第2章
"Yes，"repliedRosa，quietly。
Theoldmanwouldnotscoldhernow；heonlysaid，sadly，"Iseehowitis:becauseIwillnotletyoumarrypoverty，youthinkIdonotloveyou。"Andhesighed。
"Opapa!theidea!"saidRosa。"Ofcourse，Iknowyouloveme。Itwasnotthat，youdear，darling，foolishpapa。There!ifyoumustknow，itwasbecauseIdidnotwantyoutobedistressed。I
thoughtImightgetbetterwithalittlephysic；and，ifnot，why，thenIthought，"Papaisanoldman；la!IdaresayIshalllasthistime；"andso，whyshouldIpoisonyourlatterdayswithworryingaboutME?"
Mr。Lusignanstaredather，andhislipquivered；buthethoughtthetraithardlyconsistentwithhersuperficialcharacter。Hecouldnothelpsaying，halfsadly，halfbitterly，"Well，butofcourseyouhavetoldDr。Staines。"
Rosaopenedherbeautifuleyes，liketwosuns。"OfcourseIhavedonenothingofthesort。Hehasenoughtotroublehim，withoutthat。Poorfellow!thereheis，worryingandstrivingtomakehisfortune，andgainyouresteem——"theygotogether，"youknow；youtoldhimso。"(Youngcatswillscratchwhenleastexpected。)"AndformetogoandtellhimIamindanger!Why，hewouldgowild。
Hewouldthinkofnothingbutmeandmyhealth。Hewouldnevermakehisfortune:andsothen，evenwhenIamgone，hewillnevergetawife，becausehehasonlygotgeniusandgoodnessandthreethousandpounds。No，papa，IhavenottoldpoorChristopher。I
mayteasethoseIlove。IhavebeenteasingYOUthiseversolong；
butfrightenthem，andmakethemmiserable?No!"
Andhere，thinkingoftheanguishthatwasperhapsinstoreforthosesheloved，shewantedtocry；italmostchokedhernotto。
Butshefoughtitbravelydown:shereservedhertearsforlighteroccasionsandlessnoblesentiments。
Herfatherheldouthisarmstoher。Sheranherfootstooltohim，andsatnestlingtohisheart。
"Pleaseforgivememymisconduct。Ihavenotbeenadutifuldaughtereversinceyou——butnowIwill。Kissme，myownpapa!
There!Nowweareaswealwayswere。"
Thenshepurredtohimoneverypossibletopicbuttheonethatnowfilledhisparentalheart，andbadehimgood-nightatlastwithacheerfulsmile。
Wymanwasexact，andtenminutesafterwardsDr。Snelldroveupinacarriageandpair。HewasinterceptedinthehallbyWyman，and，afterafewminutes"conversation，presentedtoMr。Lusignan。
Thefathergaveventtohispaternalanxietyinafewsimplebuttouchingwords，andwasproceedingtostatethesymptomsashehadgatheredthemfromhisdaughter；butDr。Snellinterruptedhimpolitely，andsaidhehadheardtheprincipalsymptomsfromMr。
Wyman。Then，turningtothelatter，hesaid，"Wehadbetterproceedtoexaminethepatient。"
"Certainly，"saidMr。Lusignan。"Sheisinthedrawing-room；"andheledtheway，andwasabouttoentertheroom，whenWymaninformedhimitwasagainstetiquetteforhimtobepresentattheexamination。
"Oh，verywell!"saidhe。"Yes，Iseetheproprietyofthat。Butobligemebyaskingherifshehasanythingonhermind。"
Dr。Snellbowedaloftyassent；for，toreceiveahintfromalaymanwastoconferafavoronhim。
Themenofsciencewereclosetedfullhalfanhourwiththepatient。Shewastoobeautifultobeslurredover，evenbyabusydoctor:hefeltherpulse，lookedathertongue，andlistenedattentivelytoherlungs，toherheart，andtotheorgansuspectedbyWyman。Heleftheratlastwithakindlyassurancethatthecasewasperfectlycurable。
Atthedoortheyweremetbytheanxiousfather，whocamewiththrobbingheart，andaskedthedoctors"verdict。
Hewascoollyinformedthatcouldnotbegivenuntiltheconsultationhadtakenplace；theresultofthatconsultationwouldbeconveyedtohim。
"Andpray，whycan"tIbepresentattheconsultation?Thegroundsonwhichtwoablemenagreeordisagreemustbewellworthlisteningto。"
"Nodoubt，"saidDr。Snell；"but，"withasuperiorsmile，"mydearsir，itisnottheetiquette。"
"Oh，verywell，"saidLusignan。Buthemuttered，"So，then，afatherisnobody!"
Andthisunreasonablepersonretiredtohisstudy，miserable，andgaveupthedining-roomtotheconsultation。
Theysoonrejoinedhim。
Dr。Snell"sopinionwascommunicatedbyWyman。"IamhappytotellyouthatDr。Snellagreeswithme，entirely:thelungsarenotaffected，andtheliveriscongested，butnotdiseased。"
"Isthatso，Dr。Snell?"askedLusignan，anxiously。
"Itisso，sir。"Headded，"Thetreatmenthasbeensubmittedtome，andIquiteapproveit。"
Hethenaskedforapenandpaper，andwroteaprescription。HeassuredMr。Lusignanthatthecasehadnoextraordinaryfeature，whatever；hewasnottoalarmhimself。Dr。Snellthendroveaway，leavingtheparentratherpuzzled，but，onthewhole，muchcomforted。
AndhereImustrevealanextraordinarycircumstance。
Wyman"streatmentwasbydrugs。
Dr。Snell"swasbydrugs。
Dr。Snell，asyouhaveseen，entirelyapprovedWyman"streatment。
Hisownhadnothingincommonwithit。TheArcticandAntarcticpolesarenotfartherapartthanwashisprescriptionfromtheprescriptionhethoroughlyapproved。
Amiablescience!Inwhichcompletediversityofpracticedidnotinterferewithperfectuniformityofopinion。
AllthiswaskeptfromDr。Staines，andhewasentirelyoccupiedintryingtogetapositionthatmightleadtofortune，andsatisfyMr。Lusignan。Hecalledoneveryfriendhehad，toinquirewheretherewasanopening。HewalkedmilesandmilesinthebestquartersofLondon，lookingforanopening；heletitbeknowninmanyquartersthathewouldgiveagoodpremiumtoanyphysicianwhowasabouttoretire，andwouldintroducehimtohispatients。
No:hecouldhearofnothing。
Then，afteragreatstrugglewithhimself，hecalleduponhisuncle，PhilipStaines，aretiredM。D。，toseeifhewoulddoanythingforhim。Heleftthistothelast，foraverygoodreason:Dr。Philipwasanirritableoldbachelor，whohadassistedmostofhismarriedrelatives；but，findingnobottomtothewell，hadturnedrustyandcrusty，andnowwasapttoadministerkicksinsteadofcheckstoallwhowerenearanddeartohim。However，Christopherwastheoldgentleman"sfavorite，andwasnowdesperate；sohemusteredcourage，andwent。Hewasgraciouslyreceived——warmly，indeed。Thisgavehimgreathopes，andhetoldhistale。
TheoldbachelorsidedwithMr。Lusignan。"What!"saidhe，"doyouwanttomarry，andpropagatepauperism?Ithoughtyouhadmoresense。ConfounditallIhadjustonenephewwhoseknockatmystreet-doordidnotmakemetremble；hewasabachelorandathinker，andcameforafriendlychat；therestaremarriedmen，highwaymen，whocometosay，"Standanddeliver；"andnowevenyouwanttojointhegiddythrong。Well，don"taskmetohaveanyhandinit。Youareamanofpromise；andyoumightaswellhangamillstoneroundyourneckasawife。Marriageisagreatermistakethanevernow；thewomendressmoreandmanageworse。ImetyourcousinJacktheotherday，andhiswifewithseventypoundsonherback；andnextdoortopaupers。No；whilstyouareabachelor，likeme，youaremyfavorite，anddowninmywillforalump。Oncemarry，andyoujointhenoblearmyoffoot-pads，leeches，vultures，paupers，gonecoons，andbabblersaboutbrats——andIdisownyou。"
TherewasnohopefromoldCrusty。Christopherlefthim，snubbedandheart-sick。Atlasthemetasensibleman，whomadehimseetherewasnoshortcutinthatprofession。Hemustbecontenttoplaytheup-hillgame；mustsettleinsomegoodneighborhood；
marry，ifpossible，sincehusbandsandfathersoffamiliesprefermarriedphysicians；andsobepooratthirty，comfortableatforty，andrichatfifty——perhaps。
ThenChristophercamedowntohislodgingsatGravesend，andwasveryunhappy；andaftersomedaysofmisery，hewrotealettertoRosainamomentofimpatience，despondency，andpassion。
RosaLusignangotworseandworse。Theslightbutfrequenthemorrhagewasadrainuponhersystem，andweakenedhervisibly。
Shebegantoloseherrichcomplexion，andsometimeslookedalmostsallow；andaslightcircleshoweditselfunderhereyes。Thesesymptomswereunfavorable；nevertheless，Dr。SnellandMr。Wymanacceptedthemcheerfully，asfreshindicationsthatnothingwasaffectedbuttheliver；theymultipliedandvariedtheirprescriptions；themaladyignoredthoseprescriptions，andwentsteadilyon。Mr。Lusignanwasterrifiedbuthelpless。Rosaresignedandreticent。
Butitwasnotinhumannaturethatagirlofthisagecouldalwaysandatallhoursbemistressofherself。Oneeveninginparticularshestoodbeforetheglassinthedrawing-room，andlookedatherselfalongtimewithhorror。"IsthatRosaLusignan?"saidshe，aloud；"itisherghost。"
Adeepgroanstartledher。Sheturned；itwasherfather。Shethoughthewasfastasleep；andsoindeedhehadbeen；buthewasjustawaking，andheardhisdaughterutterherrealmind。Itwasathunder-clap。"Oh，mychild!whatshallIdo?"hecried。
ThenRosawastakenbysurpriseinherturn。Shespokeout。"Sendforagreatphysician，papa。Don"tletusdeceiveourselves；itisouronlychance。"
"IwillaskMr。WymantogetaphysiciandownfromLondon。"
"No，no；thatisnouse；theywillputtheirheadstogether，andhewillsaywhateverMr。Wymantellshim。La!papa，aclevermanlikeyou，nottoseewhatacheatthatconsultationwas。Why，fromwhatyoutoldme，onecanseeitwasmanagedsothatDr。Snellcouldnotpossiblyhaveanopinionofhisown。No；nomoreechoesofMr。
Chatterbox。Ifyoureallywanttocureme，sendforChristopherStaines。"
"Dr。Staines!heisveryyoung。"
"Butheisveryclever，andheisnotanecho。Hewon"tcarehowmanydoctorshecontradictswhenIamindanger。Papa，itisyourchild"sonechance。"
"I"lltryit，"saidtheoldman，eagerly。"Howconfidentyoulook!
yourcolorhascomeback。Itisaninspiration。Whereishe?"
"IthinkbythistimehemustbeathislodgingsinGravesend。
Sendtohimto-morrowmorning。"
"NotI!I"llgotohimto-night。Itisonlyamile，andafineclearnight。"
"Myown，good，kindpapa!Ah!well，comewhatmay，Ihavelivedlongenoughtobeloved。Yes，dearpapa，saveme。Iamveryyoungtodie；andhelovesmesodearly。"
Theoldmanbustledawaytoputonsomethingwarmerforhisnightwalk，andRosaleanedback，andthetearswelledoutofhereyes，nowhewasgone。
Beforeshehadrecoveredhercomposure，aletterwasbroughther，andthiswastheletterfromChristopherStaines，alludedtoalready。
Shetookitfromtheservantwithavertedhead，notwishingittobeseenshehadbeencrying，andshestartedatthehandwriting；itseemedsuchacoincidencethatitshouldcomejustasshewassendingforhim。
MYOWNBELOVEDROSA，——Inowwritetotellyou，withaheavyheart，thatallisvain。Icannotmake，norpurchase，aconnection，exceptasothersdo，bytimeandpatience。Beingabachelorisquiteagainstayoungphysician。IfIhadawife，andsuchawifeasyou，Ishouldbesuretogeton；youwouldincreasemyconnectionverysoon。What，then，liesbeforeus?Iseebuttwothings——towaittillweareold，andourpocketsarefilled，butourheartschilledorsoured；orelsetomarryatonce，andclimbthehilltogether。IfyoulovemeasIloveyou，youwillbesavingtillthebattleisover；andIfeelIcouldfindenergyandfortitudeforboth。Yourfather，whothinkssomuchofwealth，cansurelysettlesomethingonYOU；andIamnottoopoortofurnishahouseandstartfair。Iamnotquiteobscure——mylectureshavegivenmeaname——andtoyou，myownlove，IhopeImaysaythatI
knowmorethanmanyofmyelders，thankstogoodschools，goodmethod，agenuineloveofmynobleprofession，andatendencytostudyfrommychildhood。Willyounotrisksomethingonmyability?Ifnot，Godhelpme，forIshallloseyou；andwhatislife，orfame，orwealth，oranymortalthingtome，withoutyou?
Icannotacceptyourfather"sdecision；YOUmustdecidemyfate。
YouseeIhavekeptawayfromyouuntilIcandosonomore。Allthistimetheworldtomehasseemedtowantthesun，andmyheartpinesandsickensforonesightofyou。
DarlingRosa，prayletmelookatyourfaceoncemore。
WhenthisreachesyouIshallbeatyourgate。Letmeseeyou，thoughbutforamoment，andletmehearmyfatefromnolipsbutyours——Myownlove，yourheart-brokenlover，CHRISTOPHERSTAINES。
Thisletterstunnedheratfirst。Hermindoflatehadbeenturnedawayfromlovetosuchsternrealities。Nowshebegantobesorryshehadnottoldhim。"Poorthing!"shesaidtoherself，"helittleknowsthatnowallischanged。Papa，Isometimesthink，woulddenymenothingnow；itisIwhowouldnotmarryhim——tobeburiedbyhiminamonthortwo。PoorChristopher!"
Thenextmomentshestartedupindismay。Why，herfatherwouldmisshim。No；perhapscatchhimwaitingforher。Whatwouldhethink?WhatwouldChristopherthink?——thatshehadshownherpapahisletter。
Sherangthebellhard。Thefootmancame。
"SendHarriettomethisinstant。Oh，andaskpapatocometome。"
ThenshesatdownanddashedoffalinetoChristopher。ThiswasforHarriettotakeouttohim。AnythingbetterthanforChristophertobecaughtdoingwhatwaswrong。
Thefootmancamebackfirst。"Ifyouplease，miss，masterhasgoneout。"
"Runafterhim——theroadtoGravesend。"
"Yes，miss。"
"No。Itisnouse。Nevermind。"
"Yes，miss。"
ThenHarrietcamein。"Didyouwantme，miss?"
"Yes。No——nevermindnow。"
Shewasafraidtodoanythingforfearofmakingmattersworse。
Shewenttothewindow，andstoodlookinganxiouslyout，withherhandsworking。Presentlysheutteredalittlescreamandshrankawaytothesofa。Shesankdownonit，halfsitting，halflying，hidherfaceinherhands，andwaited。
Staines，withalover"simpatience，hadbeenmorethananhouratthegate，orwalkingupanddownclosebyit，hisheartnowburningwithhope，nowfreezingwithfear，thatshewoulddeclineameetingontheseterms。
Atlastthepostmancame，andthenhesawhewastoosoon；butnowinafewminutesRosawouldhavehisletter，andthenheshouldsoonknowwhethershewouldcomeornot。Helookedupatthedrawing-roomwindows。Theywerefulloflight。Shewasthereinallprobability。Yetshedidnotcometothem。Butwhyshouldshe，ifshewascomingout?
Hewalkedupanddowntheroad。Shedidnotcome。Hisheartbegantosickenwithdoubt。Hisheaddrooped；andperhapsitwasowingtothisthathealmostranagainstagentlemanwhowascomingtheotherway。Themoonshonebrightonbothfaces。
"Dr。Staines!"saidMr。Lusignansurprised。Christopherutteredanejaculationmoreeloquentthanwords。
Theystaredateachother。
"Youwerecomingtocallonus?"
"N——no，"stammeredChristopher。
Lusignanthoughtthatodd；however，hesaidpolitely，"Nomatter，itisfortunate。Wouldyoumindcomingin?"
"No，"falteredChristopher，andstaredathimruefully，puzzledmoreandmore，butbeginningtothink，afterall，itmightbeacasualmeeting。
Theyenteredthegate，andinonemomenthesawRosaatthewindow，andshesawhim。
Thenhealteredhisopinionagain。Rosahadsentherfatherouttohim。Buthowwasthis?Theoldmandidnotseemangry。
Christopher"sheartgavealeapinsidehim，andhebegantoglowwiththewildesthopes。For，whatcouldthismeanbutrelenting?
Mr。Lusignantookhimfirstintothestudy，andlightedtwocandleshimself。Hedidnotwanttheservantsprying。
ThelightsshowedChristopherachangeinMr。Lusignan。Helookedtenyearsolder。
"Youarenotwell，sir，"saidChristophergently。
"Myhealthiswellenough，butIamabroken-heartedman。Dr。
Staines，forgetallthatpassedhereatyourlastvisit。Allthatisover。Thankyouforlovingmypoorgirlasyoudo；givemeyourhand；Godblessyou。Sir，IamsorrytosayitisasaphysicianI
inviteyounow。Sheisill，sir，very，veryill。"
"Ill!andnottellme!"
"Shekeptitfromyou，mypoorfriend，nottodistressyou；andshetriedtokeepitfromme，buthowcouldshe?Fortwomonthsshehashadsometerriblecomplaint——itisdestroyingher。Sheistheghostofherself。Oh，mypoorchild!mychild!"
Theoldmansobbedaloud。Theyoungmanstoodtrembling，andashypale。Still，thehabitsofhisprofession，andtheexperienceofdangersovercome，togetherwithacertainsenseofpower，kepthimup；but，aboveall，loveanddutysaid，"Befirm。"Heaskedforanoutlineofthesymptoms。
Theyalarmedhimgreatly。
"Letuslosenomoretime，"saidhe。"Iwillseeheratonce。"
"Doyouobjecttomybeingpresent?"
"Ofcoursenot。"
"ShallItellyouwhatDr。Snellsaysitis，andMr。Wyman?"
"Byallmeans——afterIhaveseenher。"
ThiscomfortedMr。Lusignan。Hewastogetanindependentjudgment，atallevents。
Whentheyreachedthetopofthestairs，Dr。Stainespausedandleanedagainstthebaluster。"Givemeamoment，"saidhe。"Thepatientmustnotknowhowmyheartisbeating，andshemustseenothinginmyfacebutwhatIchoosehertosee。Givemeyourhandoncemore，sir；letusbothcontrolourselves。Nowannounceme。"
Mr。Lusignanopenedthedoor，andsaid，withforcedcheerfulness，"Dr。Staines，mydear，cometogiveyouthebenefitofhisskill。"
Shelayonthesofa，justaswelefther。Onlyherbosombegantoheave。
ThenChristopherStainesdrewhimselfup，andthemajestyofknowledgeandlovetogetherseemedtodilatehisnobleframe。Hefixedhiseyeonthatreclining，pantingfigure，andsteppedlightlybutfirmlyacrosstheroomtoknowtheworst，likealionwalkinguptolevelledlances。
CHAPTERIII。
Theyoungphysicianwalkedsteadilyuptohispatientwithouttakinghiseyeoffher，anddrewachairtoherside。
Thenshetookdownonehand——theleft——andgaveithim，avertingherfacetenderly，andstillcoveringitwithherright；"For，"
saidshetoherself，"Iamsuchafrightnow。"Thisopportunereflection，andherheavingbosom，provedthatsheatleastfeltherselfsomethingmorethanhispatient。Herprettyconsciousnessmadehistaskmoredifficult；nevertheless，heonlyallowedhimselftopressherhandtenderlywithbothhispalmsonemoment，andthenheenteredonhisfunctionsbravely。"Iamhereasyourphysician。"
"Verywell，"saidshesoftly。
Hegentlydetainedthehand，andputhisfingerlightlytoherpulse；itwaspalpitating，andafallacioustest。Oh，howthatbeatingpulse，bylove"selectriccurrent，sethisownheartthrobbinginamoment!
Heputherhandgently，reluctantlydown，andsaid，"Obligemebyturningthisway。"Sheturned，andhewincedinternallyatthechangeinher；buthisfacebetrayednothing。Helookedatherfull；and，afterapause，puthersomequestions:onewasastothecolorofthehemorrhage。Shesaiditwasbrightred。
"Notatingeofpurple?"
"No，"saidshehopefully，mistakinghim。
Hesuppressedasigh。
Thenhelistenedathershoulder-bladeandatherchest，andmadeherdrawherbreathwhilehewaslistening。Theactsweresimple，andusualinmedicine，buttherewasadeep，patient，silentintensityabouthiswayofdoingthem。
Mr。Lusignancreptnearer，andstoodwithbothhandsonatable，andhisoldheadbowed，awaitingyetdreadingtheverdict。
Uptothistime，Dr。Staines，insteadoftappingandsqueezing，andpullingthepatientabout，hadnevertouchedherwithhishand，andonlygrazedherwithhisear；butnowhesaid"Allowme，"andputbothhandstoherwaist，morelightlyandreverentlythanIcandescribe；"Nowdrawadeepbreath，ifyouplease。"
"There!"
"Ifyoucoulddrawadeeperstill，"saidhe，insinuatingly。
"There，then!"saidshe，alittlepettishly。
Dr。Staines"seyekindled。
"Hum!"saidhe。Then，afteraconsiderablepause，"Areyoubetterorworseaftereachhemorrhage?"
"La!"saidRosa；"theyneveraskedmethat。Why，better。"
"Nofaintness?"
"Notabit。"
"Ratherasenseofrelief，perhaps?"
"Yes；Ifeellighterandbetter。"
Theexaminationwasconcluded。
Dr。StaineslookedatRosa，andthenatherfather。Theagonyinthatagedface，andthelovethatagonyimplied，wonhim，anditwastotheparentheturnedtogivehisverdict。
"Thehemorrhageisfromthelungs"——
Lusignaninterruptedhim:"Fromthelungs!"criedhe，indismay。
"Yes；aslightcongestionofthelungs。"
"Butnotincurable!Oh，notincurable，doctor!"
"Heavenforbid!Itiscurable——easily——byremovingthecause。"
"Andwhatisthecause?"
"Thecause?"——hehesitated，andlookedratheruneasy——"Well，thecause，sir，is——tightstays。"
Thetranquillityofthemeetingwasinstantlydisturbed。"Tightstays!Me!"criedRosa。"Why，IamtheloosestgirlinEngland。
Look，papa!"And，withoutanyapparenteffort，shedrewherselfin，andpokedherlittlefistbetweenhersashandhergown。
"There!"
Dr。Stainessmiledsadlyandalittlesarcastically:hewasevidentlyshyofencounteringtheladyinthisargument；buthewasmoreathiseasewithherfather；soheturnedtowardshimandlecturedhimfreely。
"Thatiswonderful，sir；andthefirstfourorfivefemalepatientsthatfavoredmewithit，mademedisbelievemyothersenses；butMissLusignanisnowaboutthethirtiethwhohasshownmethatmarvellousfeat，withacalmcountenancethatbeliestheherculeaneffort。Naturehasherevery-daymiracles:aboa-constrictor，diameterseventeeninches，canswallowabuffalo；awoman，withherstaysbisectingheralmost，andlaceratingherskin，canyetforonemomentmakeherselfseemslack，todeceiveajuvenilephysician。Thesnakeisthemiracleofexpansion；thewomanistheprodigyofcontraction。"
"Highlygratefulforthecomparison!"criedRosa。"Womenandsnakes!"
Dr。Stainesblushedandlookeduncomfortable。"Ididnotmeantobeoffensive；itcertainlywasaveryclumsycomparison。"
"Whatdoesthatmatter?"saidMr。Lusignan，impatiently。"Bequiet，Rosa，andletDr。Stainesandmetalksense。"
"Oh，thenIamnobodyinthebusiness!"saidthiswiseyounglady。
"Youareeverybody，"saidStaines，soothingly。"But，"suggestedhe，obsequiously，"ifyoudon"tmind，Iwouldratherexplainmyviewstoyourfather——onthisonesubject。"