第9章

theylefther；andremainedpassiveandlimp。

"OLadyCicely，"saidRosa，"howkindofyoutocome。"

"Howkindofyoutosendtome，"wasthepolite，butperfectlycoolreply。"Buthowyouaregwown，and——mayIsayimpwoved?——YoulapetiteLusignan!Itisincwedible，"lispedherladyship，verycalmly。

"Iwasonlyachild，"saidRosa。"Youwerealwayssobeautifulandtall，andkindtoalittlemonkeylikeme。Oh，praysitdown，LadyCicely，andtalkofoldtimes。"

Shedrewhergentlytothesofa，andtheysatdownhandinhand；

butLadyCicely"shigh-bredreservemadeheraverypoorgossipaboutanythingthattouchedherselfandherfamily；soRosa，thoughnoegotist，wasdrawnintotalkingaboutherselfmorethanshewouldhavedonehadshedeliberatelyplannedtheconversation。Butherewasanoldschool-fellow，andasingularlypolitelistener，andsooutcameherlove，hergenuinehappiness，herparticulargriefs，andespeciallythecrowninggrievance，nosociety，mopedtodeath，etc。

LadyCicelycouldhardlyunderstandthesentimentinawomanwhosoevidentlylovedherhusband。"Society!"saidshe，afterduereflection，"why，itisaboa。"(AndhereImayaswellexplainthatLadyCicelyspokecertainwordsfalsely，andothersaffectedly；andasfortheletterr，shecouldsayitifshemadeaheartyeffort，butwasgenerallytoolazytothrowherlegoverit。)"Society!I"mdwenchedtodeathwithit。IfIcouldonlycatchfiahlikeotherwomen，andlovesomebody，Iwouldmuchratherhaveatete-a-tetewithhimthangoteawingaboutalldayandallnight，fromoneunintwistingcwowdtoanother。Tobesure，"saidshe，puzzlingthematterout，"youareabeauty，andwouldbemorelookedat。"

"Theidea!and——ohno!no!itisnotthat。Buteveninthecountrywehadalwayssomesociety。"

"Well，dyar，believeme，withyourappeawance，youcanhaveasmuchsocietyasyouplease；butitwillboayoutodeath，asitdoesme，andthenyouwilllongtobeleftquietwithasensiblemanwholovesyou。"

SaidRosa，"WhenshallIhaveanothertete-a-tetewithYOU，I

wonder?Oh，ithasbeensuchacomforttome。Blessyouforcoming。There——IwrotetoCecilia，andEmily，andMrs。Bosanquetthatisnow，andallmyswornfriends，andtothinkofyoubeingtheonetocome——youthatneverkissedmebutonce，andanearl"sdaughterintothebargain。"

Ha!ha!ha!"——LadyCicelyactuallylaughedforonceinaway，anddidnotfeeltheeffort。"Asforkissing，"saidshe，"ifIfallshawt，fawgiveme。Iwasnevaavewydemonstwative。"

"No；andIhavehadalesson。ThatFlorenceCole——FlorenceWhitingthatwas，youknow——wasalwayskissingme，andshehasturnedoutatraitor。I"lltellyouallabouther。"Andshedid。

LadyCicelythoughtMrs。Stainesalittletoounreservedinherconversation；butwassocharmedwithhersweetnessandfreshnessthatshekeptuptheacquaintance，andcalledonhertwiceaweekduringtheseason。Atfirstshewonderedthathervisitswerenotreturned；butRosaletoutthatshewasashamedtocallonfootinGrosvenorSquare。

LadyCicelyshruggedherbeautifulshouldersalittleatthat；butshecontinuedtodothevisiting，andtoenjoythesimple，innocentrapturewithwhichshewasreceived。

Thislady"spronunciationofmanywordswasfalseoraffected。Shesaid"goodmurning"for"goodmorning，"andturnedothervowelstodiphthongs，andplayedtwoorthreeprankswithher"r"s。"Butwecannotbeallimperfection:withherpronunciationherfollycametoafullstop。Ireallybelieveshelispedlessnonsenseandbadtasteinayearthansomeofusarticulateinaday。Tobesure，follyisgenerallyutteredinahurry，andshewastoodeplorablylazytospeakfastonanyoccasionwhatever。

OnedayMrs。Stainestookherup-stairs，andshowedherfromthebackwindowherhusbandpacingtheyard，waitingforpatients。

LadyCicelyfoldedherarms，andcontemplatedhimatfirstwithasortofzoologicalcuriosity。Gentlemanpacingbackyard，likehyena，shehadneverseenbefore。

Atlastsheopenedhermouthinawhisper，"Whatishedoing?"

"Waitingforpatients。"

"Oh!Waiting——for——patients?"

"Forpatientsthatnevercome，andneverwillcome。"

"Cuwious!HowlittleIknowoflife。"

"Itisthatallday，dear，orelsewriting。"

LadyCicely，withhereyesfixedonStaines，madeamotionwithherhandthatshewasattending。

"Andtheywon"tpublishawordhewrites。"

"Poorman!"

"Niceforme；isitnot?"

"Ibegintounderstand，"saidLadyCicelyquietly；andsoonafterretiredwithherinvariablecomposure。

Meantime，Dr。Staines，likeagoodhusband，hadthrownoutoccasionalhintstoMrs。Lucasthathehadawife，beautiful，accomplished，moped。Morethanthat，hewentsofarastoregrettoherthatMrs。Staines，beinginaneighborhoodnewtohim，sawsolittlesociety；themoreso，asshewasformedtoshine，andhadnotbeenusedtoseclusion。

AllthesehintsfelldeadonMrs。Lucas。Ahandsomeandskilfuldoctorwaswelcometoher:hiswife——thatwasquiteanothermatter。

ButonedayMrs。LucassawLadyCicelyTreherne"scarriagestandingatthedoor。Thestyleofthewholeturnoutimpressedher。Shewonderedwhoseitwas。

Onanotheroccasionshesawitdriveup，andtheladygetout。Sherecognizedher；andtheverynextdaythisparvenuesaidadroitly，"Now，Dr。Staines，reallyyoucan"tbeallowedtohideyourwifeinthisway。(Stainesstared。)WhynotintroducehertomenextWednesday?Itismynight。Iwouldgiveadinnerexpresslyforher；butIdon"tliketodothatwhilemyhusbandisinNaples。"

WhenStainescarriedtheinvitationtohiswife，shewasdelighted，andkissedhimwithchildishfrankness。

Buttheverynextmomentshebecamethoughtful，uneasy，depressed。

"Oh，dear；I"venothingtowear。"

"Oh，nonsense，Rosa。Yourweddingoutfit。"

"Theidea!Ican"tgoasabride。It"snotamasquerade。"

"Butyouhaveotherdresses。"

"Allgoneby，moreorless；ornotfitforsuchpartiesasSHE

gives。Ahundredcarriages!"

"Bringthemdown，andletmeseethem。"

"Ohyes。"Andthelady，whohadnothingtowear，paradedaveryfairshowofdresses。

Stainessawsomethingtoadmireinallofthem。Mrs。Stainesfoundmoretoobjecttoineach。

Atlasthefelluponasilver-graysilk，ofsuperlativequality。

"That!Itisasoldasthehills，"shriekedRosa。

"Itlooksjustoutoftheshop。Come，tellthetruth；howoftenhaveyouwornit?"

"IworeitbeforeIwasmarried。"

"Ay，buthowoften?"

"Twice。Threetimes，Ibelieve。"

"Ithoughtso。Itisgoodasnew。"

"ButIhavehaditsolongbyme。IhadittwoyearsbeforeImadeitup。"

"Whatdoesthatmatter?Doyouthinkthepeoplecantellhowlongadresshasbeenlurkinginyourwardrobe?Thisischildish，Rosa。

There，withthisdressasgoodasnew，andyourbeauty，youwillbeasmuchadmired，andperhapshated，asyourheartcandesire。"

"Iamafraidnot，"saidRosanaively。"Oh，howIwishIhadknownaweekago。"

"Iamverythankfulyoudidnot，"saidStainesdryly。

Atteno"clockMrs。Staineswasnearlydressed；ataquarterpasttenshedemandedtenminutes；athalf-pasttenshesoughtareprieve；ataquartertoeleven，beingassuredthatthestreetwasfullofcarriages，whichhadputdownatMrs。Lucas"s，sheconsentedtoemerge；andinaminutetheywereatthehouse。

Theywereshownfirstintoacloak-room，andthenintoatea-room，andthenmountedthestairs。Oneservanttooktheirnames，andbawledthemtoanotherfouryardsoff，hetoanotheraboutasnear，andsoon；andtheyedgedthemselvesintotheroom，notyettoocrowdedtomovein。

Theyhadnottakenmanysteps，onthechanceoffindingtheirhostess，whenaslightbuzzarose，andseemedtofollowthem。

Rosawonderedwhatthatwas；butonlyforamoment；sheobservedatall，stout，aquilinewomanfixaneyeofbitter，diabolical，malignanthatredonher；andassheadvanced，uglynoseswerecockeddisdainfully，andscraggyshoulderselevatedattheriskofsendingthebonesthroughtheleather，andatitterortwoshotafterher。Awoman"sinstinctgaveherthekeyatonce；thesexeshadcomplimentedheratsight；eachintheirway；themenwithrespectfuladmiration；thewomen，withtheirinflammablejealousyandreadyhatredinanotherofthequalitytheyvaluemostinthemselves。Butthecountrygirlwastoomanyforthem:shewouldneitherseenorbear，butmovedsedatelyon，andcalmlycrushedthemwithherSouthernbeauty。Theirdry，powderedfacescouldnotlivebythesideofherglowingskin，withnature"sdelicateglossuponit，andtherichbloodmantlingbelowit。Thegot-upbeauties，i。e。，themajority，seemedliterallytofadeandwitherasshepassed。

Mrs。Lucasgottoher，suppressedaslightmaternalpang，havingdaughterstomarry，andtookherlineinamoment；herewasadecoyduck。Mrs。Lucaswasallgraciousness，madeacquaintance，andtookalittleturnwithher，introducinghertooneortwopersons；

amongtherest，tothemalignantwoman，Mrs。Barr。Mrs。Barr，onthis，ceasedtolookdaggersandsubstitutedicicles；butonthehatefulbeautymovingaway，droppedtheicicles，andresumedtheponiards。

Theroomsfilled；theheatbecameoppressive，andthemixedodorsofflowers，scents，andperspiringhumanity，sickening。Some，unabletobearit，trickledoutoftheroom，andsatalldownthestairs。

Rosabegantofeelfaint。Upcameatall，sprightlygirl，whosepertnesswasredeemedbyacertainbonhomie，andsaid，"Mrs。

Staines，Ibelieve?Iamtomakemyselfagreeabletoyou。Thatistheorderfromheadquarters。"

"MissLucas，"saidStaines。

Shejerkedalittleoff-handbowtohim，andsaid，"Willyoutrusthertomeforfiveminutes?"

"Certainly。"Buthedidnotmuchlikeit。

MissLucascarriedheroff，andtoldDr。Staines，overhershoulder，nowhecouldflirttohisheart"scontent。

"Thankyou，"saidhedryly。"I"llawaityourreturn。"

"Oh，therearesomemuchgreaterflirtsherethanIam，"saidthereadyMissLucas；andwhisperingsomethinginMrs。Staines"sear，suddenlyglidedwithherbehindacurtain，pressedasortofbuttonfixedtoalooking-glassdoor。Thedooropened，andbeholdtheywereinadeliciousplace，forwhichIcanhardlyfindaword，sinceitwasaboudoirandaconservatoryinone:alargeoctagon，thewallslinedfromfloortoceilingwithlooking-glassesofmoderatewidth，atintervals，andwithcreepersthatcoveredtheinterveningspacesofthewall，andweretrainedsoastobreaktheoutlineoftheglasseswithoutgreatlycloudingthereflection。

Ferns，ingreatvariety，weregroupedinadeepcrescent，andinthebightofthisgreenbaywereasmalltableandchairs。Astherewerenohot-houseplants，thetemperaturewasverycool，comparedwiththereekingoventheyhadescaped；andalittlefountainbubbled，andfedalittlemeanderinggutterthattrickledawayamongtheferns；itrancrystalclearoverlittlebrightpebblesandshells。Itdidnotalwaysrun，youunderstand；butMissLucasturnedasecrettap，andstartedit。

"Oh，howheavenly!"saidRosa，withasighofrelief；"andhowgoodofyoutobringmehere!"

"Yes；byrightsIoughttohavewaitedtillyoufainted。Butthereisnomakingacquaintanceamongallthosepeople。Mammawillasksuchcrowds；oneislikeaflyinaglue-pot。"

MissLucashadgoodnature，smartness，andanimalspirits；hencearoseavivacityandfluencythatwereoftenamusing，andpassedforveryclever。Reserveshehadnone；wouldtalkaboutstrangers，orfriends，herself，hermother，herGod，andthelastbuffoon-

singer，inabreath。AtahintfromRosa，shetoldherwhotheladyinthepinkdresswas，andtheladyinthevioletvelvet，andsoon；foreachladywasdefinedbyherdress，and，moreorless，quizzedbythisshow-woman，notexactlyoutofmalice，butbecauseitissmarterandmorenaturaltodecrythantopraise，andalittlemedisanceisthespicetogossip，belongstoit，asmintsaucetolamb。Sotheychattedaway，andwerepleasedwitheachother，andmadefriends，andthere，incoolgrot，quiteforgotthesufferingsoftheirfellow-creaturesintheadjacentTurkishbath，ycleptsociety。ItwasRosawhofirstrecollectedherself。"WillnotMrs。Lucasbeangrywithme，ifIkeepyoualltomyself?"

"Ohno；butI"mafraidwemustgointothehot-houseagain。Ilikethegreenhousebest，withsuchanicecompanion。"

Theyslippednoiselesslyintothethrongagain，andwriggledabout，MissLucaspresentinghernewfriendtoseveralladiesandgentlemen。

PresentlyStainesfoundthem，andthenMissLucaswriggledaway；

andinduecoursetheroomwasthinnedbymanyguestsdrivingoffhome，ortoballs，andotherreceptions，andDr。StainesandMrs。

StaineswenthometotheBijou。Herethephysicianprescribedbed；

buttheladywouldnothearofsuchathinguntilshehadtalkeditallover。Sotheycomparednotes，andRosatoldhimhowwellshehadgotonwithMissLucas，andmadeafriendship。"Butforthat，"

saidshe，"IshouldbesorryIwentamongthosepeople，suchadowdy。"

"Dowdy!"saidStaines。"Why，youstormedthetown；youwerethegreatsuccessofthenight，and，forallIknow，oftheseason。"

Thewretchdeliveredthiswithunbecomingindifference。

"Itistoobadtomockme，Christie。Wherewereyoureyes?"

"Tothebestofmyrecollection，theywereoneoneachsideofmynose。"

"Yes，butsomepeopleareeyesandnoeyes。"

"Iscorntheimputation；tryme。"

"Verywell。Thendidyouseethatladyinsky-bluesilk，embroideredwithflowers，andflouncedwithwhitevelvet，andthecorsagepointlace；andoh，suchemeralds?"

"Idid；atall，skinnywoman，witheyesresemblingherjewelsincolor，thoughnotinbrightness。"

"Nevermindhereyes；itisherdressIamspeakingof。Exquisite；

andwhatacoiffure!Well，didyouseeHERintheblackvelvet，trimmedsodeepwithChantillylace，waveonwave，andherhead-

dressofcrimsonflowers，andsuchariviereofdiamonds；oh，dear!

oh，dear!"

"Idid，love。Theroomwasanoven，butherrubicundfaceandsuffocatingcostumemadeitseemafurnace。"

"Stuff!Well，didyouseetheladyinthecorn-coloredsilk，andpoppiesinherhair?"

"OfcourseIdid。Ceresinperson。Shemademefeelhot，too；butIcooledmyselfabitatherpale，sicklyface。"

"Nevermindtheirfaces；thatisnotthepoint。"

"Oh，excuseme；itisalwaysapointwithusbenightedmales，alleyesandnoeyes。"

"Well，then，theladyinwhite，withcherry-velvetbands，andawhitetunicloopedwithcrimson，andheaddressofwhiteillusion，alavierge，Ithinktheycallit。"

"Itwasveryrefreshing；andadaptedtothatawfulatmosphere。ItwasthenearestapproachtonudityIeversaw，evenamongstfashionablepeople。"

"Itwaslovely；andthenthatsuperbfigureinwhiteillusionandgold，withallthosenarrowflouncesoverherslipofwhitesilkglacee，andawreathofwhiteflowers，withgoldwheatearsamongstthem，inherhair；andoh!oh!oh!herpearls，oriental，andasbigasalmonds!"

"Andoh!oh!oh!hernose!reddish，andaslongasawoodcock"s。"

"Noses!noses!stupid!Thatisnotwhatstrikesyoufirstinawomandressedlikeanangel。"

"Well，ifyouweretorunupagainstthatone，asInearlydid，hernoseWOULDbethethingthatwouldstrikeyoufirst。Nose!itwasarostrum!thespear-headofGoliah。"

"Now，don"t，Christopher。Thisisnolaughingmatter。Doyoumeanyouwerenotashamedofyourwife?Iwas。"

"No，Iwasnot；youhadbutonerival；averyyounglady，wisebeforeherage；ablonde，withvioleteyes。Shewasdressedinlightmauve-coloredsilk，withoutasingleflounce，oranyothertomfoolerytofritterawaythesheenandcolorofanexquisitematerial；hersunnyhairwasanotherwaveofcolor，wreathedwithathinlineofwhitejessamineflowerscloselywoven，thatscentedtheair。Thisgirlwasthemoonofthatassembly，andyouwerethesun。"

"Ineverevensawher。"

"Eyesandnoeyes。Shesawyou，andsaid，"Oh，whatabeautifulcreature!"forIheardher。Asfortheoldstagers，whomyouadmireso，theirfaceswereallcloggedwithpowder，theporesstoppedup，thetruetextureoftheskinabolished。Theylookeddownrightnasty，wheneveryouorthatyounggirlpassedbythem。

Thenitwasyousawtowhatafrightfulextentwomenaregotupinourday，evenyoungwomen，andrespectablewomen。No，Rosa，dresscandolittleforyou；youhavebeauty——realbeauty。"

"Beauty!Thatpassesunnoticed，unlessoneiswelldressed。"

"ThenwhatanobscurepairtheApolloBelvidereandtheVenusdeMedicismustbe。"

"Oh!theyaredressed——inmarble。"

ChristopherStainesstaredfirst，thensmiled。

"Welldone，"saidhe，admiringly。"ThatISaknockdownblow。Sonowyouhavesilencedyourhusband，goyoutobeddirectly。I

can"taffordyoudiamonds；soIwilltakecareofthatlittleinsignificanttrifle，yourbeauty。"

Mrs。StainesandMrs。Lucasexchangedcalls，andsoonMrs。Stainescouldnolongercomplainshewasoutoftheworld。Mrs。Lucasinvitedhertoeveryparty，becauseherbeautywasaninstrumentofattractionsheknewhowtouse；andMissLucastookadownrightfancytoher；droveherinthepark，andonSundaystotheZoologicalGardens，justbeginningtobefashionable。

TheLucasesrentedaboxattheopera，andifitwasnotletatthelibrarybysixo"clock，andifotherengagementspermitted，wordwassentroundtoMrs。Staines，asamatterofcourse，andshewastakentotheopera。ShebeganalmosttoliveattheLucases，andtobeoftenerfatiguedthanmoped。

Theusualorderofthingswasinverted；themaidenladyeducatedthematron；forMissLucasknewallabouteverybodyinthePark，honorableordishonorable；allthescandals，andalltheflirtations；andwhateversheknew，sherelatedpoint-blank。Beingasinquisitiveasvoluble，shesoonlearnedhowMrs。Stainesandherhusbandweresituated。Shetookuponhertoadviseherinmanythings，andespeciallyimpresseduponherthatDr。Stainesmustkeepacarriage，ifhewantedtogetoninmedicine。ThepieceofadviceaccordedsowellwithRosa"swishes，thatsheurgeditonherhusbandagainandagain。

Heobjectedthatnomoneywascomingin，andthereforeitwouldbeinsanetoaddtotheirexpenses。Rosapersisted，andatlastworriedStaineswithherimportunity。Hebegantogiverathershortanswers。ThenshequotedMissLucasagainsthim。Hetreatedtheauthoritywithmarkedcontempt；andthenRosafiredupalittle。ThenStainesheldhispeace；butdidnotbuyacarriagetovisithisnopatients。

SoatlastRosacomplainedtoLadyCicelyTreherne，andmadeherthejudgebetweenherhusbandandherself。LadyCicelydrawledoutapromptbutpoliterefusaltoplaythatpart。Allthatcouldbeelicitedfromher，andthatwithdifficulty，was，"Whyquallwithyourhusbandaboutacawwige；heisyourbestfwiend。"

"Ah，thatheis，"saidRosa；"butMissLucasisagoodfriend，andsheknowstheworld。Wedon"t；neitherChristophernorI。"

Soshecontinuedtonagatherhusbandaboutit，andtosaythathewasthrowinghisonlychanceaway。

Galledashewasbyneglect，thiswasirritating，andatlasthecouldnothelptellinghershewasunreasonable。"Youliveagaylife，andIasadone。Iconsenttothis，andletyougoaboutwiththeseLucases，becauseyouweresodull；butyoushouldnotconsulttheminourprivateaffairs。Theirinterferenceisindelicateandimproper。IwillnotsetupacarriagetillIhavepatientstovisit。Iamsickofseeingourcapitaldwindle，andnoincomecreated。IwillneversetupacarriagetillIhavetakenahundred-guineafee。"

"Oh!Thenweshallgosplashingthroughthemudallourdays。"

"Orrideinacab，"saidChristopher，withaquietdoggednessthatleftnohopeofhisyielding。

OneafternoonMissLucascalledforMrs。StainestodriveinthePark，butdidnotcomeup-stairs；itwasanengagement，andsheknewMrs。Staineswouldbeready，ornearly。Mrs。Staines，nottokeepherwaiting，camedownratherhastily，andintheverypassagewhippedoutofherpocketalittleglass，andalittlepowderpuff，andpuffedherfacealloverinatrice。Shewasthengoingout；

butherhusbandcalledherintothestudy。"Rosa，mydear，"saidhe，"youweregoingoutwithadirtyface。"

"Oh!"criedshe，"givemeaglass。"

"Thereisnoneedofthat。Allyouwantisabasinandsomenicerain-water。Ikeepalittlereservoirofit。"

Hethenhandedherthesamewithgreatpoliteness。Shelookedinhiseye，andsawhewasnottobetrifledwith。Shecompliedlikealamb，andtheheavenlycolorandvelvetglossthatresultedwereadmirable。

Hekissedherandsaid，"Ah!nowyouaremyRosaagain。Obligemebyhandingoverthatpowder-pufftome。"Shelookedvexed，butcomplied。"WhenyoucomebackIwilltellyouwhy。"

"Youareapest，"saidMrs。Staines，andsojoinedherfriend，rosywithrain-waterandarub。

"Dearme，howhandsomeyoulookto-day!"wasMissLucas"sfirstremark。

Rosaneverdreamedthatrain-waterandrubcouldbethecauseofherlookingsowell。

"Itismytiresomehusband，"saidshe。"Heobjectstopowder，andhehastakenawaymypuff。"

"Andyoustoodthat?"

"Obligedto。"

"Why，youpoor-spiritedlittlecreature，Ishouldliketoseeahusbandpresumetointerferewithmeinthosethings。Here，takemine。"

Rosahesitatedalittle。"Well——no——Ithinknot。"

MissLucaslaughedather，andquizzedhersoonherallowingamantointerfereinsuchsacredthingsasdressandcosmetics，thatshecamebackirritatedwithherhusband，andgavehimashortanswerortwo。Thenheaskedwhatwasthematter。

"Youtreatmelikeachild——takingawaymyverypuff。"

"Itreatyoulikeabeautifulflower，thatnobadgardenershallwitherwhilstIamhere。"

"Whatnonsense!Howcouldthatwitherme?Itisonlyvioletpowder——whattheyputonbabies。"

"AndwhoaretheHerodsthatputitonbabies?"

"Theirownmothers，thatlovethemtentimesmorethanthefathersdo。"

"Andkillahundredofthemforoneamaneverkills。Mothers!——

themostwholesalehomicidesinthenation。Wewillexamineyourviolet-powder:bringitdownhere。"

Whileshewasgonehesentforabreakfast-cupfulofflour，andwhenshecamebackhehadhisscalesout，andbeggedhertoputateaspoonfulofflourintoonescaleandofvioletpowderintoanother。Theflourkickedthebeam，asHomerexpresseshimself。

"Putanotherspoonfulofflour。"

Theonespoonfulofvioletpowderoutweighedthetwoofflour。

"Now，"saidStaines，"doesnotthatshowyouthepresenceofamineralinyourvegetablepowder?Isupposetheytellyouitismadeofwhitevioletsdried，andtrituratedinadiamondmill。Letusfindoutwhatmetalitis。Weneednotgoverydeepintochemistryforthat。"Hethenappliedasimpletest，anddetectedthepresenceofleadinlargequantities。Thenhelecturedher:

"Invisibleperspirationisaprocessofnaturenecessarytohealthandtolife。Theskinismadeporousforthatpurpose。Youcankillanybodyinanhourortwobyclosingthepores。Acertaininfallibleass，calledPopeLeoXII。，killedalittleboyintwohours，bygildinghimtoadornthepageantofhisfirstprocessionasPope。Butwhatisdeathtothewholebodymustbeinjurioustoapart。Whatmadness，then，toclogtheporesofsolargeandimportantasurfaceastheface，andchecktheinvisibleperspiration:howmuchmoretoinsertleadintoyoursystemeverydayofyourlife；acumulativepoison，andonesodeadlyandsosubtle，thattheSheffieldfile-cuttersdieintheirprime，frommerelyhammeringonaleadenanvil。Andwhatdoyougainbythissuicidalhabit?Noplumhasasweeterbloomormoredelicioustexturethantheskinofyouryoungface；butthismineralfilthhidesthatdelicatetexture，andsubstitutesadry，uniformappearance，morelikeacertainkindofleprosythanhealth。

Naturemadeyourfacetherivalofpeaches，roses，lilies；andyousay，"No；IknowbetterthanmyCreatorandmyGod；myfaceshallbelikeadustymiller"s。"Gointoanyflour-mill，andthereyoushallseemenwithfacesexactlylikeyourfriendMissLucas"s。

Butbeforeamillergoestohissweetheart，healwayswasheshisface。Youladieswouldnevergetamillerdowntoyourlevelinbrains。Itisamiller"sDIRTYfaceourmono-maniacsofwomanimitate，notthefaceamillergoesa-courtingwith。"

"La!whatafussaboutnothing!"

"Aboutnothing!Isyourhealthnothing?Isyourbeautynothing?

Well，then，itwillcostyounothingtopromisemenevertoputpowderonyourfaceagain。"

"Verywell，Ipromise。Nowwhatwillyoudoforme?"

"Workforyou——writeforyou——sufferforyou——beself-denyingforyou——andevengivemyselfthepainofdisappointingyounowandthen——lookingforwardtothetimewhenIshallbeabletosay"Yes"

toeverythingyouaskme。Ah!child，youlittleknowwhatitcostsmetosay"No"toYOU。"

Rosaputherarmsroundhimandacquiesced。Shewasoneofthosewhogowiththelastspeaker；but，forthatveryreason，theeternalcompanionshipofsoflightyandflirtyagirlasMissLucaswasinjurioustoher。

OnedayLadyCicelyTrehernewassittingwithMrs。Staines，smilinglanguidlyathertalk，andoccasionallydrawlingoutalittleplaingoodsense，whenincameMissLucas，withhertonguewellhung，asusual，anddashedintotwentytopicsintenminutes。

Thisyoungladyinherdiscoursewaslikethoselittleoilybeetlesyouseeinsmallponds，whosewholelifeisspentintacking——

confoundthemforit!——generallyatrightangles。WhattheyareinnavigationwasMissLucasinconversation:tackedsoeternallyfromtopictotopic，thatnomanonearth，andnoteverywoman，couldfollowher。

Atthesightandsoundofher，LadyCicelycongealedandstiffened。

EasyandunpretendingwithMrs。Staines，shewasalldignity，andevenmajesty，inthepresenceofthischatterbox；andthesmoothnesswithwhichthetransfigurationwasaccomplishedmarkedthataccomplishedactressthehigh-bredwomanoftheworld。

Rosa，betterabletoestimatethechangeofmannerthanMissLucaswas，whodidnotknowhowlittlethisSawnywasafflictedwithmisplaceddignity，lookedwistfullyanddistressedather。LadyCicelysmiledkindlyinreply，rose，withoutseemingtohurry，——

catchhercondescendingtoberudetoCharlotteLucas，——andtookherdeparture，withaprofoundandmostgraciouscourtesytotheladywhohaddrivenheraway。

Mrs。Stainessawherdown-stairs，andsaid，ruefully，"IamafraidyoudonotlikemyfriendMissLucas。Sheisagreatrattle，butsogood-naturedandclever。"

LadyCicelyshookherhead。"Clevaapeopledon"ttalksomuchnonsensebeforestrangaas。"

"Oh，dear!"saidRosa。"Iwasinhopesyouwouldlikeher。"

"DoYOUlikeher?"

"IndeedIdo；butIshallnot，ifshedrivesanolderfriendaway。"

"Mydyah，I"mnoteasilydwivenfromthoseIesteem。Butyouundastandthatisnotawomanformetomispwonowncemy"ah"sbefaw——NORFORYOUTOMAKEABOSOMFWIENDOF——WOSASTAINES。"

Shesaidthiswithasuddenmaternalsolemnityandkindnessthatcontrastednoblyandstrangelywithheryea-naystyle，andMrs。

Stainesrememberedthewordsyearsaftertheywerespoken。

ItsohappenedthatafterthisMrs。StainesreceivednomorevisitsfromLadyCicelyforsometime，andthatvexedher。Sheknewhersexenoughtobeawarethattheyareveryjealous，andshepermittedherselftothinkthatthishigh-mindedSawnywasjealousofMissLucas。

Thisidea，foundedonageneralestimateofhersex，wasdispelledbyafewlinesfromLadyCicely，tosayherfamilyandherselfwereindeepdistress；herbrother，LordAyscough，laydyingfromanaccident。

ThenRosawasallremorse，andrandowntoStainestotellhim。

Shefoundhimwithanopenletterinhishand。ItwasfromDr。

Barr，andonthesamesubject。Thedoctor，whohadalwaysbeenfriendlytohim，invitedhimtocomedownatoncetoHallowtreeHall，inHuntingdonshire，toaconsultation。Therewasafriendlyintimationtostartatonce，asthepatientmightdieanymoment。

Husbandandwifeembracedeachotherinatumultofsurprisedthankfulness。Afewnecessarieswerethrownintoacarpet-bag，andDr。StaineswassoonwhirledintoHuntingdonshire。Havingtelegraphedbeforehand，hewasmetatthestationbytheearl"scarriageandpeople，anddriventotheHall。Hewasreceivedbyanold，silver-hairedbutler，lookingverysad，whoconductedhimtoaboudoir；andthenwentandtappedgentlyatthedoorofthepatient"sroom。Itwasopenedandshutverysoftly，andLadyCicely，dressedinblack，andlookingpalerthanever，cameintotheroom。

"Dr。Staines，Ithink?"