt,andlashedhimselftotheupright。Thatact,andhistearsforhisbeloved,werealmosthislastactsofperfectreason:
  fornextdaycamethedelusionsandthedreamsthatsucceedwhenhungerceasestotorture,andthevitalpowersbegintoebb。Helayandsawpleasantmeadowswithmeanderingstreams,andclustersofrichfruitthatcourtedthehandandmeltedinthemouth。
  Everandanontheyvanished,andhesawgrimdeathlookingdownonhimwiththosebigcavernouseyes。
  Byandby,whetherhisbody'seyesawthegrimskeleton,orhismind'seyethejuicyfruits,greenmeadows,andpearlybrooks,allwasshadowy。
  So,inaplacidcalm,beneathabluesky,theraftdrifteddead,withitsdeadfreight,upontheglassypurple,andhedrifted,too,towardstheworldunknown。
  Therecameacrossthewaterstothatdismalraftathingnonetoocommon,byseaorland——agoodman。
  Hewastall,stalwart,bronzed,andhadhairlikesnow,beforehistime,forhehadknowntrouble。Hecommandedamerchantsteamer,boundforCalcutta,ontheoldroute。
  Themanatthemast-headdescriedafloatingwreck,andhailedthedeckaccordingly。Thecaptainalteredhiscoursewithoutonemoment'shesitation,andbroughtupalongside,loweredaboat,andbroughtthedead,andthebreathingman,onboard。
  AyoungmiddyliftedStainesinhisarmsfromthewrecktotheboat;hewhosepersonIdescribedinchapteroneweighednownomorethanthat。
  Menarenotalwaysrougherthanwomen。Theirstrengthandnerveenablethemnowandthentobegentlerthanbuttery-fingeredangels,whodropfrailthingsthroughsensitiveagitation,andbreakthem。TheseroughmensawStaineswashoveringbetweenlifeanddeath,andtheyhandledhimlikeathingtheebbinglifemightbeshakenoutofinamoment。Itwasprettytoseehowgingerlythesailorscarriedthesinkingmanuptheladder,andonefetchedswabs,andtheotherslaidhimdownsoftlyonthemattheircaptain'sfeet。
  "Welldone,men,"saidhe。"Poorfellow!PrayHeaven,wemaynothavecometoolate。Nowstandaloofabit。Sendthesurgeonaft。"
  Thesurgeoncame,andlooked,andfelttheheart。Heshookhishead,andcalledforbrandy。HehadStaines'sheadraised,andgothalfaspoonfulofdilutedbrandydownhisthroat。Buttherewasanominousgurgling。
  Afterseveralsuchattemptsatintervals,hesaidplainlytheman'slifecouldnotbesavedbyordinarymeans。
  "Thentryextraordinary,"saidthecaptain。"Myordersarethatheistobesaved。Thereislifeinhim。Youhaveonlygottokeepitthere。HeMUSTbesaved;heSHALLbesaved。"
  "IshouldliketotryDr。Staines'sremedy,"saidthesurgeon。
  "Tryit,thenwhatisit?"
  "Abathofbeef-tea。Dr。Stainessaysheappliedittoastarvedchild——intheLancet。"
  "Takeahundred-weightofbeef,andboilitinthecoppers。"
  Thusencouraged,thesurgeonwenttothecook,andverysoonbeefwassteamingonascaleandatarateunparalleled。
  Meantime,CaptainDoddhadthepatienttakentohisowncabin,andheandhisservantadministeredweakbrandyandwaterwithgreatcautionandskill。
  Therewasnoperceptibleresult。Butatalleventstherewaslifeandvitalinstinctleft,orhecouldnothaveswallowed。
  Thustheyhoveredabouthimforsomehours,andthenthebathwasready。
  Thecaptaintookchargeofthepatient'sclothes:thesurgeonandasailorbathedhiminlukewarmbeef-tea,andthencoveredhimverywarmwithblanketsnexttheskin。Guesshownearathingitseemedtothem,whenItellyoutheydarednotrubhim。
  Justbeforesunsethispulsebecameperceptible。Thesurgeonadministeredhalfaspoonfulofegg-flip。Thepatientswallowedit。
  Byandbyhesighed。
  "Hemustnotbeleft,dayornight,"saidthecaptain。"Idon'tknowwhoorwhatheis,butheisaman;andIcouldnotbearhimtodienow。"
  ThatnightCaptainDoddoverhauledthepatient'sclothes,andlookedformarksonhislinen。Therewerenone。
  "Poordevil"saidCaptainDodd。"Heisabachelor。"
  CaptainDoddfoundhispocket-book,withbank-notes,twohundredpounds。Hetookthenumbers,madeamemorandumofthem,andlockedthenotesup。