第1章

Ithaslatelybeenobjectedtome，instudiouslycourteoustermsofcourse，thatIborrowfromotherbooks，andamaplagiarist。TothisIreplythatIborrowfactsfromeveryaccessiblesource，andamnotaplagiarist。Theplagiaristisonewhoborrowsfromahomogeneouswork:forsuchamanborrowsnotideasonly，buttheirtreatment。Hewhoborrowsonlyfromheterogeneousworksisnotaplagiarist。Allfiction，worthabutton，isfoundedonfacts；anditdoesnotmatteronestrawwhetherthefactsaretakenfrompersonalexperience，hearsay，orprintedbooks；onlythosebooksmustnotbeworksoffiction。

Askyourcommonsensewhyamanwritesbetterfictionatfortythanhecanattwenty。Itissimplybecausehehasgatheredmorefactsfromeachofthesethreesources，——experience，hearsay，print。

Tothosewhohavescienceenoughtoappreciatetheabovedistinction，IamverywillingtoadmitthatinallmytalesIuseavastdealofheterogeneousmaterial，whichinalifeofstudyI

havegatheredfrommen，journals，blue-books，histories，biographies，lawreports，etc。AndifIcould，IwouldgladlyspecifyallthevariousprintedsourcestowhichIamindebted。

Butmymemoryisnotequaltosuchafeat。IcanonlysaythatI

rarelywriteanovelwithoutmilkingabouttwohundredheterogeneouscowsintomypail，andthat"ASimpleton"isnoexceptiontomygeneralmethod；thatmethodisthetruemethod，andthebest，andifonthatmethodIdonotwriteprimenovels，itisthefaultoftheman，andnotofthemethod。

Igivethefollowingparticularsasanillustrationofmymethod:

In"ASimpleton，"thewholebusinessofthegirlspittingblood，thesurgeonascribingittotheliver，theconsultation，thefinalsolutionofthemystery，isamatterofpersonalexperienceaccuratelyrecorded。Buttherestofthemedicaltruths，bothfactandargument，areallfrommedicalbooksfartoonumeroustospecify。Thisincludesthestrangefluctuationsofmemoryinamanrecoveringhisreasonbydegrees。Thebehaviorofthedoctor"sfirsttwopatientsIhadfromasurgeon"sdaughterinPimlico。Theservant-girlandherbox；thepurple-faced，pig-facedBeakandhisjustice，arepersonalexperience。Thebusinessofhouse-renting，andtheauction-room，isalsopersonalexperience。

InthenauticalbusinessIhadtheassistanceoftwopracticalseamen:mybrother，WilliamBarringtonReade，andCommanderCharlesEdwardReade，R。N。

IntheSouthAfricanbusinessIgleanedfromMr。Day"srecenthandbooks；theoldhandbooks；Galton"s"VacationTourist；""PhilipMavor；or，LifeamongtheCaffres；""Fossor；""NotesontheCapeofGoodHope，"1821；"ScenesandOccurrencesinAlbanyandCaffre-

land，"1827；Bowler"s"SouthAfricanSketches；""ACampaigninSouthAfrica，"Lucas；"FiveYearsinCaffre-land，"Mrs。Ward；etc。，etc。，etc。ButmyprincipalobligationonthisheadistoMr。

Boyle，theauthorofsomeadmirableletterstotheDailytelegraph，whichheafterwardsreprintedinadelightfulvolume。Mr。Boylehasapainter"seye，andawriter"spen，andiftheAfricanscenesin"ASimpleton"pleasemyreaders，Ihopetheywillgotothefountain-head，wheretheywillfindmanymore。

Astotheplotandcharacters，theyareinvented。

Thetitle，"ASimpleton，"isnotquitenew。ThereisaFrenchplaycalledLaNiaise。ButLaNiaiseisinrealityawomanofrareintelligence，whoistakenforasimpletonbyalotofconceitedfools，andtheplayrunsontheirblunders，andherunpretendingwisdom。Thatisaveryfineplot，whichIrecommendtoourfemalenovelists。Myaiminthesepageshasbeenmuchhumbler，andis，I

hope，toocleartoneedexplanation。

CHARLESREADE。

ASIMPLETON。

CHAPTERI。

Ayoungladysatprickingaframedcanvasinthedrawing-roomofKentVilla，amilefromGravesend；shewasmaking，atacostoftimeandtintedwool，achaircover，admirablyunfittobesatupon——exceptbysomesevereartist，bentonobliteratingdiscordantcolors。Todoherjustice，hermindwasnotinherwork；forsherustledsoftlywithrestlessnessasshesat，andsherosethreetimesintwentyminutes，andwenttothewindow。Thenceshelookeddown，overatrimflowerylawn，andlong，slopingmeadows，ontothesilverThames，alivewithsteamboatsploughing，whitesailsbellying，andgreatshipscarryingtoandfrothetreasuresoftheglobe。Fromthisfairlandscapeandepitomeofcommercesheretiredeachtimewithlistlessdisdain；shewaswaitingforsomebody。

Yetshewasoneofthosewhomfewmencaretokeepwaiting。RosaLusignanwasadarkbutdazzlingbeauty，withcoal-blackhair，andgloriousdarkeyes，thatseemedtobeamwithsoulalldaylong；hereyebrows，black，straightish，andratherthick，wouldhavebeenmajesticandtoosevere，hadtheotherfeaturesfollowedsuit；butherblackbrowsweresucceededbylongsilkylashes，asweetovalface，twopoutinglipsstuddedwithivory，andanexquisitechin，asfeebleasanymancoulddesireinthepartnerofhisbosom。

Person——straight，elastic，andrathertall。Mind——nineteen。

Accomplishments——numerous；apoorFrenchscholar，aworseGerman，aworseEnglish，anadmirabledancer，aninaccuratemusician，agoodrider，abaddraughtswoman，abadhairdresser，atthemercyofhermaid；ahottheologian，knowingnothing，asorryaccountant，nohousekeeper，noseamstress，afairembroideress，acapitalgeographer，andnocook。

Collectively，viz。，mindandbody，thegirlwekneelto。

Thisornamentalmemberofsocietynowglancedattheclockoncemore，andthenglidedtothewindowforthefourthtime。Shepeepedatthesideagoodwhile，withsuperfluousslynessorshyness，andpresentlyshedrewback，blushingcrimson；thenshepeepedagain，stillmorefurtively；thenretiredsoftlytoherframe，and，forthefirsttime，settoworkinearnest。Asshepliedherharpoon，smilingnow，thelargeandvividblush，thathadsuffusedherfaceandthroat，turnedfromcarnationtorose，andmeltedawayslowly，butperceptibly，andeversosweetly；andsomebodyknockedatthestreetdoor。

Theblowseemedtodriveherdeeperintoherwork。Sheleanedoverit，gracefulasawillow，andsoabsorbed，shecouldnotevenseethedooroftheroomopenandDr。Stainescomein。

Allthebetter:hernotperceivingthatslightadditiontoherfurnituregivesmeamomenttodescribehim。

Ayoungman，fivefeetelevenincheshigh，verysquareshoulderedanddeepchested，butsosymmetrical，andlightinhismovements，thathissizehardlystruckoneatfirst。Hewassmoothshaved，allbutashort，thick，auburnwhisker；hishairwasbrown。Hisfeaturesnomorethencomely:thebrowfull，theeyeswideapartanddeep-seated，thelipsratherthin，butexpressive，thechinsolidandsquare。Itwasafaceofpower，andcapableofharshness；butrelievedbyaneyeofunusualcolor，betweenhazelandgray，andwonderfullytender。IncomplexionhecouldnotcomparewithRosa；hischeekwasclear，butpale；forfewyoungmenhadstudiednightanddaysoconstantly。Thoughbuttwenty-eightyearsofage，hewasliterallyalearnedphysician；deepinhospitalpractice；deepinbooks；especiallydeepinGermanscience，toooftenneglectedorskimmedbyEnglishphysicians。Hehaddeliveredacourseoflecturesatalearneduniversitywithgeneralapplause。

Asmyreaderhasdivined，Rosawaspreparingthecomedyofacoolreception；butlookingup，shesawhispalecheektintedwithalover"sbeautifuljoyatthebaresightofher，andhissofteyesodivinewithlove，thatshehadnotthehearttochillhim。Shegavehimherhandkindly，andsmiledbrightlyonhiminsteadofremonstrating。Shelostnothingbyit，fortheveryfirstthinghedidwastoexcusehimselfeagerly。"Iambehindtime:thefactis，justasIwasmountingmyhorse，apoormancametothegatetoconsultme。HehadaterribledisorderIhavesometimessucceededinarresting——Iattackthecauseinsteadofthesymptoms，whichistheoldpractice——andsothatdetainedme。Youforgiveme?"

"Ofcourse。Poorman!——onlyyousaidyouwantedtoseepapa，andhealwaysgoesoutattwo。"

Whenshehadbeenbetrayedintosayingthis，shedrewinsuddenly，andblushedwithaprettyconsciousness。

"Thendon"tletmeloseanotherminute，"saidthelover。"Haveyoupreparedhimfor——for——whatIamgoingtohavetheaudacitytosay?"

Rosaanswered，withsomehesitation，"IMUSThave——alittle。WhenIrefusedColonelBright——youneednotdevourmyhandquite——heisforty。"

Hersentenceended，andawaywenttheoriginaltopic，andgrammaticalsequencealongwithit。ChristopherStainesrecapturedthemboth。"Yes，dear，whenyourefusedColonelBright"——

"Well，papawasastonished；foreverybodysaysthecolonelisamosteligiblematch。Don"tyouhatethatexpression?Ido。

Eligible!"

Christophermadeduehaste，andrecapturedher。"Yes，love，yourpapasaid"——

"Idon"tthinkIwilltellyou。Heaskedmewasthereanybodyelse；andofcourseIsaid"No。""

"Oh!"

"Oh，thatisnothing；Ihadnottimetomakeupmymindtotellthetruth。Iwastakenbysurprise；andyouknowone"sfirstimpulseistofib——aboutTHAT。"

"Butdidyoureallydeceivehim?"

"No，Iblushed；andhecaughtme；sohesaid，"Come，now，therewas。""

"Andyousaid，"Yes，thereis，"likeabravegirlasyouare。"

"What，plumplikethat?No，Iwasfrightenedoutofmywits，likeabravegirlasIamnot，andsaidIshouldnevermarryanyonehecoulddisapprove；andthen——oh，thenIbelieveIbegantocry。

Christopher，I"lltellyousomething；Ifindpeopleleaveoffteasingyouwhenyoucry——gentlemen，Imean。Ladiesgoonallthemore。Sothendearpapakissedme，andtoldmeImustnotbeimprudent，andthrowmyselfaway，thatwasall；andIpromisedhimIneverwould。Isaidhewouldbesuretoapprovemychoice；andhesaidhehopedso。Andsohewill。"

Dr。Staineslookedthoughtful，andsaidhehopedsotoo。"Butnowitcomestothepointofaskinghimforsuchatreasure，Ifeelmydeficiencies。"

"Why，whatdeficiencies?Youareyoung，andhandsome，andgood，andeversomuchclevererthanotherpeople。Youhaveonlytoaskforme，andinsistonhavingme。Come，dear，goandgetitover。"

Sheadded，mightycoolly，"ThereisnothingsoDREADFULassuspense。"

"I"llgothisminute，"saidhe，andtookasteptowardsthedoor；

butheturned，andinamomentwasatherknees。Hetookbothherhandsinhis，andpressedthemtohisbeatingbosom，whilehisbeautifuleyespouredloveintoherspoint-blank。"MayItellhimyouloveme?Oh，IknowyoucannotlovemeasIloveyou；butI

maysayyoulovemealittle，mayInot?——thatwillgofartherwithhimthananythingelse。MayI，Rosa，mayI?——alittle?"

Hispassionmasteredher。Shedroppedherheadsweetlyonhisshoulder，andmurmured，"Youknowyoumay，myown。Whowouldnotloveyou?"

Hepartedlingeringlyfromher，thenmarchedaway，boldwithloveandhope，todemandherhandinmarriage。

Rosaleanedbackinherchair，andquiveredalittlewithnewemotions。Christopherwasright；shewasnotcapableoflovinglikehim；butstilltheactualcontactofsostrongapassionmadeherwoman"snaturevibrate。Adewytearhungonthefringesofherlonglashes，andsheleanedbackinherchairandflutteredawhile。

Thatemotion，almostnewtoher，soonyielded，inhergirlishmind，toacomplacentlanguor；andthat，initsturn，toasoftreverie。

Soshewasgoingtobemarried!Tobemistressofahouse；settleinLondon(THATshehadquitedeterminedlongago)；beabletogooutintothestreetsallalone，toshop，orvisit；haveagentlemanallherown，whomshecouldputherfingeronanymomentandmakehimtakeherabout，eventotheoperaandthetheatre；togivedinner-partiesherownself，andevenalittleballonceinaway；

tobuywhateverdressesshethoughtproper，insteadofbeingcrippledbyanallowance；havethelegalrightofspeakingfirstinsociety，eventogentlemenrichinideasbutbadstarters，insteadofsittingmumchanceandmock-modest；tobeMistress，insteadofMiss——contemptibletitle；tobeawoman，insteadofagirl；andallthisrationalliberty，domesticpower，andsocialdignityweretobeobtainedbymerelyweddingadearfellow，wholovedher，andwassonice；andthebrightcareertobeusheredinwithseveraldelights，eachofthemdeartoagirl"sverysoul:presentsfromallherfriends；asmanybeautifulnewdressesasifshewaschangingherbodyorherhemisphere，insteadofhername；eclat；

goingtochurch，whichisagoodEnglishgirl"stheatreofdisplayandtempleofvanity，andtheretastingdelightfulpublicityandwhisperedadmiration，inaheavenlylongveil，whichshecouldnotwearevenonceifsheremainedsingle。

Thisbrightvariegatedpictureofholywedlock，anditsessentialfeatures，asrevealedtoyoungladiesbyfemininetradition，thoughnotenumeratedintheBookofCommonPrayerwritbygrimmales，soentrancedher，thattimeflewbyunheeded，andChristopherStainescamebackfromherfather。Hisstepwasheavy；helookedpale，anddeeplydistressed；thenstoodlikeastatue，anddidnotcomeclosetoher，butcastapiteouslook，andgaspedoutoneword，thatseemedalmosttochokehim，——"REFUSED!"

MissLusignanrosefromherchair，andlookedalmostwildlyathimwithhergreateyes。"Refused?"saidshe，faintly。

"Yes，"saidhe，sadly。"Yourfatherisamanofbusiness；andhetookamerebusinessviewofourlove:heaskedmedirectlywhatprovisionIcouldmakeforhisdaughterandherchildren。Well，I

toldhimIhadthreethousandpoundsintheFunds，andagoodprofession；andthenIsaidIhadyouth，health，andlove，boundlesslove，thelovethatcando，orsuffer，thelovethatcanconquertheworld。"

"DearChristopher!AndwhatCOULDhesaytoallthat?"

"Heignoreditentirely。There!I"llgiveyouhisverywords。Hesaid，"Inthatcase，Dr。Staines，thesimplequestionis，whatdoesyourprofessionbringyouinperannum?""

"Oh!There!Ialwayshatedarithmetic，andnowIabominateit。"

"ThenIwasobligedtoconfessIhadscarcelyreceivedahundredpoundsinfeesthisyear；butItoldhimthereason；thisissuchasmalldistrict，andallthegroundoccupied。London，Isaid，wasmysphere。"

"Andsoitis，"saidRosa，eagerly；forthisjumpedwithherownlittledesigns。"Geniusiswastedinthecountry。Besides，wheneveranybodyworthcuringisilldownhere，theyalwayssendtoLondonforadoctor。"

"Itoldhimso，dearest，"saidthelover。"Butheansweredmedirectly，thenImustsetupinLondon，andassoonasmybooksshowedanincometokeepawife，andservants，andchildren，andinsuremylifeforfivethousandpounds"——

"Oh，thatissolikepapa。Heisdirectorofaninsurancecompany，soalltheworldmustinsuretheirlives。"

"No，dear，hewasquiterightthere:professionalincomesaremostprecarious。Deathsparesneitheryoungnorold，neitherwarmheartsnorcold。IshouldbenotruephysicianifIcouldnotseemyownmortality。"Hehunghisheadandponderedamoment，thenwenton，sadly，"Itallcomestothis——untilIhaveaprofessionalincomeofeighthundredayearatleast，hewillnothearofourmarrying；andthecruelthingis，hewillnotevenconsenttoanengagement。But，"saidtherejected，withalookofsadanxiety，"youwillwaitformewithoutthat，dearRosa?"

Shecouldgivehimthatcomfort，andshegaveithimwithlovingearnestness。"OfcourseIwill；anditshallnotbeverylong。

Whilstyouaremakingyourfortune，topleasepapa，Iwillkeepfretting，andpouting，andcrying，tillhesendsforyou。"

"Blessyou，dearest!Stop!——nottomakeyourselfill!notforalltheworld。"Theloverandthephysicianspokeinturn。

Hecame，allgratitude，toherside，andtheysat，handinhand，comfortingeachother:indeed，partingwassuchsweetsorrowthattheysat，handed，andveryclosetooneanother，tillMr。Lusignan，whothoughtfiveminutesquiteenoughforrationalbeingstotakeleavein，walkedintotheroomandsurprisedthem。Atsightofhisgrayheadandiron-grayeyebrows，ChristopherStainesstartedupandlookedconfused；hethoughtsomeapologynecessary，sohefalteredout，"Forgiveme，sir；itisabitterpartingtome，youmaybesure。"

Rosa"sbosomheavedatthesesimplewords。Sheflewtoherfather，andcried，"Oh，papa!papa!youwerenevercruelbefore；"andhidherburningfaceonhisshoulder；andthenburstoutcrying，partlyforChristopher，partlybecauseshewasnowashamedofherselfforhavingtakenayoungman"spartsoopenly。

Mr。Lusignanlookedsadlydiscomposedatthisoutburst:shehadtakenhimbyhisweakpoint；hetoldherso。"Now，Rosa，"saidhe，ratherpeevishly，"youknowIhate——noise。"

Rosahadactuallyforgottenthattraitforasinglemoment；but，beingremindedofit，shereducedhersobsintheprettiestway，nottooffendatenderparentwhocouldnotbearnoise。Underthishomelyterm，youmustknow，heincludedallscenes，disturbances，rumpuses，passions；andexpectedallmen，women，andthingsinKentVillatogosmoothly——orgoelsewhere。

"Come，youngpeople，"saidhe，"don"tmakeadisturbance。Where"sthegrievance?HaveIsaidheshallnevermarryyou?HaveI

forbiddenhimtocorrespond?oreventocall，saytwiceayear。

AllIsayis，nomarriage，norcontractofmarriage，untilthereisanincome。"ThenheturnedtoChristopher。"Nowifyoucan"tmakeanincomewithouther，howcouldyoumakeonewithher，weigheddownbytheloadofexpensesawifeentails?Iknowherbetterthanyoudo；sheisagoodgirl，butratherluxuriousandself-

indulgent。Sheisnotcutoutforapoorman"swife。Andpraydon"tgoandfancythatnobodylovesmychildbutyou。Mineisnotsohotasyours，ofcourse；butbelieveme，sir，itislessselfish。Youwouldexposehertopovertyandmisery；butIsayno；

itismydutytoprotectherfromallchanceofthem；and，indoingit，Iamasmuchyourfriendashers，ifyoucouldbutseeit。

Come，Dr。Staines，beaman，andseetheworldasitis。Ihavetoldyouhowtoearnmydaughter"shandandmyesteem:youmustgainboth，orneither。"

Dr。Staineswasneverquitedeaftoreason:henowputhishandtohisbrowandsaid，withasortofwonderandpitifuldismay，"MyloveforRosaselfish!Sir，yourwordsarebitterandhard。"

Then，afterastruggle，andwithrareandtouchingcandor，"Ay，butsoarebarkandsteel；yettheyaregoodmedicines。"Thenwithagreatglowinhisheartandtearsinhiseyes，"Mydarlingshallnotbeapoorman"swife，shewhowouldadornacoronet，ay，oracrown。Good-by，Rosa，forthepresent。"Hedartedtoher，andkissedherhandwithallhissoul。"Oh，thesacrificeofleavingyou，"hefaltered；"theveryworldisdarktomewithoutyou。Ah，well，Imustearntherighttocomeagain。"Hesummonedallhismanhood，andmarchedtothedoor。Thereheseemedtoturncalmerallofasudden，andsaidfirmly，yethumbly，"I"lltryandshowyou，sir，whatlovecando。"

"AndI"llshowyouwhatlovecansuffer，"saidRosa，foldingherbeautifularmssuperbly。

Itwasnotinhertohaveshotsuchabolt，exceptinimitation；

yethowpromptlythemimicthundercame，andhowgrandthebeautylooked，withherdarkbrows，andflashingeyes，andfoldedarms!

muchgranderandmoreinspiredthanpoorStaines，whohadonlyfurnishedtheidea。

Butbetweenthesetwofiguresswellingwithemotion，therepresentativeofcommonsense，Lusignanpere，stoodcoolandimpassive；heshruggedhisshoulders，andlookedonbothloversasacoupleofrantingnoviceshewassavingfromeachotherandalmshouses。

Forallthat，whentheloverhadtornhimselfaway，papa"scomposurewassuddenlydisturbedbyamisgiving。Hesteppedhastilytothestairhead，andgaveitvent。"Dr。Staines，"saidhe，inaloudwhisper(Staineswashalfwaydownthestairs:hestopped)。"Itrusttoyouasagentleman，nottomentionthis；itwillnevertranspirehere。Whateverwedo——nonoise!"

CHAPTERII。

RosaLusignansetherselfpiningasshehadpromised；andshediditdiscreetlyforsoyoungaperson。Shewasneverpeevish，butalwayssadandlistless。Bythismeansshedidnotangerherparent，butonlymadehimfeelshewasunhappy，andthehouseshehadhithertobrightenedexceedingdismal。

Bydegreesthisnoiselessmelancholyunderminedtheoldgentleman，andhewell-nightottered。

Butoneday，callingsuddenlyonaneighborwithsixdaughters，heheardpealsoflaughter，andfoundRosatakingherfullshareofthesenselessmirth。Shepulledupshortatsightofhim，andcoloredhigh；butitwastoolate，forhelaunchedaknowinglookatheronthespot，andmutteredsomethingaboutsevenfoolishvirgins。

Hetookthefirstopportunity，whentheywerealone，andtoldherhewasgladtofindshewasonlydismalathome。

ButRosahadpreparedforhim。"Onecanbeloudwithoutbeinggayatheart，"saidshe，withalofty，languidair。"IhavenotforgottenyourlastwordstoHIM。Weweretohideourbrokenheartsfromtheworld。Itrytoobeyyou，dearpapa；but，ifIhadmyway，Iwouldnevergointotheworldatall。Ihavebutonedesirenow——toendmydaysinaconvent。"

"Pleasebeginthemfirst。Aconvent!Why，you"dturnitoutofwindow。Youarenomorefittobeanunthan——apauper。"

Nothavingforeseenthisfacer，Rosahadnothingready；soshereceiveditwithasad，submissive，helplesssigh，aswhowouldsay，"Hitme，papa:Ihavenofriendnow。"Sothenhewassorryhehadbeensoclever；and，indeed，thereisoneprovokingthingabout"awoman"sweakness"——itisinvincible。

Thenextminute，whatshouldcomebutalongletterfromDr。

Staines，detailinghisendeavorstopurchaseapracticeinLondon，andhisill-success。Theletterspokethelanguageofloveandhope；butthefactswerediscouraging；and，indeed，atouchingsadnesspiercedthroughtheveilofthebravewords。

Rosareaditagainandagain，andcriedoveritbeforeherfather，toencouragehiminhisheartlessbehavior。

Abouttendaysafterthis，somethingoccurredthatalteredhermood。

Shebecamegraveandthoughtful，butnolongerlugubrious。Sheseemeddesiroustoatonetoherfatherforhavingdisturbedhischeerfulness。Shesmiledaffectionatelyonhim，andoftensatonastoolathisknee，andglidedherhandintohis。

Hewasnotalittlepleased，andsaidtohimself，"Sheiscomingroundtocommon-sense。"

Now，onthecontrary，shewasfartherfromitthanever。

Atlasthegottheclew。OneafternoonhemetMr。Wymancomingoutofthevilla。Mr。Wymanwastheconsultingsurgeonofthatpart。

"What!anybodyill?"saidMr。Lusignan。"Oneoftheservants?"

"No；itisMissLusignan。"

"Why，whatisthematterwithher?"

Wymanhesitated。"Oh，nothingveryalarming。Wouldyoumindaskingher?"

"Why?"

"Thefactis，sherequestedmenottotellyou:mademepromise。"

"AndIinsistuponyourtellingme。"

"AndIthinkyouarequiteright，sir，asherfather。Well，sheistroubledwithalittlespittingofblood。"

Mr。Lusignanturnedpale。"Mychild!spittingofblood!Godforbid!"

"Oh，donotalarmyourself。Itisnothingserious。"

"Don"ttellme!"saidthefather。"Itisalwaysserious。Andshekeptthisfromme!"

Maskinghisagitationforthetime，heinquiredhowoftenithadoccurred，thisgravesymptom。

"Threeorfourtimesthislastmonth。ButImayaswelltellyouatonce:Ihaveexaminedhercarefully，andIdonotthinkitisfromthelungs。"

"Fromthethroat，then?"

"No；fromtheliver。Everythingpointstothatorganastheseatofderangement:notthatthereisanylesion；onlyatendencytocongestion。Iamtreatingheraccordingly，andhavenodoubtoftheresult。"

"Whoistheablestphysicianhereabouts?"askedLusignan，abruptly。

"Dr。Snell，Ithink。"

"Givemehisaddress。"

"I"llwritetohim，ifyoulike，andappointaconsultation。"Headded，withvastbutrathersuddenalacrity，"Itwillbeagreatsatisfactiontomyownmind。"

"Thensendtohim，ifyouplease，andlethimbehereto-morrowmorning；ifnot，IshalltakehertoLondonforadviceatonce。"

Onthisunderstandingtheyparted，andLusignanwentatoncetohisdaughter。"Omychild!"saidhe，deeplydistressed，"howcouldyouhidethisfromme?"

"Hidewhat，papa?"saidthegirl，lookingthepictureofunconsciousness。

"Thatyouhavebeenspittingblood。"

"Whotoldyouthat?"saidshe，sharply。

"Wyman。Heisattendingyou。"

Rosacoloredwithanger。"Chatterbox!Hepromisedmefaithfullynotto。"

"Butwhy，inHeaven"sname?What!wouldyoutrustthisterriblethingtoastranger，andhideitfromyourpoorfather?"