Mr. Simpson

“ Simpson, painfully conscious of his friend's regards.
“Nothing,” said the girl, “nothing. Only we can all be better, can't we? He's a nice old gentleman; so simple.”
“Don't know you from Adam,” said Mr. Mills, as she turned away. “Now, if you ask me, I don't believe as your own missis will recognize you.”
“Rubbish,” said Mr. Simpson. “My wife would know me anywhere. We've been married over thirty years. Thirty years of sunshine and shadow together. You're a single man, and don't understand these things.”
“P'r'aps you're right,” said his friend. ”

“ De Lys turned. “Certainly, sir,” he acquiesced, and departed through the baize door in search of the butler. He found him alone in the kitchen, for seemingly the other servants were in bed, and saluted him genially.
“I dare say we can make ourselves comfortable, Mr. Simpson,” he insinuated. “A drop of something, eh? I suppose you've got a steward's pantry handy, seeing your position, and all that.”
Mr. Simpson took the suggestion well. He was staggered by the presence of this unwelcome visitor, but he had come to close quarters with the gentry before, and he was a man of the world. ”

“ It is possible that a tiger would itself turn tail if a lamb rushed at him with open mouth. And though Mr. Simpson would have tackled a prize-fighter, knowing he was a prize-fighter, the fact that one of the kind of men whom he was accustomed to wipe his boots on now turned upon him with entirely strange language and a still stranger air of authority, for a moment daunted him utterly. He stood still and gasped, while the admiral strode aft and went up the poop ladder. He was met there by the captain, who had been the terror of the seas as a mate. ”

“ Simpson undid her bonnet-strings, fairly turned her back on my father, and was quite unconscious when Martha handed the potatoes; and she left us wreathed in smiles, and resolved that Mr. Simpson should buy their son Horace a commission instead of taking him into the business. Mr. Simpson did not share her views, and I believe he said some rather nasty things about swaggering, and not having one sixpence to rub against another. ”

“ The baronet soothed his conscience, if it ever gave him any uneasiness, by the supposition that the aged mathematician had found some pupils—that probably he eked out as comfortable a subsistence as before, and had only exchanged the dreamy pursuit of scientific fame, for the more practical labours of tuition. But no such fortune attended Mr Simpson. He had lived too long out of the world to find either friends or pupils, and the more manifest his poverty, the more hopeless became his applications. ”

“ Simpson went forward to consult Joe, and came back with enough to hang himself with. He sat down opposite to us, wrapped the rope once round his waist, and then beamed at us over his spectacles.
"Now supposing you had fallen down a well," he began, "and I let this rope down to you, what would you do with YOUR end?"
We thought deeply for a moment.
"I should wait until you were looking over the edge, and then give it a sharp jerk," said Archie.
"One MUST have company in a well," I agreed.
"They're being silly again," apologized Myra. "Tell ME, Mr Simpson! ”

“ You lack the brains and the imagination of Mr. Simpson, Hastings. See here: On Wednesday evening, Simpson decoys away the cook. A printed card anda printed sheet of notepaper are simple matters to obtain, and he is willing to pay a hundred fifty pounds and a year’s house rent to assure the success of his plan. Miss Dunn doesnot recognize him—the beard and the hat and the slight colonial accent completely deceive her. That is the end of Wednesday—except for the trifling fact that Simpson has helped himself to fifty thousand pounds’ worth of negotiable securities. ”

“ The fast young lawyer's smartly furnished office and diamond ring, spoke of a thriving practice; but his old office-coat, his idle hands clasped behind him, his reckless swagger and his insincere face spoke more reliable of shams, and shifts, and unscrupulous quirks to fill the empty purse. Clearly, Mr. Seamore Emersham was a man to be bought with money; and Roland Mortlake was the man to buy him; no disclosures must be made by Margaret Walsingham before him.
"Dr. Gay's letter said to me 'start to-morrow,'" thought she, "but this man's countenance as I read it, warns me to start to-night." ”

“ On the other hand there must be annoying occasions when he starts out to strangle somebody and finds that he's pulling him out of the cistern."
"Why, how delightful, Mr Simpson," said Myra. "Do show us some more."
"Those are the most important ones. Then there are one or two fancy ones. Do you know the Monkey's Claw?"
"Don't touch it," said Archie solemnly. "It's poison."
"Oh, I must show you that."
Joe showed me the Monkey's Claw afterwards, and it is a beautiful thing, but it was not a bit like Simpson's. Simpson must have started badly, and I think he used too much rope. ”

“ With a sudden movement she curled herself up, half sitting, half reclining, in a corner of the davenport, and smoothed the crumpled skirts over her knees.
"Do you mean George?" she asked.
"No," said Merriam, "I mean Mr. Simpson."
"Mister Simpson!" She laughed derisively, not prettily at all. "A waiter!"
"Listen, Jennie. Simpson is a fine fellow, with lots of brains and lots of courage. He has shown both within the last twenty-four hours. He's rendered a very important service to Mr. Rockwell and Senator Norman, and they're going to give him a lot of money for a reward. ”

“ After leaving school, he was employed as errand boy by Matthew Wilson, Esq., the distinguished artist, who soon discovered young Simpson's genius, and took him as an apprentice. In 1854, they removed to Boston, where Mr. Simpson labored diligently to acquire a thorough knowledge of the profession. Mr. Wilson stated to the writer, that he [Pg 202] never had a man who was more attentive or more trustworthy than William H. Simpson. The colored artist has been working in his own studio nearly three years, and has his share of public patronage. ”

“ During my residence in London I made the acquaintance of an American, whom I will call Simpson, and his wife. They had originally been poor, and accustomed to pretty low society. Their opportunities for education had been limited, and they were what we should term vulgar, ignorant, common people. But by a turn of Fortune’s wheel they became suddenly rich, and like some other fools who know nothing of their own country, they must rush to make the tour of Europe.
Mr. Simpson was an ignorant, good-natured fellow, fond of sporting large amounts of jewelry ”

“ You go away."
"I'm your husband, and my place is at home," replied Mr. Simpson. "A man can have a shave if he likes, can't he? Where's my supper?"
"Go on," said his wife. "Keep it up. But be careful my husband don't come in and catch you, that's all."
Mr. Simpson gazed at her fixedly, and then, with an impatient exclamation, walked into the small kitchen and began to set the supper. A joint of cold beef, a jar of pickles, bread, butter, and cheese made an appetizing display. Then he took a jug from the dresser and descended to the cellar. ”

“ Simpson to remove her bonnet and cloak, and placed her in a chair near her own. Mr. Simpson took his accustomed seat, and the four persons drew round the fire, whilst Martha, Mrs. Dobbs's middle-aged servant, set out a little card-table, and disposed the candles on it in two old-fashioned, spindle-shanked, silver candlesticks. It was all done according to long-established custom, which was seldom deviated from in any particular.
"And how are you, dear Mrs. Dobbs?" asked Mrs. Simpson, taking her hostess's hand between both her own. "And dear May—where's May?" ”

“ Mr Simpson, while praised for his fluency, courage, and resource, was not thought equal to his task, [14] and in reading the verbatim report of the debate, one is drawn to the conclusion that he scored his greatest successes when making his greatest jokes.
My father had an unusual number of debates this year, and a little later in the summer was at Darlington discussing with a Mr J. H. Gordon on the question of "Atheism, is it rational?" The proceeds, after paying expenses, were given to the Darlington Hospital. ”

“ Simpson."
And Simpson never had.
"Was it Shanghai Smith, do you think, as put you here?" he asked.
The admiral had heard of Shanghai Smith in the foc'sle.
"When I get back I'll find out," he said. "And if it was, I'll not trouble the law, Mr. Simpson. I never allow any man to handle me without getting more than even."
"You don't," said Simpson. If his manner was dry, it was sincere.
"But I don't bear malice afterwards. Your health, Mr. Simpson. This kind of trade breeds good seamen, after all. But you are all a trifle rough." ”

“ Mr. Simpson, a Boston merchant, was born in Alna, Me. He is a lineal descendiuit of William' Simpson, of Brunswick, Me. The following is a brief ancestral record: — William' Simpson was born in Scotland in 1691. AMien a young man he removed to the north of Ireland with his wife, Agnes Lewis, and their small children, .^bout the year 1728 he came to America, and settled at New Wharf, Brunswick, Me., now known as Simpson's Point. About seven years later his wife came with their_ two daughters, .Mary and Jane, leaving one son, David, with his uncle. ”

“ Simpson volunteers to conduct another expedition, with the view of continuing the survey from the mouth of the Great Fish River to the Straits of the Fury and Hecla. We have much satisfaction in availing ourselves of that gentleman's proffered services: you will therefore be pleased to meet any demands that may be made by Mr. Simpson for men, goods, provisions, craft, &c. ”

“ Udo for his grandmother's sake. You will wait in New York for news of me, won't you?"
Mr. Davenport took her in his arms and handed her into the boat, and swung himself after her.
"Think I'd send you off alone, Miss Margaret?" asked he, with glistening eyes. "By gad, you must think meanly of me."
For the first time her resolution was shaken; she looked at him doubtfully.
"Go back! go back!" she cried, beseechingly. "You must not peril your life for ours."
The old man shook his head and sat down in the thwarts, and the boatman rowed away. ”

“ Madame Hesslein smiled and nodded.
"All New York knows why the sombre English dame is here," she jibed, "for your stupid lawyer has bored the city for news of your Colonel Brand."
"Mr. Davenport only does his duty."
Madame grimaced charmingly.
"Duty!" she mocked. "Oh, Juggernaut of good people's lives, what unwilling victims do ye crush beneath your wheels in your heavenward march?"
"Have you been crushed?" asked Margaret, smiling. ”

“ Moreover, the North American half-breed is, of all races in the world, that which most retains the odium in longum jaciens. Mr. Simpson had, five years before, incurred the animosity of the half-breeds of Red River by inflicting a chastisement on one of them who had grossly insulted him, and they then threatened his life.
Three of his companions were of this race. They saw Mr. Simpson returning to England after having achieved an object important in itself, but of which they even exaggerated the importance ”

“ Udo Brand."
"Captain Brand must come instantly," cried Margaret, and turned sharply upon the quailing ambassador. "Do you hear, sir?"
She paused with a lady's instinct—a lady's aversion to address an unknown man.
"Roland Mortlake, Miss Walsingham," murmured the stranger coming out of his fog.
"Go tell Captain Brand that Mrs. Brand is dying—that she has but a few minutes to live, and that he must come instantly if he would hear her last words. You will remember, Mr. Mortlake? And say the will must be changed, or Captain Brand will be ruined. Tell him that. Now go, for Heaven's sake!" ”

“ I beg your pardon, Mrs. Simpson—I think I’ve seen a Mr. John Eldred. What is he like to look at?’
‘It must be ten years since I saw him: he would be a thin elderly man now, and unless he has shaved them off, he has that sort of whiskers which people used to call Dundreary or Piccadilly something.’
‘—weepers. Yes, that is the man.’
‘Where did you come across him, Mr. Garrett?’
‘I don’t know if I could tell you,’ said Garrett mendaciously, ‘in some public place. ”

“ Davenport upon my future prospects."
"Never mind 'em now, Miss Margaret," said the doctor, kindly. "You are far from strong yet."
"Please summon Mr. Davenport," returned she.
"Stubborn as ever, my dear," grumbled he, laughing. "You're pretty quiet about it, but you will have your way."
"Yes, I must have my way," said Margaret, with a sad smile.
So Dr. Gay bustled off, and brought the lawyer back with him, and presented their ward, sitting alone by the fire; Mrs. Gay having sighed out her regrets that her poor health sent her to bed so early, and retired thither. ”

“ Udo's enemy had got away, and that St. Udo would never be avenged now!—until the compassionate vicar supported her to her carriage and got her driven to the castle.
So Mrs. Chetwode put her to bed, and nursed her, and wept over her, and got her to sleep at last; and she did not awake for at least twelve hours.
Next day Mr. Emersham sent up his card to Miss Walsingham, desiring an interview.
Willingly she hastened down stairs to see him, burning with impatience to hear his errand.
"Is the man found?" was her first eager question.
The bustling young lawyer subsided instantly. ”

“ Gay might object to such an arrangement, dear; she is a person who—who generally objects—who is opposed to leaving her own home under any circumstances."
"I did not think of Mrs. Gay. Well will you please ask Mr. Davenport to come? Will you implore him to come? He has nothing to keep him, and I am so defenseless here."
"I will mention your request, but I think he will say what I feel without saying—it is a pity you left my house the way you did."
With that parting shot, the little doctor bade his adieu, stepped into his gig, and cheerfully drove away.
Oh, this horrible Waaste! ”