第8章

"NotofCurzonStreet?"

"Yes。"

"Andyouhavequarrelledwithher?"

"Yes。"

"Well，butherhusbandisageneralpractitioner。"

"Sheisatraitress。"

"ButherhusbandcouldputagooddealofmoneyinChristopher"sway。"

"Ican"thelpit。Sheisatraitress。"

"Andyouhavequarrelledwithheraboutanoldwardrobe。"

"No，forherdisloyalty，andherbasegood-for-nothingness。Oh!

oh!oh!"

UnclePhilipgotup，lookingsour。"Goodafternoon，Mrs。

Christopher，"saidhe，verydryly。

Christopheraccompaniedhimtothefootofthestairs。"Well，Christopher，"saidhe，"matrimonyisablunderatthebest；andyouhavenotdonethethingbyhalves。Youhavemarriedasimpleton。

Shewillbeyourruin。"

"UnclePhilip，sinceyouonlycomeheretoinsultus，Ihopeinfutureyouwillstayathome。"

"Oh!withpleasure，sir。Good-by!"

CHAPTERVII。

ChristopherStainescameback，lookingpainedanddisturbed。

"There，"saidhe，"Ifeareditwouldcometothis。IhavequarrelledwithUnclePhilip。"

"Oh!howcouldyou?"

"Heaffrontedme。"

"Whatabout?"

"Neveryoumind。Don"tletussayanythingmoreaboutit，darling。

Itisapity，asadpity——hewasagoodfriendofmineonce。"

Hepaused，enteredwhathadpassedinhisdiary，andthensatdown，withagentleexpressionofsadnessonhismanlyfeatures。Rosahungabouthim，softandpitying，tillitclearedaway，atalleventsforthetime。

NextdaytheywenttogethertoclearthegoodsRosahadpurchased。

Whilstthelistwasbeingmadeoutintheoffice，incamethefair-

hairedboy，withaten-poundnoteinhisveryhand。Rosacaughtsightofit，andturnedtotheauctioneer，withasweet，pityingface:

"Oh!sir，surelyyouwillnottakeallthatmoneyfromhim，poorchild，foraricketyoldchair。"

Theauctioneerstaredwithamazementathersimplicity，andsaid，"Whatwouldthevendorssaytome?"

Shelookeddistressed，andsaid，"Well，then，reallyweoughttoraiseasubscription，poorthing!"

"Why，ma"am，"saidtheauctioneer，"heisn"thurt:thearticlebelongedtohismotherandhersister；thebrother-in-lawisn"tongoodterms；sohedemandedapublicsale。Shewillgetbackfourpuntenoutofit。"Heretheclerkputinhisword。"Andthere"sfivepoundspaid，Iforgottotellyou。"

"Oh!leftadeposit，didhe?"

"No，sir。Butthelaughinghyenagaveyoufivepoundsattheendofthesale。"

"Thelaughinghyena，Mr。Jones?"

"Oh!begpardon；thatiswhatwecallhimintheroom。Hehasgotsuchacuriouslaugh。"

"Oh!Iknowthegent。Heisaretireddoctor。Iwishhe"dlaughlessandbuymore:andHEgaveyoufivepoundstowardstheyounggentleman"sarm-chair!Well，Ishouldassoonhaveexpectedbloodfromaflint。Youhavegotfivepoundstopay，sir:sonowthechairwillcostyourmammatenshillings。Givehimtheorderandthechange，Mr。Jones。"

ChristopherandRosatalkedthisoverintheroomwhilstthemenwerelookingouttheirpurchases。"Come，"saidRosa；"nowI

forgivehimsneeringatme；hisheartisnotreallyhard，yousee。"

Staines，onthecontrary，wasveryangry。"What!"hecried，pityaboywhomadeonebadbargain，that，afterall，wasnotaverybadbargain；andhehadnokindness，norevencommonhumanity，formybeautifulRosa，inexperiencedasachild，andbuyingforherhusband，likeagood，affectionate，honestcreature，amongstalotofsharpersandhard-heartedcynics——likehimself。"

"ItWAScruelofhim，"saidRosa，alteringhermindinamoment，andhalfinclinedtocry。

ThismadeChristopherfurious。"Theill-natured，crotchety，old——

thefactis，heisamisogynist。"

"Oh，thewretch!"saidRosawarmly。"Andwhatisthat?"

"Awoman-hater。"

"Oh!isthatall?Why，sodoI——afterthatFlorenceCole。Womenaremean，heartlessthings。Givememen；theyareloyalandtrue。"

"Allofthem?"inquiredChristopher，alittlesatirically。"Readthepapers。"

"Everysoulofthem，"saidMrs。Staines，passingloftilyovertheproposedtest。"Thatis，alltheonesIcareabout；andthatismyown，ownone。"

Disagreeablecreaturestohaveaboutone——thesesimpletons!

Mrs。StainestookChristophertoshopstobuytheremainingrequisites:andinthreedaysmorethehousewasfurnished，twofemaleservantsengaged，andthecoupletooktheirluggageovertotheBijou。

Rosawasexcitedandhappyatthenoveltyofpossessionandauthority，andthatclosesenseofhouseproprietorshipwhichbelongstowoman。Bydinner-timeshecouldhavetoldyouhowmanyshelvestherewereineverycupboard，andknewtheBijoubyheartinawaythatChristopherneverknewit。Allthisended，asrunningaboutandexcitementgenerallydoes，withmyladybeingexhausted，andlaxwithfatigue。Sothenhemadeherliedownonalittlecouch，whilehewentthroughhisaccounts。

Whenhehadexaminedallthebillscarefullyhelookedverygrave，andsaid，"Whowouldbelievethis?Webeganwiththreethousandpounds。Itwastolastusseveralyears——tillIgotagoodpractice。Rosa，thereisonlyfourteenhundredandfortypoundsleft。"

"Oh，impossible!"saidRosa。"Oh，dear!whydidIeverenterasaleroom?"

"No，no，mydarling；youwerebittenonceortwice，butyoumadesomegoodbargainstoo。Remembertherewasfourhundredpoundssetapartformylifepolicy。"

"Whatawasteofmoney!"

"Yourfatherdidnotthinkso。Thenthelease；thepremium；

repairsofthedrainsthatwouldhavepoisonedmyRosa；turningthecoach-houseintoadispensary；painting，papering，andfurnishing；

china，andlinen，andeverythingtobuy。Wemustlookatthisseriously。Onlyfourteenhundredandfortypoundsleft。Aslowprofession。Nofriends。IhavequarrelledwithUnclePhilip:youwithMrs。Cole；andherhusbandwouldhavelaunchedme。"

"Anditwastopleaseherwesettledhere。Oh，Icouldkillher:

nastycat!"

"Nevermind；itisnotacasefordespondency，butitisforprudence。Allwehavetodoistolookthethingintheface，andbeveryeconomicalineverything。Ihadbettergiveyouanallowanceforhousekeeping；andIearnestlybegyoutobuythingsyourselfwhilstyouareapoorman"swife，andpayreadymoneyforeverything。Mymotherwasagreatmanager，andshealwayssaid，"Thereisbutoneway:beyourownmarket-woman，andpayonthespot；neverletthetradesmengetyouontheirbooks，or，whatwithfalseweight，doublecharges，andthethingsyourservantsorderthatneverenterthehouse，youlosemorethanahundredayearbycheating。""

Rosayieldedalanguidassenttothispartofhisdiscourse，andithardlyseemedtoenterhermind；butsheraisednoobjection；andinduecoursehemadeheraspecialallowanceforhousekeeping。

Itsoontranspiredthatmedicaladvicewastobehad，gratis，attheBijou，fromeighttillten:andtherewasgenerallyagoodattendance。Butaweekpassed，andnotonepatientcameoftheclassthiscouplemustliveby。Christophersetthisdowntowhatpeoplecall"thetransitionperiod:"hisKentpatientshadlosthim；hisLondonpatientsnotfoundhim。Hewrotetoallhispatientsinthecountry，andmanyofhispupilsattheuniversity，toletthemknowwherehewassettled:andthenhewaited。

Notacreaturecame。

Rosaborethisverywellforatime，solongasthehousewasanovelty；butwhenthatexcitementwaswornout，shebegantobeverydull，andusedtocomeandenticehimouttowalkwithher:hewouldlookwistfullyather，butobjectthat，ifheleftthehouse，heshouldbesuretoloseapatient。

"Oh，theywon"tcomeanymoreforourstayingin——tiresomethings!"

saidRosa。

ButChristopherwouldkissher，andremainfirm。"Mylove，"saidhe，"youdonotrealizehowhardafightthereisbeforeus。Howshouldyou?Youareveryyoung。No，foryoursake，Imustnotthrowachanceaway。Writetoyourfemalefriends:thatwillwhileawayanhourortwo。"

"What，afterthatFlorenceCole?"

"Writetothosewhohavenotmadesuchviolentprofessions。"

"SoIwill，dear。EspeciallytothosethataremarriedandcometoLondon。Oh，andI"llwritetothatcold-bloodedthing，LadyCicelyTreherne。Whydoyoushakeyourhead?"

"DidI?Iwasnotaware。Well，dear，ifladiesofrankweretocomehere，Ifeartheymightmakeyoudiscontentedwithyourlot。"

"Allthewomenonearthcouldnotdothat。However，thechancesareshewillnotcomenearme:shelefttheschoolquiteabiggirl，animmensegirl，whenIwasonlytwelve。Sheusedtosmileatmycapriccios；andonceshekissedme——actually。ShewasanawfulSawny，though，andsoaffected:IthinkIwillwritetoher。"

Theselettersbroughtjustonelady，aMrs。Turner，whotalkedtoRosaverygliblyaboutherself，andamusedRosatwice:atthethirdvisit，Rosatriedtochangetheconversation。Mrs。Turnerinstantlygotup，andwentaway。Shecouldnotbearthesoundofthehumanvoice，unlessitwastalkingaboutherandheraffairs。

AndnowStainesbegantofeeldownrightuneasy。Incomewasgoingsteadilyout:notashillingcomingin。Thelame，theblind，andthesickfrequentedhisdispensary，andgothisskilloutofhimgratis，andsometimesalittlephysic，alittlewine，andotherthingsthatcosthimmoney:butofthepatientsthatpay，notonecametohisfrontdoor。

Hewalkedroundandroundhislittleyard，likeahyenainitscage，waiting，waiting，waiting:andoh!howheenviedthelotofthosewhocanhuntforwork，insteadofhavingtostayathomeandwaitforotherstocome，whosewilltheycannotinfluence。Hisheartbegantosickenwithhopedeferred，anddimforebodingsofthefuture；andhesaw，withgrief，thathiswifewasgettingdullerandduller，andthatherdaysdraggedmoreheavily，farthanhisown；forhecouldstudy。

Atlasthisknockerbegantoshowsignsoflife:hisvisitorswerephysicians。Hislectureson"Diagnosis"werewellknowntothem；

andoneafteranotherfoundhimout。Theywerepolite，kind，evenfriendly；buthereitended:thesegentlemen，ofcourse，didnotresigntheirpatientstohim；andtheinferiorclassofpractitionersavoidedhisdoorlikeapestilence。

Mrs。Staines，whohadalwayslivedforamusement，couldstrikeoutnofixedoccupation；hertimehunglikelead；thehousewassmall；

andinsmallhousesthefaultsofservantsrunagainstthemistress，andshecan"thelpseeingthem，andalltheworseforher。Itiseasiertokeepthingscleaninthecountry，andRosahadahighstandard，whichhertwoservantscouldneverquiteattain。Thisannoyedher，andshebegantoscoldalittle。Theyansweredcivilly，butinotherrespectsremainedimperfectbeings；

theylaidouteveryshillingtheyearnedinfinery；and，this，Iamashamedtosay，irritatedMrs。Staines，whowaswearingoutherweddinggarments，andhadnoexcuseforbuying，andStaineshadbeggedhertobeeconomical。Themoretheydressed，themoreshescolded；theybegantoanswer。Shegavethecookwarning；theother，thoughnotongoodtermswiththecook，hadagushofespritdecorpsdirectly，andgaveMrs。Staineswarning。

Mrs。Stainestoldherhusbandallthis:hetookherpart，thoughwithoutopenlyinterfering；andtheyhadtwonewservants，notsogoodasthelast。

ThisworriedRosasadly；butitwasaflea-bitetothedeepernature，andmoreforecastingmindofherhusband，stilldoomedtopacethatmiserableyard，likeahyena，chafing，seeking，longingforthepatientthatnevercame。

Rosausedtolookoutofhisdressing-roomwindow，andseehimpacetheyard。Atfirst，tearsofpitystoodinhereyes。Byandbyshegotangrywiththeworld；andatlast，strangetosay，alittleirritatedwithhim。Itishardforaweakwomantokeepupallherrespectforthemanthatfails。

Oneday，afterwatchinghimalongtimeunseen，shegotexcited，putonhershawlandbonnet，andrandowntohim:shetookhimbythearm:"Ifyouloveme，comeoutofthisprison，andwalkwithme；wearetoomiserable。Ishallbeyourfirstpatientifthisgoesonmuchlonger。"Helookedather，sawshewasveryexcited，andhadbetterbehumored；sohekissedherandjustsaid，withamelancholysmile，"Howpooraretheythathavenotpatience!"Thenheputonhishat，andwalkedintheParkandKensingtonGardenswithher。Theseasonwasjustbeginning。Therewerecarriagesenough，andgayAmazonsenough，tomakepoorRosasighmorethanonce。

Christopherheardthesigh；andpressedherarm，andsaid，"Courage，love，Ihopetoseeyouamongthemyet。"

"Thesoonerthebetter，"saidshe，alittlehardly。

"And，meantime，whichofthemallisasbeautifulasyou?"

"AllIknowis，theyaremoreattractive。Wholooksatme，walkingtamelyby?"

Christophersaidnothing:butthesewordsseemedtoimplyathirstforadmiration，andmadehimalittleuneasy。

Byandbythewalkputtheswift-changingRosainspirits，andshebegantochatgayly，andhungprattlingandbeamingonherhusband"sarm，whentheyenteredCurzonStreet。Here，however，occurredanincident，triflinginitself，butunpleasant。Dr。

StainessawoneofhisbestKentishpatientsgetfeeblyoutofhiscarriage，andcallonDr。Barr。Hestarted，andstopped。Rosaaskedwhatwasthematter。Hetoldher。Shesaid，"WeARE

unfortunate。"

Stainessaidnothing；heonlyquickenedhispace；buthewasgreatlydisturbed。Sheexpectedhimtocomplainthatshehaddraggedhimout，andlosthimthatfirstchance。Buthesaidnothing。Whentheygothome，heaskedtheservanthadanybodycalled。

"No，Sir。"

"Surelyyouaremistaken，Jane。Agentlemaninacarriage!"

"Notacreaturehavebeensinceyouwentout，sir。"

"Well，then，dearest，"saidhesweetly，"wehavenothingtoreproachourselveswith。"Thenheknithisbrowgloomily。"ItisworsethanIthought。Itseemsevenone"scountrypatientsgotoanotherdoctorwhentheyvisitLondon。Itishard。Itishard。"

Rosaleanedherheadonhisshoulder，andcurledroundhim，asoneshewouldshieldagainsttheworld"sinjustice；butshesaidnothing；shewasalittlefrightenedathiseyethatlowered，andhisnobleframethattrembledalittle，withiresuppressed。

Twodaysafterthis，abroughamdroveuptothedoor，andatallish，fattish，pasty-facedmangotout，andinquiredforDr。

Staines。

Hewasshownintothedining-room，andtoldJanehehadcometoconsultthedoctor。

Rosahadpeepedoverthestairs，allcuriosity；sheglidednoiselesslydown，andwithlove"sswiftfootgotintotheyardbeforeJane。"Heiscome!heiscome!Kissme。"

Dr。Staineskissedherfirst，andthenaskedwhowascome。

"Oh，nobodyofanyconsequence。ONLYthefirstpatient。Kissmeagain。"

Dr。Staineskissedheragain，andthenwasforgoingtothefirstpatient。

"No，"saidshe；"notyet。Imetadoctor"swifeatDr。Mayne"s，andshetoldmethings。Youmustalwayskeepthemwaiting；orelsetheythinknothingofyou。Suchafunnywoman!"Treat"emlikedogs，mydear，"shesaid。ButItoldhertheywouldn"tcometobetreatedlikedogsoranyotheranimal。"

"Youhadbetterhavekeptthattoyourself，Ithink。"

"Oh!ifyouaregoingtobedisagreeable，good-by。Youcangotoyourpatient，sir。Christie，dear，ifheisvery——veryill——andI"msureIhopeheis——oh，howwickedIam；mayIhaveanewbonnet?"

"Ifyoureallywantone。"

Onthepatient"scardwas"Mr。Pettigrew，47ManchesterSquare。"

AssoonasStainesenteredtheroom，thefirstpatienttoldhimwhoandwhathewas，aretiredcivilianfromIndia；buthehadgotasontherestill，averyrisingman；wantedtobeaparson；buthewouldnotstandthat；badprofession；don"trisebymerit；veryhardtoriseatall；——no，Indiawastheplace。"Asforme，Imademyfortunethereintenyears。Obligedtoleaveitnow——invalidthismanyyears；noTONE。Triedtwoorthreedoctorsinthisneighborhood；heardtherewasanewone，hadwrittenabookonsomething。ThoughtIwouldtryHIM。"

Tostophim，Stainesrequestedtofeelhispulse，andexaminehistongueandeye。

"Youaresufferingfromindigestion，"saidhe。"Iwillwriteyouaprescription；butifyouwanttogetwell，youmustsimplifyyourdietverymuch。"

Whilehewaswritingtheprescription，offwentthispatient"stongue，andranthroughthetopicsofthedayandintohisfamilyhistoryagain。

Staineslistenedpolitely。Hecouldaffordit，havingonlythisone。

Atlast，thefirstpatient，havingdeliveredanoctavovolumeofnothing，rosetogo；butitseemsthatspeakingan"infinitedealofnothing"exhauststhebody，thoughitdoesnotaffectthemind；

forthefirstpatientsankdowninhischairagain。"Ihaveexcitedmyselftoomuch——feelratherfaint。"

Stainessawnosignsofcomingsyncope；herangthebellquietly，andorderedadecanterofsherrytobebrought；thefirstpatientfilledhimselfaglass；thenanother；andwentoff，revived，tochatterelsewhere。Butatthedoorhesaid，"IhadalwaysarunningaccountwithDr。Mivar。Isupposeyoudon"tobjecttothatsystem。Doublefeethefirstvisit，singleafterwards。"

Dr。Stainesbowedalittlestiffly；hewouldhavepreferredthemoney。However，helookedattheBlueBook，andfoundhisvisitorlivedat47ManchesterSquare；sothatremovedhisanxiety。

Thefirstpatientcalledeveryotherday，chatterednineteentothedozen，wasexhausted，dranktwoglassesofsherry，anddroveaway。

Soonafterthisasecondpatientcalled。Thisonewasadeputypatient——Collett，aretiredbutler——keptalodging-house，andwaitedatparties；helivedcloseby，buthadamarrieddaughterinChelsea。Wouldthedoctorvisither，andHEwouldberesponsible?

Stainespaidthewomanavisitortwo，andtreatedhersoeffectually，thatsoonhervisitswerepaidtohim。Shewascured，andStaines，whobythistimewantedtoseemoney，senttoCollett。

Collettdidnotanswer。

Staineswrotewarmly。

Collettdeadsilent。

Stainesemployedasolicitor。

Collettsaidhehadrecommendedthepatient，thatwasall。Hehadneversaidhewouldpayherdebts。Thatwasherhusband"sbusiness。

Nowherhusbandwasthemateofaship；wouldnotbeinEnglandforeighteenmonths。

Thewoman，visitedbylawyer"sclerk，criedbitterly，andsaidsheandherchildrenhadscarcelyenoughtoeat。

LawyeradvisedStainestoabandonthecase，andpayhimtwopoundsfifteenshillingsexpenses。Hedidso。

"Thisisdamnable，"saidhe。"ImustgetitoutofPettigrew；by-

the-by，hehasnotbeenherethistwodays。"

HewaitedanotherdayforPettigrew，andthenwrotetohim。Noanswer。Called。Pettigrewgoneabroad。HouseinManchesterSquaretolet。

Staineswenttothehouse-agentwithhistale。Agentwasimpenetrableatfirst；but，atlast，wonbythedoctor"smannerandhisunhappiness，referredhimtoPettigrew"ssolicitor；thesolicitorwasarespectableman，andsaidhewouldforwardtheclaimtoPettigrewinParis。

ButbythistimePettigrewwaschatteringandguzzlinginBerlin；

andthencehegottoSt。Petersburg。Inthatstrongholdofgluttony，hegormandizedmorethanever，and，beingunabletotalkitoffhisstomach，asinothercities，hadapoplexy，anddied。

ButlongbeforethisStainessawhismoneywasasirrecoverableashissherry；andhesaidtoRosa，"IwonderwhetherIshalleverlivetocursethehumanrace?"

"Heavenforbid!"saidRosa。"Oh，theyuseyoucruelly，mypoor，poorChristie!"

Thusformonthstheyoungdoctor"spatientsbledhim，andthatwasall。

AndRosagotmoreandmoremopedatbeinginthehousesomuch，andpesteredChristophertotakeherout，andhedeclined:and，beingamanhardtobeat，tooktowritingonmedicalsubjects，inhopesofgettingsomemoneyfromthevariousmedicalandscientificpublications；buthefounditashardtogetthewedgeinthereastogetpatients。

AtlastRosa"sremonstrancesbegantoriseintosomethingthatsoundedlikereproaches。OneSundayshecametohiminherbonnet，andinterruptedhisstudies，tosayhemightaswelllaydownthepen，andtalk。Nobodywouldpublishanythinghewrote。

Christopherfrowned，butcontainedhimself，andlaiddownthepen。

"Imightaswellnotbemarriedatallasbeadoctor"swife。Youareneverseenoutwithme，noteventochurch。DobehavelikeaChristian，andcometochurchwithmenow。"

Dr。Stainesshookhishead。

"Why，Iwouldn"tmisschurchforalltheworld。Anyexcitementisbetterthanalwaysmoping。Comeoverthewaterwithme。ThetimeJaneandIwent，theclergymanreadapaperthatMr。Brownhadfallendowninafit。Therewassucharushdirectly，andI"msurefiftyladieswentout——fancy，allMrs。Browns!Wasn"tthatfun?"

"Fun?Idon"tseeit。Well，Rosa，yourmindisevidentlybetteradaptedtodiversionthanmineis。Goyoutochurch，love，andI"llcontinuemystudies。"

"ThenallIcansayis，IwishIwasbackinmyfather"shouse。

Husband!friend!companion!——Ihavenone。"

Thensheburstoutcryingviolently；and，beingshockedatwhatshehadsaid，andattheagonyithadbroughtintoherhusband"sface，shewentoffintohysterics；andashisheartwouldnotlethimbellowather，oremptyabucketonherashewouldonanotherpatient，shehadagoodlongboutofthem:andgotherway，forshebrokeuphisstudiesforthatday，atallevents。

Evenafterthehystericsweregotunder，shecontinuedtomoanandsighveryprettily，withherlovely，languidheadpillowedonherhusband"sarm；inaword，thoughthehystericswerereal，yetthisinnocentyoungpersonhadthepresenceofmindtopostponeentireconvalescence，andlayherselfouttobepettedallday。Butfatewilleditotherwise:whileshewassighingandmoaning，cametothedoorascurryingoffeet，andthenasharp，persistentringingthatmeantsomething。Themoanercockedeyeandear，andsaid，inherevery-dayvoice，which，comingsosuddenly，soundedverydroll，"Whatisthat，Iwonder?"

Janehurriedtothestreet-door，andRosarecoveredbymagic；and，preferringgossiptohysterics，inanalmostgleefulwhisper，orderedChristophertoopenthedoorofthestudy。TheBijouwassosmallthatthefollowingdialoguerangintheirears:——

Aboyinbuttonsgaspedout，"Oh，ifyouplease，willyouastthedoctortocomerounddirectly；there"sahaccident。"

"La，blessme!"saidJane，andneverbudged。

"Yes，miss。It"sourmissus"slittlegirlfallenrightoffani-chair，andcutherheaddreadful，andsmotheredinblood。"

"La，tobesure!"Andshewaitedsteadilyformore。

"Ay，andmissusshefaintedrightoff；andI"vebeentothereglerdoctor，whichhe"sout；andSarah，thehousemaid，saidIhadbettercomehere；youwasonlyjustsetup，shesaid；youwouldn"thavesomuchtodo，saysshe。"

"ThatisallSHEknows，"saidJane。"Why，ourmaster——theypullshiminpieceswhichistohavehimfust。"

"Whatanawfulliar!Oh，yougoodgirl!"whisperedDr。StainesandRosainonebreath。

"Ah，well，"saidButtons，"anyway，Sarahsayssheknowsyouareclever，"cosherlittlegirlasliveswithhermother，andcallsSarahaunt，hasbintoyour"spensarywithringworm，andyoucuredherrightoff。"

"Ay，andagoodmanymore，"saidJane，loftily。Shewasahousemaidofimagination；andwhileStaineswasputtingsomelintandaninstrumentcaseintohispocket，sheproceededtorelateanumberofmiraculouscures。Dr。Stainesinterruptedthembysuddenlyemerging，andinvitingButtonstotakehimtothehouse。

Mrs。StaineswassopleasedwithJaneforcrackingupthedoctor，thatshegaveherfiveshillings；and，afterthat，usedtotalktoheragreatdealmorethantothecook，whichjudiciousconductpresentlysetallthreebytheears。

Buttonstookthedoctortoafinehouseinthesamestreet，andtoldhimhismistress"snameontheway——Mrs。Lucas。Hewastakenuptothenursery，andfoundMrs。Lucasseated，cryingandlamenting，andawomanholdingalittlegirlofaboutseven，whosebrowhadbeencutopenbythefender，onwhichshehadfallenfromachair；itlookedveryugly，andwasevennowbleeding。

Dr。Staineslostnotime；heexaminedthewoundkeenly，andthensaidkindlytoMrs。Lucas，"Iamhappytotellyouitisnotserious。"Hethenaskedforalargebasinandsometepidwater，andbatheditsosoftlyandsoothinglythatthechildsoonbecamecomposed；andthemotherdiscoveredtheartistatonce。Hecompressedthewound，andexplainedtoMrs。Lucasthattheprincipalthingreallywastoavoidanuglyscar。"Thereisnodanger，"saidhe。Hethenboundthewoundneatlyup，andhadthegirlputtobed。"Youwillnotwakeheratanyparticularhour，nurse。Lethersleep。Havealittlestrongbeef-teaready，andgiveitheratanyhour，nightorday，sheasksforit。Butdonotforceitonher，oryouwilldohermoreharmthangood。Shehadbettersleepbeforesheeats。"

Mrs。Lucasbeggedhimtocomeeverymorning；and，ashewasgoing，sheshookhandswithhim，andthesoftpalmdepositedahardsubstancewrappedinpaper。Hetookitwithprofessionalgravityandseemingunconsciousness；but，onceoutsidethehouse，wenthomeonwings。Heranuptothedrawing-room，andfoundhiswifeseated，andplayingatreading。Hethrewhimselfonhisknees，andthefeeintoherlap；and，whilesheunfoldedthepaperwithanejaculationofpleasure，hesaid，"Darling，thefirstrealpatient——

thefirstrealfee。Itisyourstobuythenewbonnet。"

"Oh，I"msoglad!"saidshe，withhereyesglistening。"ButI"mafraidonecan"tgetabonnetfittowear——foraguinea。"

Dr。Stainesvisitedhislittlepatienteveryday，andreceivedhisguinea。Mrs。Lucasalsocalledhiminforherownlittleailments，andtheywerethebestpossiblekindofailments:for，beingimaginary，therewasnolimittothem。

ThendidMrs。Stainesturnjealousofherhusband。"Theyneveraskme，"saidshe；"andIammopedtodeath。"

"Itishard，"saidChristopher，sadly。"Buthavealittlepatience。Societywillcometoyoulongbeforepracticecomestome。"

Abouttwoo"clockoneafternoonacarriageandpairdroveup，andagorgeousfootmandeliveredacard——"LadyCicelyTreherne。"

OfcourseMrs。Staineswasathome，andonlywithheldbyproprietyfromboundingintothepassagetomeetherschool-fellow。However，shecomposedherselfinthedrawing-room，andpresentlythedoorwasopened，andaverytallyoungwoman，richlybutnotgaylydressed，driftedintotheroom，andstoodthereastatueofcomposure。

Rosahadrisentoflytoher；butthereverenceagirlofeighteenstrikesintoachildoftwelvehungaboutherstill，andshecametimidlyforward，blushingandsparkling，acuriouscontrastincolorandmindtohervisitor；forLadyCicelywasLanguorinperson——herhairwhitey-brown，herfaceafineoval，butalmostcolorless；hereyesapalegray，herneckandhandsincomparablywhiteandbeautiful——alymphaticyounglady，aliveantidotetoemotion。However，Rosa"sbeauty，timidity，andundisguisedaffectionatenessweresomethingsodifferentfromwhatshewasusedtointheworldoffashion，thatsheactuallysmiled，andheldoutbothherhandsalittleway。Rosaseizedthem，andpressedthem；