第3章
加入书架 A- A+
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  \"Andaprettysubjectitis!\"

  Dr。StainestheninvitedMr。Lusignantohislodgings,andpromisedtoexplainthematteranatomically。\"Meantime,\"saidhe,\"wouldyoubegoodenoughtoputyourhandstomywaist,asIdidtothepatient\'s。\"

  Mr。Lusignancomplied;andthepatientbegantotitterdirectly,toputthemoutofcountenance。

  \"PleaseobservewhattakesplacewhenIdrawafullbreath。

  \"Nowapplythesametesttothepatient。Breatheyourbest,please,MissLusignan。\"

  Thepatientputonafacefullofsaucymutiny。

  \"Toobligeusboth。\"

  \"Oh,howtiresome!\"

  \"Iamawareitisratherlaborious,\"saidStaines,alittledryly;

  \"buttoobligeyourfather!\"

  \"Oh,anythingtoobligepapa,\"saidshe,spitefully。\"There!AndIdohopeitwillbethelast——la!no;Idon\'thopethat,neither。\"

  Dr。Stainespolitelyignoredherlittleattemptstointerrupttheargument。\"Youfound,sir,thatthemusclesofmywaist,andmyintercostalribsthemselves,roseandfellwitheachinhalationandexhalationofairbythelungs。\"

  \"Idid;butmydaughter\'swaistwaslikedeadwood,andsowereherlowerribs。\"

  Atthisvolunteerstatement,Rosacoloredtohertemples。\"Thanks,papa!PackmeofftoLondon,andsellmeforabigdoll!\"

  \"Inotherwords,\"saidthelecturer,mildandpertinacious,\"withusthelungshaveroomtoblow,andthewholebonyframeexpandselasticwiththem,likethewoodworkofablacksmith\'sbellows;butwiththispatient,andmanyofhersex,thatnobleanddivinelyframedbellowsiscrippledandconfinedbyapowerfulmachineofhumanconstruction;soitworkslamelyandfeebly:consequentlytoolittleair,andofcoursetoolittleoxygen,passesthroughthatspongyorganwhoseverylifeisair。Nowmarkthespecialresultinthiscase:beingotherwisehealthyandvigorous,ourpatient\'ssystemsendsintothelungsmorebloodthanthatonecrippledorgancandealwith;asmallquantitybecomesextravasatedatoddtimes;

  itaccumulates,andwouldbecomedangerous;thenNature,strengthenedbysleep,andbysomehours\'relieffromthediabolicalengine,makesaneffortandflingsitoff:thatiswhythehemorrhagecomesinthemorning,andwhysheisthebetterforit,feelingneitherfaintnorsick,butrelievedofaweight。

  This,sir,istherationaleofthecomplaint;anditistoyouI

  mustlookforthecure。Tojudgefrommyotherfemalepatients,andfromthefewwordsMissLusignanhasletfall,Ifearwemustnotcountonanyveryheartyco-operationfromher:butyouareherfather,andhavegreatauthority;Iconjureyoutouseittothefull,asyouonceusedit——tomysorrow——inthisveryroom。Iamforgettingmycharacter。Iwasaskedhereonlyasherphysician。

  Good-evening。\"

  Hegavealittlegulp,andhurriedaway,withanabruptnessthattouchedthefatherandoffendedthesapientdaughter。

  However,Mr。Lusignanfollowedhim,andstoppedhimbeforeheleftthehouse,andthankedhimwarmly;andtohissurprise,beggedhimtocallagaininadayortwo。

  \"Well,Rosa,whatdoyousay?\"

  \"IsaythatIamveryunfortunateinmydoctors。Mr。Wymanisachatterboxandknowsnothing。Dr。SnellisMr。Wyman\'secho。

  Christopherisagenius,andtheyarealwaysfullofcrotchets。A

  prettydoctor!Goneaway,andnotprescribedforme!\"

  Mr。Lusignanadmitteditwasodd。\"But,afterall,\"saidhe,\"ifmedicinedoesyounogood?\"

  \"Ah!butanymedicineHEhadprescribedwouldhavedonemegood,andthatmakesitalltheunkinder。\"

  \"Ifyouthinksohighlyofhisskill,whynottakehisadvice?Itcandonoharm。\"

  \"Noharm?Why,ifIwastoleavethemoffIshouldcatchadreadfulcold;andthatwouldbesuretosettleonmychest,andcarrymeoff,inmypresentdelicatestate。Besides,itissounfemininenottowearthem。\"

  ThisstaggeredMr。Lusignan,andhewasafraidtopressthepoint;

  butwhatStaineshadsaidfermentedinhismind。

  Dr。SnellandMr。Wymancontinuedtheirvisitsandtheirprescriptions。

  Thepatientgotalittleworse。

  Mr。LusignanhopedChristopherwouldcallagain,buthedidnot。

  WhenDr。Staineshadsatisfiedhimselfthatthedisorderwaseasilycurable,thenwoundedpridefoundanentranceevenintohislovingheart。Thattwostrangersshouldhavebeenconsultedbeforehim!

  Hewasonlysentforbecausetheycouldnotcureher。

  Asheseemedinnohurrytorepeathisvisit,Mr。Lusignancalledonhim,andsaid,politely,hehadhopedtoreceiveanothercallerethis。\"Personally,\"saidhe,\"Iwasmuchstruckwithyourobservations;butmydaughterisafraidshewillcatchcoldifsheleavesoffhercorset,andthat,youknow,mightbeveryserious。\"

  Dr。Stainesgroaned,and,whenhehadgroaned,helectured。

  \"Femalepatientsarewonderfullymonotonousinthismatter;theyhaveaprogrammeofevasions;andwhetherthepatientisaladyorahousemaid,sheseldomvariesfromthatprogramme。Youfindherbreathinglife\'sairwithhalfabellows,andyoutellherso。

  \'Oh,no,\'saysshe;anddoesthegiganticfeatofcontractionwewitnessedthateveningatyourhouse。But,oninquiry,youlearnthereisarawredlineploughedinherfleshbythecruelstays。

  \'Whatisthat?\'youask,andflatteryourselfyouhavepinnedher。

  Notabit。\'Thatwasthelastpair。Ichangedthem,becausetheyhurtme。\'Drivenoutofthatbyproofsofrecentlaceration,theysay,\'IfIleavethemoffIshouldcatchmydeathofcold,\'whichisequivalenttosayingthereisnoflannelintheshops,nocommonsensenorneedlesathome。\"

  HethenlaidbeforehimsomelargeFrenchplates,showingtheorgansofthehumantrunk,andbadehimobserveinhowsmallaspace,andwithwhatskill,theCreatorhaspackedsomanylargeyetdelicateorgans,sothattheyshouldbefreeandsecurefromfriction,thoughsoclosetoeachother。Heshowedhimtheliver,anorganweighingfourpounds,andoflargecircumference;thelungs,averylargeorgan,suspendedinthechestandimpatientofpressure;theheart,thestomach,thespleen,allofthemtoocloselyandartfullypackedtobearanyfurthercompression。

  Havingthustakenhimbytheeye,hetookhimbythemind。

  \"IsitasmallthingforthecreaturetosaytoherCreator,\'Icanpackallthisegg-chinabetterthanyoucan,\'andthereupontojamallthosevitalorgansclose,byapowerful,averypowerfulandingeniousmachine?Isitasmallthingforthatsex,which,forgoodreasons,theOmniscienthasmadelargerinthewaistthanthemale,tosaytoherCreator,\'Youdon\'tknowyourbusiness;womenoughttobesmallerinthewaistthanmen,andshallbethroughoutthecivilizedworld\'?\"

  Inshort,hedeliveredsomanytrueandpointedthingsonthistritesubject,thattheoldgentlemanwasconvinced,andbeggedhimtocomeoverthatveryeveningandconvinceRosa。

  Dr。Stainesshookhisheaddolefully,andallhisfirediedoutofhimathavingtofacethefair。\"Reasonwillbewasted。Authorityistheonlyweapon。Myprofessionandmyreadinghavebothtaughtmethatthewholecharacterofhersexundergoesachangethemomentamaninterfereswiththeirdress。FromChaucer\'sdaytoourown,neitherpublicsatirenorprivateremonstrancehasevershakenanyoftheirmonstrousfashions。Easy,obliging,pliable,andweakerofwillthanmeninotherthings,dobuttouchtheirdress,howeverobjectionable,androckisnotharder,ironisnotmorestubborn,thanthesesoftandyieldingcreatures。Itisnoearthlyusemycoming——I\'llcome。\"

  Hecamethatveryevening,andsawdirectlyshewasworse。\"Ofcourse,\"saidhe,sadly,\"youhavenottakenmyadvice。\"

  Rosarepliedwithatossandanevasion,\"Iwasnotworthaprescription!\"

  \"Aphysiciancanprescribewithoutsendinghispatienttothedruggist;andwhenhedoes,thenitishiswordsaregold。\"

  Rosashookherheadwithanairofloftyincredulity。

  HelookedruefullyatMr。Lusignanandwassilent。Rosasmiledsarcastically;shethoughthewasathiswit\'send。

  Notquite:hewascudgellinghisbrainsinsearchofsomehorriblyunscientificargument,thatmightprevail;forhefeltsciencewouldfalldeaduponsofairanantagonist。Atlasthiseyekindled;hehadhitonanargumentunscientificenoughforanybody,hethought。Saidhe,ingratiatingly,\"YoubelievetheOldTestament?\"

  \"OfcourseIdo,everysyllable。\"

  \"Andthelessonsitteaches?\"

  \"Certainly!\"

  \"Thenletmetellyouastoryfromthatbook。ASyriangeneralhadaterribledisease。HeconsultedElishabydeputy。Elishasaid,\'Batheseventimesinacertainriver,Jordan,andyouwillgetwell。\'Thegeneraldidnotlikethisatall;hewantedaprescription;wantedtogotothedruggist;didn\'tbelieveinhydropathytobegin,and,inanycase,turneduphisnoseatJordan。What!batheinanIsraelitishbrook,whenhisowncountryboastednoblerivers,withareputationforsanctityintothebargain?Inshort,hepreferredhisleprosytosuchirregularmedicine。Butithappened,bysomeimmensefortuity,thatoneofhisservants,thoughanOriental,wasafriend,insteadofaflatterer;andthissensiblefellowsaid,\'Iftheprophettoldyoutodosomegreatanddifficultthing,togetridofthisfearfulmalady,wouldnotyoudoit,howeverdistasteful?andcanyouhesitatewhenhemerelysays,WashintheJordan,andbehealed?\'

  Thegenerallistenedtogoodsense,andcuredhimself。Yourcaseisparallel。Youwouldtakequantitiesoffoulmedicine;youwouldsubmittosomepainfuloperation,iflifeandhealthdependedonit;thenwhynotdoasmallthingforagreatresult?Youhaveonlytotakeoffanunnaturalmachinewhichcripplesyourgrowingframe,andwasunknowntoeveryoneofthewomenwhoseformsinParianmarbletheworldadmires。Offwiththatmonstrosity,andyourcureisascertainastheSyriangeneral\'s;thoughscience,andnotinspiration,dictatestheeasyremedy。\"

  Rosahadlistenedimpatiently,andnowrepliedwithsomewarmth,\"Thisisshockinglyprofane。TheideaofcomparingyourselftoElisha,andmetoahorridleper!Muchobliged!NotthatIknowwhataleperis。\"

  \"Come,come!thatisnotfair,\"saidMr。Lusignan。\"Heonlycomparedthesituation,notthepeople。\"

  \"But,papa,theBibleisnottobedraggedintothecommonaffairsoflife。\"

  \"Thenwhatonearthistheuseofit?\"

  \"Oh,papa!Well,itisnotSunday,butIhavehadasermon。Thisistheclergyman,andyouarethecommentator——he!he!Andsonowletusgobackfromdivinitytomedicine。Irepeat\"thiswasthefirsttimeshehadsaidit\"thatmyotherdoctorsgivemerealprescriptions,writteninhieroglyphics。Youcan\'tlookatthemwithoutfeelingthereMUSTbesomethinginthem。\"

  AnangryspotroseonChristopher\'scheek,butheonlysaid,\"Andareyourotherdoctorssatisfiedwiththeprogressyourdisorderismakingundertheirsuperintendence?\"

  \"Perfectly!Papa,tellhimwhattheysay,andI\'llfindhimtheirprescriptions。\"Shewenttoadrawer,andrummaged,affectingnottolisten。

  Lusignancomplied。\"Firstofall,sir,Imusttellyoutheyareconfidentitisnotthelungs,buttheliver。\"

  \"Thewhat!\"shoutedChristopher。

  \"Ah!\"screamedRosa。\"Oh,don\'t!——bawling!\"

  \"Anddon\'tyouscreech,\"saidherfather,withalookofmiseryandapprehensionimpartiallydistributedontheresoundingpair。

  \"Youmusthavemisunderstoodthem,\"murmuredStaines,inavoicethatwasnowbarelyaudibleayardoff。\"Thehemorrhageofabrightredcolor,andexpelledwithouteffortornausea?\"

  \"Fromtheliver——theyhaveassuredmeagainandagain,\"saidLusignan。

  Christopher\'sfacestillworealookofblankamazement,tillRosaherselfconfirmeditpositively。

  Thenhecastalookofagonyuponher,andstartedupinapassion,forgettingoncemorethathishostabhorredthesonorous。\"Oh,shame!shame!\"hecried,\"thatthenobleprofessionofmedicineshouldbedisgracedbyignorancesuchasthis。\"Thenhesaid,sternly,\"Sir,donotmistakemymotives;butIdeclinetohaveanythingfurthertodowiththiscase,untilthosetwogentlemenhavebeenrelievedofit;and,asthisisveryharsh,andonmypartunprecedented,IwillgiveyouonereasonoutofmanyICOULD

  giveyou。Sir,thereisnoroadfromthelivertothethroatbywhichbloodcantravelinthisway,defyingthelawsofgravity;

  andtheyknew,fromthepatient,thatnostrongexpellentforcehaseverbeeninoperation。Theirdiagnosis,therefore,impliesagnosis,orignorancetoogreattobeforgiven。Iwillnotsharemypatientwithtwogentlemenwhoknowsolittleofmedicine,andknownothingofanatomy,whichistheABCofmedicine。CanIseetheirprescriptions?\"

  Thesewerehandedtohim。\"Goodheavens!\"saidhe,\"haveyoutakenallthese?\"

  \"Mostofthem。\"

  \"Why,thenyouhavedrunkabouttwogallonsofunwholesomeliquids,andeatenapoundortwoofunwholesomesolids。Thesemedicineshaveco-operatedwiththemalady。Thedisorderlies,notinthehemorrhage,butintheprecedentextravasationthatisadrainonthesystem;andhowisthelosstobesupplied?Why,bytakingalittlemorenourishmentthanbefore;thereisnootherway;andprobablyNature,lefttoherself,mighthaveincreasedyourappetitetomeettheoccasion。ButthosetwoworthieshavestruckthatweaponoutofNature\'shand;theyhavepepperedawayatthepoorill-usedstomachwithdrugsanddraughts,notverydeleteriousIgrantyou,butallmoreorlessindigestible,andalltending,nottowhettheappetite,buttoclogthestomach,orturnthestomach,orpesterthestomach,andsoimpairtheappetite,andsoco-operate,indirectly,withthemalady。\"

  \"Thisisgoodsense,\"saidLusignan。\"Ideclare,I——IwishIknewhowtogetridofthem。\"

  \"Oh,I\'lldothat,papa。\"

  \"No,no;itisnotwortharumpus。\"

  \"I\'lldoittoopolitelyforthat。Christopher,youareveryclever——TERRIBLYclever。WheneverIthrewtheirmedicinesaway,I

  wasalwaysalittlebetterthatday。Iwillsacrificethemtoyou。

  ItISasacrifice。Theyarebothsokindandchatty,anddon\'tgrudgemehieroglyphics;nowyoudo。\"

  ShesatdownandwrotetwosweetletterstoDr。SnellandMr。

  Wyman,thankingthemforthegreatattentiontheyhadpaidher;butfindingherselfgettingsteadilyworse,inspiteofalltheyhaddoneforher,sheproposedtodiscontinuehermedicinesforatime,andtrychangeofair。

  \"Andsupposetheycalltoseewhetheryouarechangingtheair?\"

  \"Inthatcase,papa——\'notathome。\'\"

  Thenoteswereaddressedanddespatched。

  ThenDr。Stainesbrightenedup,andsaidtoLusignan,\"IamnowhappytotellyouthatIhaveoverratedthemalady。ThesadchangeIseeinMissLusignanispartlyduetothegreatbulkofunwholesomeesculentsshehasbeeneatinganddrinkingundertheheadofmedicines。Thesediscontinued,shemightlingeronforyears,existing,thoughnotliving——thetight-lacedcannotbesaidtolive。Butifshewouldbehealthyandhappy,letherthrowthatdiabolicalmachineintothefire。Itisnouseaskinghertoloosenit;shecan\'t。Oncethere,thetemptationistoostrong。

  Offwithit,and,takemyword,youwillbeoneofthehealthiestandmostvigorousyoungladiesinEurope。\"

  Rosalookedrueful,andalmostsullen。Shesaidshehadpartedwithherdoctorsforhim,butshereallycouldnotgoaboutwithoutstays。\"Theyareaslooseastheycanbe。See!\"

  \"Thatpartoftheprogrammeisdisposedof,\"saidChristopher。

  \"PleasegoontoNo。2。Howabouttherawredlinewheretheloosemachinehassawedyou?\"

  \"Whatredline?Nosuchthing!Somebodyorotherhasbeenpeepinginatmywindow。I\'llhavetheivycutdownto-morrow。\"

  \"Simpleton!\"saidMr。Lusignan,angrily。\"Youhaveletthecatoutofthebag。Thereissuchamark,then,andthisextraordinaryyoungmanhasdiscerneditwiththeeyeofscience。\"

  \"Heneverdiscerneditatall,\"saidRosa,redasfire;\"and,whatismore,heneverwill。\"

  \"Idon\'twantto。Ishouldbeverysorryto。Ihopeitwillbegoneinaweek。\"

  \"IwishYOUweregonenow——exposingmeinthiscruelway,\"saidRosa,angrywithherselfforhavingsaidanidioticthing,andfuriouswithhimforhavingmadehersayit。

  \"Oh,Rosa!\"saidChristopher,inavoiceoftenderestreproach。

  ButMr。Lusignaninterferedpromptly。\"Rosa,nonoise。Iwillnothaveyousnappingatyourbestfriendandmine。Ifyouareexcited,youhadbetterretiretoyourownroomandcomposeyourself。Ihateaclamor。\"

  Rosamadeawryfaceatthisrebuke,andthenbegantocryquietly。

  EverytearwaslikeadropofbloodfromChristopher\'sheart。

  \"Praydon\'tscoldher,sir,\"saidhe,readytosnivelhimself。

  \"Shemeantnothingunkind:itisonlyherprettysprightlyway;andshedidnotreallyimaginealovesoreverentasmine\"——

  \"Don\'tYOUinterferebetweenmyfatherandme,\"saidthisreasonableyounglady,nowinanungovernablestateoffeminineirritability。

  \"No,Rosa,\"saidChristopher,humbly。\"Mr。Lusignan,\"saidhe,\"I

  hopeyouwilltellherthat,fromtheveryfirst,IwasunwillingtoenteronthissubjectwithHER。NeithershenorIcanforgetmydoublecharacter。IhavenotsaidhalfasmuchtoherasIought,beingherphysician;andyetyouseeIhavesaidmorethanshecanbearfromme,who,sheknows,loveherandrevereher。Then,onceforall,doprayletmeputthisdelicatematterintoyourhands:

  itisacaseforparentalauthority。\"

  \"Unfatherlytyranny,thatmeans,\"saidRosa。\"Whatbusinesshavegentlemeninterferinginsuchthings?Itisunheardof。Iwillnotsubmittoit,evenfrompapa。\"

  \"Well,youneednotscreamatme,\"saidMr。Lusignan;andheshruggedhisshoulderstoStaines。\"Sheisimpracticable,yousee。

  IfIdomyduty,therewillbeadisturbance。\"

  NowthisrousedthebileofDr。Staines。\"What,sir!\"saidhe,\"youcouldseparateherandmebyyourauthority,hereinthisveryroom;andyet,whenherlifeisatstake,youabdicate!Youcouldpartherfromamanwholovedherwitheverydropofhisheart,——

  andshesaidshelovedhim,or,atallevents,preferredhimtoothers,——andyoucannotpartherfromamiserablecorset,althoughyouseeinherpoorwastedfacethatitiscarryinghertothechurchyard。Inthatcase,sir,thereisbutonethingforyoutodo,——withdrawyouroppositionandletmemarryher。AsherloverI

  ampowerless;butinvestmewithahusband\'sauthority,andyouwillsoonseetherosesreturntohercheek,andherelasticfigureexpanding,andhereyebeamingwithhealthandthehappinessthatcomesofperfecthealth。\"

  Mr。Lusignanmadeananswerneitherofhishearersexpected。Hesaid,\"Ihaveagreatmindtotakeyouatyourword。IamtoooldandfondofquiettodriveaSimpletoninsingleharness。\"

  Thiscontemptuousspeech,and,aboveall,thewordSimpleton,whichhadbeenappliedtoherprettyfreelybyyoungladiesatschool,andalwaysgalledherterribly,inflictedsointolerableawoundonRosa\'svanity,thatshewasreadytoburst:onthat,ofcourse,herstayscontributedtheirmiteofphysicaluneasiness。Thusirritatedmindandbody,sheburnedtostrikeinreturn;andasshecouldnotslapherfatherinthepresenceofanother,shegaveitChristopherback-handed。

  \"Youcanturnmeoutofdoors,\"saidshe,\"ifyouaretiredofyourdaughter,butIamnotsuchaSIMPLETONastomarryatyrant。No;

  hehasshowntheclovenfootintime。Ahusband\'sAUTHORITY,indeed!\"Thensheturnedherhand,andgaveithimdirect。\"Youtoldmeadifferentstorywhenyouwerepayingyourcourttome;

  thenyouweretobemyservant,——allhypocriticalsweetness。YouhadbettergoandmarryaCircassianslave。Theydon\'twearstays,andtheydoweartrousers;soshewillbeunfeminineenough,evenforyou。NoEnglishladywouldletherhusbanddictatetoheraboutsuchathing。IcanhaveasmanyhusbandsasIlike,withoutfallingintotheclutchesofatyrant。Youarearude,indelicate——

  Andsopleaseunderstanditisalloverbetweenyouandme。\"

  Bothherauditorsstoodaghast,forsheutteredthisconclusionwithadignityofwhichtheopeninggavenopromise,andtheoccasion,weighedinmasculinebalances,wasnotworthy。

  \"Youdonotmeanthat。Youcannotmeanit,\"saidDr。Staines,aghast。

  \"Idomeanit,\"saidshe,firmly;\"and,ifyouareagentleman,youwillnotcompelmetosayittwice——threetimes,Imean。\"

  Atthisdagger-strokeChristopherturnedverypale,buthemaintainedhisdignity。\"Iamagentleman,\"saidhe,quietly,\"andaveryunfortunateone。Good-by,sir;thankyoukindly。Good-by,Rosa;Godblessyou!Oh,praytakeathought!Remember,yourlifeanddeathareinyourownhandnow。Iampowerless。\"

  Andheleftthehouseinsorrow,andjust,butnotpettish,indignation。

  Whenhewasgone,fatheranddaughterlookedateachother,andtherewasthesilencethatsucceedsastorm。

  Rosa,feelingthemostuneasy,wasthefirsttoexpresshersatisfaction。\"There,HEisgone,andIamgladofit。NowyouandIshallneverquarrelagain。Iwasquiteright。Suchimpertinence!Suchindelicacy!AfineprospectformeifIhadmarriedsuchaman!However,heisgone,andsothere\'sanendofit。Theidea!tellingayounglady,beforeherfather,sheistight-laced!IfyouhadnotbeenthereIcouldhaveforgivenhim。

  ButIamnot;itisastory。Now,\"suddenlyexaltinghervoice,\"I

  knowyoubelievehim。\"

  \"Isaynothing,\"whisperedpapa,hopingtostillherbyexample。

  Thisrusedidnotsucceed。

  \"Butyoulookvolumes,\"criedshe:\"andIcan\'tbearit。Iwon\'tbearit。Ifyoudon\'tbelieveME,askmyMAID。\"Andwiththisfelicitousspeech,sherangthebell。

  \"You\'llbreakthewireifyoudon\'tmind,\"suggestedherfather,piteously。

  \"Allthebetter!Whyshouldnotwiresbebrokenaswellasmyheart?Oh,heresheis!Now,Harriet,comehere。\"

  \"Yes,miss。\"

  \"Andtellthetruth。AMItight-laced?\"

  Harrietlookedinherfaceamomenttoseewhatwasrequiredofher,andthensaid,\"Thatyouarenot,miss。Ineverdressedayoungladyaswore\'emeasierthanyoudo。\"

  \"There,papa!Thatwilldo,Harriet。\"

  Harrietretiredasfarasthekeyhole;shesawsomethingwasup。

  \"Now,\"saidRosa,\"youseeIwasright;and,afterall,itwasamatchyoudidnotapprove。Well,itisallover,andnowyoumaywritetoyourfavorite,ColonelBright。Ifhecomeshere,I\'llboxhisoldears。Ihatehim。Ihatethemall。Forgiveyourwaywardgirl。I\'llstaywithyouallmydays。Idaresaythatwillnotbelong,nowIhavequarrelledwithmyguardianangel;andallforwhat?Papa!papa!howCANyousitthereandnotspeakmeonewordofcomfort?\'SIMPLETON?\'Ah!thatIamtothrowawayaloveaqueenisscarcelyworthyof;andallforwhat?Really,ifitwasn\'tfortheingratitudeandwickednessofthething,itistoolaughable。Ha!ha!——oh!oh!oh!——ha!ha!ha!\"

  Andoffshewentintohysterics,andbegantogulpandchokefrightfully。

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