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；settleinLondonTHATshehadquitedeterminedlongago；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，inaloudwhisperStaineswashalfwaydownthestairs: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?\"