第5章

Nowonderthreeyearsofthishaddrawnatell-talewrinkleacrossthepolishedbrow。

PhoebeDalehadnotreceivedaletterforsomedays；thatrousedhersuspicionandstungherjealousy；shecameuptoLondonbyfasttrain，anddowntoGravesenddirectly。

Shehadathickveilthatconcealedherfeatures；andwithalittleinquiringandbribing，shesoonfoundoutthatMr。Falconwastherewithashowydogcart。"Ah!"thoughtPhoebe，"hehaswonalittlemoneyatplayorpigeon-shooting；sonowhehasnoneedofme。"

Shetookthelodgingsoppositehim，butobservednothingtillthisverymorning，whenshesawhimthrowoffhisdressing-gownallinahurryandflingonhiscoat。Shetiedonherbonnetasrapidly，andfollowedhim，untilshediscoveredtheobjectofhispursuit。

Itwasasurprisetoher，andapuzzle，toseeanothermanstepin，asiftotakeherpart。ButasReginaldstillfollowedtheloiteringpair，shefollowedReginald，tillheturnedandfoundherathisheels，whiteandlowering。

Sheconfrontedhiminthreateningsilenceforsometime，duringwhichhepreparedhisdefence。

"SoitisaLADYthistime，"saidshe，inherlow，richvoice，sternly。

"Isit?"

"Yes，andIshouldsaysheisbespoke——thattall，fine-builtgentleman。ButIsupposeyoucarenomoreforhisfeelingsthanyoudoformine。"

"Phoebe，"saidtheegotist，"Iwillnottrytodeceiveyou。Youhaveoftensaidyouaremytruefriend。"

"AndIthinkIhaveprovedit。"

"Thatyouhave。Well，then，bemytruefriendnow。Iaminlove——

reallyinlove——thistime。YouandIonlytormenteachother；letuspartfriends。ThereareplentyoffarmersinEssexthatwouldjumpatyou。Asforme，I"lltellyouthetruth；Ihaverunthrougheveryfarthing；myestatemortgagedbeyonditsvalue——twoorthreewritsoutagainstme——thatiswhyIslippeddownhere。MyonlychanceistomarryMoney。HerfatherknowsIhaveland，andheknowsnothingaboutthemortgages；sheishisonlydaughter。

Don"tstandinmyway，thatisagoodgirl；bemyfriend，asyoualwayswere。Hangitall，Phoebe，can"tyousayawordtoafellowthatisdrivenintoacorner，insteadofglaringatmelikethat?

There!Iknowitisungrateful；butwhatcanafellowdo?Imustlivelikeagentlemanorelsetakeadoseofprussicacid；youdon"twanttodrivemetothat。Why，youproposedtopart，lasttime，yourself。"

Shegavehimonemajestic，indescribablelook，thatmadeevenhiscallousheartquiver，andturnedaway。

Thenthescampadmiredherfordespisinghim，andcouldnotbeartoloseher。Hefollowedher，andputforthallthosepowersofpersuadingandsoothing，whichhadsooftenprovedirresistible。

Butthistimeitwasinvain。Theinsultwastoosavage，andhisegotismtoobrutal，forhoneyedphrasestoblindher。

Afterenduringitalongtimewithasilentshudder，sheturnedandshookhimfiercelyoffherlikesomepoisonousreptile。

"Doyouwantmetokillyou?I"dlieverkillmyselfforlovingsuchathingasTHOU。Gothyways，man，andletmegomine。"Inherpassionshedroppedhercultivationforonce，andwentbacktotheTHOUandTHEEofhergrandam。

Hecoloredupandlookedspitefulenough；buthesoonrecoveredhiscynicalegotism，andwentoffwhistlinganoperaticpassage。

Shecrepttoherlodgings，andburiedherfaceinherpillow，androckedherselftoandfroforhoursinthebitterestagonytheheartcanfeel，groaningoverhergreataffectionwasted，flungintothedirt。

Whileshewasthus，sheheardalittlecommotion。ShecametothewindowandsawFalcon，exquisitelydressed，driveoffinhisdogcart，attendedbytheacclamationsofeightboys。Shesawataglancehewasgonecourting；herkneesgavewayunderher，and，suchisthepowerofthemind，thisstalwartgirllayweakaswateronthesofa，andhadnotthepowertogohome，thoughjustthenshehadbutonewish，onehope——toseeheridol"sfacenomore，norhearhiswheedlingtongue，thathadruinedherpeace。

TheexquisiteMr。FalconwasreceivedbyRosaLusignanwithacertaintremorthatflatteredhishopes。Hetoldher，incharminglanguage，howhehadadmiredheratfirstsight，thenesteemedher，thenlovedher。

Sheblushedandpanted，andshowedmorethanonceadesiretointerrupthim，butwastoopolite。Sheheardhimoutwithrisingdismay，andheofferedherhishandandheart。

Butbythistimeshehadmadeuphermindwhattosay。"OMr。

Falcon!"shecried，"howcanyouspeaktomeinthisway?Why，I

amengaged。Didn"tyouknow?"

"No；Iamsureyouarenot，oryouwouldneverhavegivenmetheencouragementyouhave。"

"Oh，allengagedyoungladiesflirt——alittle；andeverybodyhereknowsIamengagedtoDr。Staines。"

"Why，Ineversawhimhere。"

Rosa"stactwasaqualitythatcameandwent；sosheblushed，andfalteredout，"Wehadalittletiff，asloverswill。"

"Andyoudidmethehonortoselectmeascat"s-pawtobringhimonagain。Wasnotthatratherheartless?"

Rosa"sfitfultactreturnedtoher。

"Oh，sir，donotthinksoillofme。Iamnotheartless，Iamonlyunwise；andyouaresosuperiortothepeopleaboutyou；Icouldnothelpappreciatingyou，andIthoughtyouknewIwasengaged，andsoIwaslessonmyguard。IhopeIshallnotloseyouresteem，thoughIhavenorighttoanythingmore。Ah!IseebyyourfaceIhavebehavedveryill:prayforgiveme。"

AndwiththissheturnedonthewatersoftheNile，betterknowntoyou，perhaps，as"crocodiletears。"

Falconwasagentlemanonthesurface，andknewheshouldonlymakemattersworsebyquarrellingwithher。Sohegroundhisteeth，andsaid，"Mayyourownheartneverfeelthepangsyouhaveinflicted。

Ishallloveyouandrememberyoutillmydyingday。"

Hebowedceremoniouslyandlefther。

"Ay，"saidhetohimself，"IWILLrememberyou，youheartlessjilt，andthemanyouhavejiltedmefor。Stainesishisd——dname，isit?"

Hedrovebackcrestfallen，bitter，and，foronceinhislife，heart-sick，anddrewupathislodgings。Herehefoundattendantswaitingtoreceivehim。

Asheriff"sofficertookhisdogcartandhorseunderajudgment；

thedisturbancethiscausedcollectedatinycrowd，gapingandgrinning，andbroughtPhoebe"swhitefaceandeyesswollenwithweepingtothewindow。

Falconsawherandbrazeneditout。"Takethem，"saidhe，withanoath。"I"llhaveabetterturn-outbyto-morrow，breakfast-time。"

Thecrowdcheeredhimforhisspirit。

Hegotdown，litacigar，chaffedtheofficerandthecrowd，andwas，onthewhole，admired。

Thenanotherofficer，whohadbeenhuntinghimincoupleswiththeother，steppedforwardandtookHIM，forthebalanceofajudgmentdebt。

Thentheswell"scigarfelloutofhismouth，andhewasseriouslyalarmed。"Why，Cartwright，"saidhe，"thisistoobad。Youpromisednottoseemethismonth。YoupassedmefullintheStrand。"

"Youaremistaken，sir，"saidCartwright，withsullenirony。"I"vegotatwin-brother；amanytakeshimforme，tilltheyfindsthedifference。"Then，loweringhisvoice，"WhatcallhadyoutoboastinyourclubyouhadmadeitrightwithBillCartwright，andhe"dneverseeyou?Thatgotabout，andsoIwasboundtoseeyouorlosemybread。There"soneortwoIdon"tsee，butthentheyarerealgentlemen，andthinksofmeaswellastheirselves，anddoesn"tblab。"

"Imusthavebeendrunk，"saidFalconapologetically。"Morelikelyblowingacloud。Whenyouyounggentsgetsa-smokingtogether，you"dtellonyourownmothers。Comealong，colonel，offwegotoMerrimashee。"

"Why，itisonlytwenty-sixpounds。Ihavepaidtherest。"

"Morethanthat；there"sthecosts。"

"Comein，andI"llsettleit。"

"Allright，sir。Jem，watchtheback。"

"Oh，Ishallnottrythatgamewithasharphandlikeyou，Cartwright。"

"Youhadbetternot，sir，"saidCartwright；buthewassoftenedalittlebythecompliment。

Whentheywerealone，Falconbeganbysayingitwasabadjobforhim。

"Why，Ithoughtyouwasa-goingtopayitallinamoment。"

"Ican"t；butIhavegotafriendoverthewaythatcould，ifshechose。Shehasalwaysgotmoney，somehow。"

"Oh，ifitisashe，itisallright。"

"Idon"tknow。Shehasquarrelledwithme；butgivemealittletime。Here!haveaglassofsherryandabiscuit，whileItryiton。"

HavingthusmuffledCartwright，thismanoftheworldopenedhiswindowandlookedout。Thecrowdhadfollowedthecaptureddogcart，sohehadthestreettohimself。HebeckonedtoPhoebe，andafterconsiderablehesitationsheopenedherwindow。

"Phoebe，"saidhe，intonesoftenderregret，admirablynaturalandsweet，"Ishallneveroffendyouagain；soforgivemethisonce。I

havegiventhatgirlup。"

"Notyou，"saidPhoebe，sullenly。

"IndeedIhave。Afterourquarrel，Istartedtoproposetoher；

butIhadnottheheart；Icamebackandlefther。"

"Timewillshow。Ifitisnother，itwillbesomeother，youfalse，heartlessvillain。"

"Come，Isay，don"tbesohardonmeintrouble。Iamgoingtoprison。"

"SoIsuppose。"

"Ah!butitisworsethanyouthink。Iamonlytakenforapaltrythirtypoundsorso。"

"Thirty-three，fifteen，five，"suggestedCartwright，inamuffledwhisper，hismouthbeingfullofbiscuit。

"Butoncetheygetmetoasponging-house，detainerswillpourin，andmycruelcreditorswillconfinemeforlife。"

"Itisthebestplaceforyou。Itwillputastoptoyourwickedness，andIshallbeatpeace。That"swhatIhaveneverknown，nightorday，thisthreeyears。"

"Butyouwillnotbehappyifyouseemegotoprisonbeforeyoureyes。Wereyoueverinsideaprison?Justthinkwhatitmustbetobecoopedupinthosecoldgrimcellsallalone；fortheyuseadebtorlikeacriminalnow。"

Phoebeshuddered；butshesaid，bravely，"Well，tellTHEMyouhavebeena-courting。TherewasatimeI"dhavediedsoonerthanseeahairofyourheadhurt；butitisallovernow；youhavewornmeout。"

Thenshebegantocry。

Falconheavedadeepsigh。"ItisnomorethanIdeserve，"saidhe。"I"llpackupmythings，andgowiththeofficer。Givemeonekindwordatparting，andI"llthinkofitinmyprison，nightandday。"

Hewithdrewfromthewindowwithanotherdeepsigh，toldCartwright，cheerfully，itwasallright，andproceededtopackuphistraps。

MeantimePhoebesatatherwindowandcriedbitterly。Herwordshadbeenbraverthanherheart。

Falconmanagedtopaythetrifleheowedforthelodgings，andpresentlyhecameoutwithCartwright，andtheattendantcalledacab。Histhingswerethrownin，andCartwrightinvitedhimtofollow。Thenhelookedup，andcastagenuinelookofterrorandmiseryatPhoebe。Hethoughtshewouldhaverelentedbeforethis。

Herheartgaveway；Iamafraiditwould，evenwithoutthatpiteousandmuteappeal。Sheopenedthewindow，andaskedMr。Cartwrightifhewouldbegoodenoughtocomeandspeaktoher。

Cartwrightcommittedhisprisonertothesubordinate，andknockedatthedoorofPhoebe"slodgings。Shecamedownherselfandlethimin。Sheledthewayupstairs，motionedhimtoaseat，satdownbyhim，andbegantocryagain。Shewasthoroughlyunstrung。

Cartwrightwashuman，andmutteredsomewordsofregretthatapoorfellowmustdohisduty。

"Oh，itisnotthat，"sobbedPhoebe。"Icanfindthemoney。I

havefoundmoreforhimthanthat，many"sthetime。"Then，dryinghereyes，"Butyoumustknowtheworld，andIdaresayyoucanseehow"tiswithme。"

"Ican，"saidCartwright，gravely。"Ioverheardyouandhim；and，mygirl，ifyoutakemyadvice，why，lethimgo。Heisagentlemanskindeep，anddresseswell，andcanpalaveragirl，nodoubt；butblessyourheart，Icanseeataglanceheisnotworthyourlittlefinger，anhonest，decentyoungwomanlikeyou。Why，itislikebutterfightingwithstone。Lethimgo；orIwilltellyouwhatitis，youwillhangforhimsomeday，orelsemakeawaywithyourself。"

"Ay，sir，"saidPhoebe，"that"slikelier；andifIwastolethimgotoprison，Ishouldsitmedownandthinkofhispartinglook，andIshouldflingmyselfintothewaterforhimbeforeIwasadayolder。"

"Yemustn"tdothatanyway。Whilethere"slifethere"shope。"

UponthisPhoebeputhimaquestion，andfoundhimreadytodoanythingforher，inreason——providedhewaspaidforit。Andtheendofitallwas，theprisonerwasconveyedtoLondon；Phoebegottherequisitesum；Falconwasdepositedinathird-classcarriageboundforEssex。Phoebepaidhisdebt，andgaveCartwrightapresent，andawayrattledthetrainconveyingthehandsomeegotistintotemporaryretirement，towit，atavillagefivemilesfromtheDales"farm。Shewastooashamedofheryounggentlemanandherselftobeseenwithhiminhernativevillage。Ontheroaddownhewasfulloflittlepracticalattentions；shereceivedthemcoldly；hismellifluousmouthwasoftenathercar，pouringthanksandpraisesintoit；shenevervouchsafedawordofreply。Allshedidwastoshuddernowandthen，andcryatintervals。Yet，wheneverheleftherside，herwholebodybecamerestless；andwhenhecamebacktoher，afurtivethrillannouncedtheinsanecomplacencyhisbarecontactgaveher。Surely，ofalltheformsinwhichlovetormentstheheart，thiswasthemostterribleandpitiable。

Mr。Lusignanfoundhisdaughterintears。

"Why，whatisthematternow?"saidhe，alittlepeevishly。"Wehavehadnothingofthissortofthinglately。"

"Papa，itisbecauseIhavemisconductedmyself。Iamafoolish，imprudentgirl。IhavebeenflirtingwithMr。Falcon，andhehastakenaCRUELadvantageofit——proposedtome——thisveryafternoon——

actually!"

"Hashe?Well，heisafinefellow，andhasalandedestateinNorfolk。There"snothinglikeland。Theymaywellcallitrealproperty——thereissomethingtoshow；youcanwalkonit，andrideonit，andlookoutofwindowatit:thatISproperty。"

"Oh，papa!whatareyousaying?WouldyouhavememarryonemanwhenIbelongtoanother?"

"Butyoudon"tbelongtoanyoneexcepttome。"

"Oh，yes；Ido。IbelongtomydearChristopher。"

"Why，youdismissedhimbeforemyveryeyes；andveryillyoubehaved，beggingyourpardon。Themanwasyourablephysicianandyourbestfriend，andsaidnothingthatwasnotforyourgood；andyoutreatedhimlikeadog。"

"Yes，buthehasapologized。"

"Whatfor?beingtreatedlikeadog?"

"Oh，don"tsayso，papa!Atallevents，hehasapologized，asagentlemanshouldwhenever——whenever"——

"Wheneveraladyisinthewrong。"

"Don"t，papa；andIhaveaskedhimtodinner。"

"Withallmyheart。Ishallbedownrightgladtoseehimagain。

Youusedhimabominably。"

"Butyouneednotkeepsayingso，"whinedRosa。"Andthatisnotall，dearpapa；theworstofitis，Mr。Falconproposingtomehasopenedmyeyes。Iamnotfittobetrustedalone。Iamtoofondofdancing，andflirtingwillfollowsomehow。Oh，thinkhowillI

wasafewmonthsago，andhowunhappyyouwereaboutme!Theywerekillingme。Hecameandsavedme。Yes，papa，IoweallthishealthandstrengthtoChristopher。Ididtakethemoff，theverynextday，andseetheeffectofitandmylongwalks。Iowehimmylife，andwhatIvaluefarmore，mygoodlooks。La!IwishIhadnottoldyouthat。Andafterallthis，don"tIbelongtomyChristopher?HowcouldIbehappyorrespectmyselfifImarriedanyoneelse?Andoh，papa!helookswanandworn。HehasbeenfrettingforhisSimpleton。Oh，dear!Imustn"tthinkofthat——itmakesmecry；andyoudon"tlikescenes，doyou?"

"Hate"em!"

"Well，then，"saidRosa，coaxingly，"I"lltellyouhowtoendthem。

MarryyourSimpletontotheonlymanwhoisfittotakecareofher。Oh，papa!thinkofhisdeep，deepaffectionforme，andpraydon"tsnubhimif——byanychance——afterdinner——heshouldHAPPENtoaskyou——something。"

"Oh，thenitispossiblethat，bythemerestchance，thegentlemanyouhaveaccidentallyaskedtodinner，may，bysomestrangefortuity，besurprisedintoaskingmeasecondtimeforsomethingverymuchresemblingmydaughter"shand——eh?"

Rosacoloredhigh。"Hemight，youknow。HowcanItellwhatgentlemenwillsaywhentheladieshaveretiredandtheyareleftalonewith——with"——

"Withthebottle。Ay，that"strue；whenthewineisin，thewitisout。"

SaidRosa，"Well，ifheshouldhappentobesofoolish，praythinkofME；ofallweowehim，andhowmuchIlovehim，andoughttolovehim。"Shethenbestowedapropitiatorykiss，andranofftodressfordinner；itwasamuchlongeroperationto-daythanusual。

Dr。Staineswaspunctual。Mr。Lusignancommentedfavorablyonthat。

"Healwaysis，"saidRosa，eagerly。

Theydinedtogether。Mr。Lusignanchattedfreely，butStainesandRosawereunderafeelingofrestraint，Stainesinparticular；hecouldnothelpfeelingthatbeforelonghisfatemustbesettled。

HewouldeitherobtainRosa"shand，orhavetoresignhertosomemanoffortunewhowouldstepin；forbeautysuchasherscouldnotlonglackbrilliantoffers。Longing，thoughdreading，toknowhisfate，hewasgladwhendinnerended。

Rosasatwiththemalittlewhileafterdinner，thenrose，bestowedanotherpropitiatorykissonherfather"shead，andretiredwithamodestblush，andalookatChristopherthatwasalmostdivine。

Itinspiredhimwiththecourageoflions，andhecommencedtheattackatonce。

CHAPTERV。

"Mr。Lusignan，"saidhe，"thelasttimeIwashereyougavemesomehopesthatyoumightbeprevailedontotrustthatangel"shealthandhappinesstomycare。"

"Well，Dr。Staines，Iwillnotbeataboutthebushwithyou。Myjudgmentisstillagainstthismarriage；youneednotlooksoalarmed；itdoesnotfollowIshallforbidit。IfeelIhavehardlyarightto，formyRosamightbeinhergravenowbutforyou；and，anotherthing，whenIinterferedbetweenyoutwoIhadnoproofyouwereamanofability；Ihadonlyyoursweetheart"swordforthat；andIneverknewacasebeforewhereayounglady"sswandidnotturnoutagoose。Yourrareabilitygivesyouanotherchanceintheprofessionalbattlethatisbeforeyou；indeed，itputsadifferentfaceonthewholematter。Istillthinkitpremature。Comenow，woulditnotbemuchwisertowait，andsecureagoodpracticebeforeyoumarryamerechild?There!

there!Ionlyadvise；Idon"tdictate；youshallsettleittogether，youtwowiseacres。OnlyImustmakeonepositivecondition。Ihavenothingtogivemychildduringmylifetime；butonethingIhavedoneforher；yearsagoIinsuredmylifeforsixthousandpounds；andyoumustdothesame。Iwillnothaveherthrownontheworldawidow，withachildortwo，perhaps，tosupport，andnotafarthing；youknowtheinsecurityofmortallife。"

"Ido!Ido!Why，ofcourseIwillinsuremylife，andpaytheannualpremiumoutofmylittlecapital，untilincomeflowsin。"

"Willyouhandmeoverasumsufficienttopaythatpremiumforfiveyears?"

"Withpleasure。"

"ThenIfear，"saidtheoldgentleman，withasigh，"myoppositiontothematchmustceasehere。Istillrecommendyoutowait；but——

there!Imightjustaswelladvisefireandtowtoliveneighborsandkeepcool。"

Toshowtheinjusticeofthissimile，ChristopherStainesstartedupwithhiseyesallaglow，andcriedout，rapturously，"Oh，sir，mayItellher?"

"Yes，youmaytellher，"saidLusignan，withasmile。"Stop——whatareyougoingtotellher?"

"Thatyouconsent，sir。Godblessyou!Godblessyou!Oh!"

"Yes，butthatIadviseyoutowait。"

"I"lltellherall，"saidStaines，andrushedoutevenashespoke，andupsetaheavychairwithaloudthud。

"Ah!ah!"criedtheoldgentlemanindismay，andputhisfingersinhisears——toolate。"Isee，"saidhe，"therewillbenopeaceandquietnowtilltheyareoutofthehouse。"Helightedasoothingcigartocounteractthefracas。

"PoorlittleRosa!achildbutyesterday，andnowtoencounterthecaresofawife，andperhapsamother。Ah!sheisbutyoung，butyoung。"

Theoldgentlemanprophesiedtruly；fromthatmomenthehadnopeacetillhewithdrewallsemblanceofdissent，andevenofprocrastination。

Christopherinsuredhislifeforsixthousandpounds，andassignedthepolicytohiswife。FourhundredpoundswashandedtoMr。

LusignantopaythepremiumsuntilthegeniusofDr。Stainesshouldhavesecuredhimthatlargeprofessionalincome，whichdoesnotcomeallatonce，eventotherarephysician，whoisCapax，Efficax，Sagax。

Thewedding-daywasnamed。Thebridesmaidswereselected，theguestsinvited。NonerefusedbutUnclePhilip。Hedeclined，inhisfineboldhand，tocountenanceinpersonanactoffollyhedisapproved。Christopherputhisletterawaywithamomentarysigh，andwouldnotshowitRosa。Allotherletterstheyreadtogether，charmingpastimeofthathappyperiod。Presentspouredin。Silverteapots，coffeepots，sugar-basins，cream-jugs，fruit-

dishes，silver-giltinkstands，albums，photograph-books，littlecandlesticks，choicelittleservicesofchina，shellsalt-cellarsinacaselinedwithmaroonvelvet；aBible，superbinbindingandclasps，andeverythingbutthetext——thatwasillegible；asilkscarffromBenares；agoldchainfromDelhi，sixfeetlongornearly；aMaltesenecklace，adittoinexquisitefilagreefromGenoa；Englishbrooches，atrifletoobigandbrainless；apostlespoons；atreble-linedparasolwithivorystickandhandle；anivorycard-case，richlycarved；workboxofsandal-woodandivory，etc。Mr。Lusignan"sCityfriends，asusualwiththesegentlemen，sentthemostvaluablethings。Everydayoneortwopackagesweredelivered，and，inopeningthem，Rosainvariablyutteredapeculiarscreamofdelight，andherfatherputhisfingersinhisears；yettherewasmusicinthisveryscream，ifhewouldonlyhavelistenedtoitcandidly，insteadoffixinghismindonhisvaguetheoryofscreams——soformedwasshetopleasetheearaswellastheeye。

Atlastcameaparcelsheopenedandstaredat，smilingandcoloringlikearose，butdidnotscream，beingtoodumfoundedandperplexed；forlo!ateapotofsomebasematerial，butsimpleandelegantinform，beinganexactreproductionofamelon；andinsidethisteapotacanvasbagcontainingtenguineasinsilver，andawash-leatherbagcontainingtwentyguineasingold，andaslipofpaper，whichRosa，beingnowhalfrecoveredfromherstupefaction，readouttoherfatherandDr。Staines:

"Peoplethatbuypresentsblindfoldgiveduplicatesandtriplicates；andmenseldomchoosetoawoman"staste；sobepleasedtoaccepttheenclosedtea-leaves，andbuyforyourself。

Theteapotyoucanputonthehob，foritisnickel。"

Rosalookedsorepuzzledagain。"Papa，"saidshe，timidly，"haveweanyfriendthatis——alittle——deranged?"

"Alot。"

"Oh，then，thataccounts。"

"Whyno，love，"saidChristopher。"Ihaveheardofmuchlearningmakingamanmad，butneverofmuchgoodsense。"

"What!Doyoucallthissensible?"

"Don"tyou?"

"I"llreaditagain，"saidRosa。"Well——yes——Ideclare——itisnotsomadasIthought；butitisveryeccentric。"

Lusignansuggestedtherewasnothingsoeccentricascommonsense，especiallyintimeofwedding。"This，"saidhe，"comesfromtheCity。Itisafriendofmine，someoldfox；heisthrowingdustinyoureyeswithhisreasons；hisrealreasonwasthathistimeismoney；itwouldhavecosttheoldrogueahundredpounds"worthoftime——youknowtheCity，Christopher——togooutandchoosethegirlapresent；sohehassenthisclerkoutwithachecktobuyapewterteapot，andfillitwithspecie。"

"Pewter!"criedRosa。"Nosuchthing!It"snickel。Whatisnickel，Iwonder?"

Thehandwritingaffordednoclew，sotherethediscussionended:

butitwasanicelittlemystery，andveryconvenient；madeconversation。Rosahadmanyananimateddiscussionaboutitwithherfemalefriends。

Thewedding-daycameatlast。Thesunshone——ACTUALLY，asRosaobserved。Thecarriagesdroveup。Thebridesmaids，principallyoldschoolfellowsandimpassionedcorrespondentsofRosa，werepretty，anddressedalikeanddelightfully；butthebridewaspeerless；herSouthernbeautyliterallyshoneinthatwhitesatindressandveil，andherheadwasregalwiththeCrownoforange-

blossoms。Anothercrownshehad——truevirginmodesty。Alowmurmurburstfromthementhemomenttheysawher；theoldwomenforgaveherbeautyonthespot，andtheyoungwomenalmostpardonedit；shewassosweetandwomanly，andsosisterlytoherownsex。

Whentheystartedforthechurchshebegantotremble，shescarceknewwhy；andwhenthesolemnwordsweresaid，andtheringwasputonherfinger，shecriedalittle，andlookedhalfimploringlyatherbridesmaidsonce，asifsearedatleavingthemforanuntriedandmysteriouslifewithnowomannear。

Theyweremarried。Thencamethebreakfast，thathourofuneasinessandblushingtosuchabrideasthis；butatlastshewasreleased。Shespedup-stairs，thankinggoodnessitwasover。

Downcameherlastbox。Thebridefollowedinaplaintravellingdress，whichhergloriouseyesandbrowsandherrichglowingcheeksseemedtoillumine:shewashandedintothecarriage，thebridegroomfollowed。Alltheyoungguestsclusteredaboutthedoor，armedwithwhiteshoes——slippersaregoneby。

Theystarted；theladiesflungtheirwhiteshoesrightandleftwithreligiousimpartiality，exceptthatnotoneoftheirmissileswentattheobject。Themen，moreskilful，sentashowerontotheroofofthecarriage，whichistheluckyspot。Thebridekissedherhand，andmanagedtoputoffcrying，thoughitcostherastruggle。Thepartyhurrahed；enthusiasticyouthsgatheredfallenshoes，andranandhurledthemagainwithcheerfulyells，andawaywentthehappypair，thebrideleaningsweetlyandconfidinglywithbothherwhitehandsonthebridegroom"sshoulder，whilehedriedthetearsthatwouldrunnowatleavinghomeandparentforever，andkissedheroften，andencircledherwithhisstrongarm，andmurmuredcomfort，andlove，andpride，andjoy，andsweetvowsoflifelongtendernessintoherears，thatsoonstolenearerhislipstohear，andthefaircheekgrewsoftlytohisshoulder。

CHAPTERVI。

Dr。StainesandMrs。StainesvisitedFrance，Switzerland，andtheRhine，andpassedamonthofElysiumbeforetheycametoLondontofacetheirrealdestinyandfightthebattleoflife。

Andhere，methinks，areaderofnovelsmayperhapscryoutandsay，"Whatmannerofmanisthis，whomarrieshisheroandheroine，andthen，insteadofleavingthemhappyforlife，andatrestfromhisuneasypenandalltheirothertroubles，flowscoollyonwiththeiradventures?"

TothisIcanonlyreplythattheoldEnglishnovelisnoruletome，andlifeis；andIrespectfullyproposeanexperiment。Catcheightoldmarriedpeople，fourofeachsex，andsayuntothem，"Sir，"or"Madam，didthemoreremarkableeventsofyourlifecometoyoubeforemarriageorafter?"Mostofthemwillsay"after，"

andletthatbemyexcusefortreatingthemarriageofChristopherStainesandRosaLusignanasmerelyoneincidentintheirlives；anincidentwhich，sofarfromendingtheirstory，ledbydegreestomorestrikingeventsthananythatoccurredtothembeforetheyweremanandwife。

Theyreturned，then，fromtheirhoneytour，andStaines，whowasmethodicalandkeptadiary，madethefollowingentrytherein:——

"Wehavenowalifeofendurance，andself-denial，andeconomy，beforeus；wehavetorentahouse，andfurnishit，andliveinit，untilprofessionalincomeshallflowinandmakeallthingseasy:

andwehavetwothousandfivehundredpoundslefttodoitwith。"

Theycametoafamilyhotel，andDr。Staineswentoutdirectlyafterbreakfasttolookforahouse。Actingonafriend"sadvice，hevisitedthestreetsandplacesnorthofOxfordStreet，lookingforagoodcommodioushouseadaptedtohisbusiness。Hefoundthreeorfouratfairrents，neithercheapnordear，thedistrictbeingrespectableandratherwealthy，butnolongerfashionable。