第10章

Hebowed。

"Thankyouforcomingsopromptly。Dr。Barrisgone。Ifearhethinks——hethinks——ODr。Staines——nosignoflifebutinhispoorhands，thatkeepmovingnightandday。"

Staineslookedverygraveatthat。LadyCicelyobservedit，and，faintatheart，couldsaynomore，butledthewaytothesick-

room。

Thereinaspaciouschamber，lightedbyagrandorielwindowandtwosidewindows，layrank，title，wealth，andyouth，strickendowninamomentbyacommonaccident。Thesufferer"sfacewasbloodless，hiseyesfixed，andnosignsoflifebutinhisthumbs，andtheykeptworkingwithstrangeregularity。

Intheroomwereanurseandthesurgeon；theneighboringphysician，whohadcalledinDr。Barr，hadjustpaidhisvisitandgoneaway。

LadyCicelyintroducedDr。StainesandMr。White，andthenDr。

Stainesstoodandfixedhiseyesonthepatientinprofoundsilence。LadyCicelyscannedhiscountenancesearchingly，andwasstruckwiththeextraordinarypowerandintensityitassumedinexaminingthepatient；buttheresultwasnotencouraging。Dr。

Staineslookedgraveandgloomy。

Atlast，withoutremovinghiseyefromtherecumbentfigure，hesaidquietlytoMr。White，"Thrownfromhishorse，sir。"

"Horsefellonhim，Dr。Staines。"

"Anyvisibleinjuries?"

"Yes。Severecontusions，andaribbrokenandpresseduponthelungs。Ireplacedandsetit。Willyousee?"

"Ifyouplease。"

Heexaminedandfeltthepatient，andsaidithadbeenablydone。

Thenhewassilentandsearching。

Atlasthespokeagain。"Themotionofthethumbscorrespondsexactlywithhispulse。"

"Isthatso，sir?"

"Itis。Thecaseiswithoutaparallel。Howlonghashebeenso?"

"Nearlyaweek。"

"Impossible!"

"Itisso，sir。"

LadyCicelyconfirmedthis。

"Allthebetter，"saidDr。Stainesuponreflection。"Well，sir，"

saidhe，"thevisibleinjurieshavingbeenablyrelieved，Ishalllookanotherwayforthecause。"Then，afteranotherpause，"I

musthavehisheadshaved。"

LadyCicelydemurredalittletothis；butDr。Stainesstoodfirm，andhislordship"svaletundertookthejob。

Stainesdirectedhimwheretobegin；andwhenhehadmadeacirculartonsureonthetopofthehead，haditspongedwithtepidwater。

"Ithoughtso，"saidhe。"Hereisthemischief；"andhepointedtoaveryslightindentationontheleftsideofthepiamater。

"Observe，"saidhe，"thereisnocorrespondingindentationontheotherside。Underneaththistriflingdepressionaminutepieceofboneisdoubtlesspressingonthemostsensitivepartofthebrain。

Hemustbetrephined。"

Mr。White"seyessparkled。

"Youareanhospitalsurgeon，sir?"

"Yes，Dr。Staines。Ihavenofearoftheoperation。"

"ThenIhandthepatientovertoyou。Thecaseatpresentisentirelysurgical。"

Whitewasdrivenhome，andsoonreturnedwiththerequisiteinstruments。Theoperationwasneatlyperformed，andthenLadyCicelywascalledin。Shecametrembling；herbrother"sfingerswerestillworking，butnotsoregularly。

"ThatisonlyHABIT，"saidStaines；"itwillsoonleaveoff，nowthecauseisgone。"

And，trulyenough，inaboutfiveminutesthefingersbecamequiet。

Theeyesbecamehumannext；andwithinhalfanhouraftertheoperationtheearlgavealittlesigh。

LadyCicelyclaspedherhands，andutteredalittlecryofdelight。

"Thiswillnotdo，"saidStaines，"Ishallhaveyouscreamingwhenhespeaks。"

"Oh，Dr。Staines!willheeverspeak?"

"Ithinkso，andverysoon。Sobeonyourguard。"

Thisstrangescenereacheditsclimaxsoonafter，bytheearlsaying，quietly，——

"Areherkneesbroke，Tom?"

LadyCicelyutteredalittlescream，butinstantlysuppressedit。

"No，mylord，"saidStaines，smartly；"onlyrubbedabit。Youcangotosleep，mylord。I"lltakecareofthemare。"

"Allright，"saidhislordship；andcomposedhimselftoslumber。

Dr。Staines，attheearnestrequestofLadyCicely，stayedallnight；andincourseofthedayadvisedherhowtonursethepatient，sincebothphysicianandsurgeonhaddonewithhim。

Hesaidthepatient"sbrainmightbeirritableforsomedays，andnowomeninsilkdressesorcrinoline，orcreakingshoes，mustentertheroom。Hetoldherthenursewasevidentlyaclumsywoman，andwouldbelettingthingsfall。Shehadbettergetsomeoldsoldierusedtonursing。"Anddon"twhisperintheroom，"saidhe；"nothingirritatesthemworse；anddon"tletanybodyplayapianowithinhearing；butinadayortwoyoumaytryhimwithslowandcontinuousmusiconthefluteorviolinifyoulike。Don"ttouchhisbedsuddenly；don"tsitonitorleanonit。Dolesunlightintohisroombydegrees；andwhenhecanbearit，drenchhimwithit。Nevermindwhattheoldschooltellyou。Aboutthesethingstheyknowagooddeallessthannothing。"

LadyCicelyreceivedallthislikeanoracle。

ThecurewastelegraphedtoDr。Barr，andhewasrequestedtosettlethefee。Hewasnotthemantounderselltheprofession，andwasjealousofnobody，havingalargepractice，andaverywealthywife。Sohetelegraphedback——"Fiftyguineas，andaguineaamilefromLondon。"

So，asChristopherStainessatatanearlybreakfast，withthecarriagewaitingtotakehimtothetrain，twonoteswerebroughthimonasalver。

TheywerebothdirectedbyLadyCicelyTreherne。Oneofthemcontainedafewkindandfeelingwordsofgratitudeandesteem；theother，acheck，drawnbytheearl"ssteward，foronehundredandthirtyguineas。

HebowleduptoLondon，andtolditalltoRosa。Shesparkledwithpride，affection，andjoy。

"Now，whosaysyouarenotagenius?"shecried。"Ahundredandthirtyguineasforonefee!Now，ifyouloveyourwifeasshelovesyou——youwillsetupabrougham。"

CHAPTERVIII。

DoctorStainesbeggedleavetodistinguish；hehadnotsaidhewouldsetupacarriageatthefirstonehundredguineafee，butonlythathewouldnotsetuponebefore。Therearemisguidedpeoplewhowouldcallthislogic:butRosasaiditwasequivocating，andurgedhimsowarmlythatatlastheburstout，"Whocangoonforeversaying"No，"totheonlycreatureheloves?"——andcaved。Inforty-eighthoursmoreabroughamwaitedatMrs。Staines"sdoor。TheservantengagedtodriveitwasAndrewPearman，abachelor，and，hitherto，anunder-groom。Hereadilyconsentedtobecoachman，andtodocertaindomesticworkaswell。

SoMrs。Staineshadaman-servantaswellasacarriage。

Erelong，threeorfourpatientscalled，orwrote，oneaftertheother。TheseRosasetdowntobrougham，andcrowed；sheevencrowedtoLadyCicelyTreherne，towhoseinfluence，andnottobrougham"s，everyoneofthesepatientswasowing。LadyCicelykissedher，anddemurelyenjoyedthepoorsoul"sself-satisfaction。

Staineshimself，whilehedrovetoorfromthesepatients，feltmoresanguine，andbuoyedashewasbytheconsciousnessofability，begantohopehehadturnedthecorner。

HesentanaccountofLordAyscough"scasetoamedicalmagazine:

andsofullistheworldofflunkeyism，thatthisarticle，thoughhewithheldthename，retainingonlythetitle，gottheliterarywedgeinforhimatonce:andinduecoursehebecameapaidcontributortotwomedicalorgans，andusedtostudyandwritemore，andindentthelittlestoneyardlessthanheretofore。

ItwasaboutthistimecircumstancesmadehimacquaintedwithPhoebeDale。HerintermediatehistoryIwilldisposeofinfewerwordsthanitdeserves。Herruin，Mr。ReginaldFalcon，wasdismissedfromhisclub，formarkinghighcardsonthebackwithhisnail。Thisstoppedhisremainingresource——borrowing:sohegotmoreandmoreoutatelbows，tillatlasthecamedowntohangingaboutbilliard-rooms，andmakingalittlemoneybyconcealinghisgame；fromthat，however，herosetobeamarker。

Havingculminatedtothat，hewroteandproposedmarriagetoMissDale，inacharmingletter:sheshowedittoherfatherwithpride。

Now，ifhisvanity，hisdisloyalty，hisfalsehood，hisingratitude，andhisothervirtueshadnotstoodintheway，hewouldhavedonethisthreeyearsago，andbeenjumpedat。

Buttheoffercametoolate；notforPhoebe——shewouldhavetakenhiminamoment——butforherfriends。Abaitedhookisonething，abarehookisanother。FarmerDalehadlongdiscoveredwherePhoebe"smoneywent:hesaidnotawordtoher；butwentuptotownlikeashot；foundFalconout，andtoldhimhemustn"tthinktoeathisdaughter"sbread。Sheshouldmarryamanthatcouldmakeadecentlivelihood；andifshewastorunawaywithHIM，whythey"dstarvetogether。Thefarmerwasresolute，andspokeveryloud，likeonethatexpectsopposition，andcomespreparedtoquarrel。

Insteadofthat，thisartfulrogueaddressedhimwithdeeprespectandanaffectedveneration，thatquitepuzzledtheoldman；

acquiescedineveryword，expressedcontritionforhispastmisdeeds，andtoldthefarmerhehadquitedeterminedtolaborwithhishands。"Youknow，farmer，"saidhe，"Iamnottheonlygentlemanwhohascometothatinthepresentday。Now，allmyfriendsthathaveseenmysketches，assuremeIamabornpainter；

andapainterI"llbe——forloveofPhoebe。"

Thefarmermadeawryface。"Painter!thatisasorrysortofatrade。"

"Youaremistaken。It"sthebesttradegoing。Therearegentlemenmakingtheirthousandsayearbyit。"

"Notinourparts，therebain"t。Stopabit。Whatbeyegoingtopaint，sir?Housen，orfolk?"

"Oh，hangit，nothouses。Figures，landscapes。"

"Well，yemightjustmakeshifttoliveatit，Isuppose，withhereandthereasignboard。Theyarethebestpaid，ourway:but，Lordblessye，THEYwantsheadpiece。Well，sir，letmeseeyourwork。

Thenwe"lltalkfurther。"

"I"llgotoworkthisafternoon，"saidFalconeagerly；thenwithaffectedsurprise，"Blessme；Iforgot。Ihavenopalette，nocanvas，nocolors。Youcouldn"tlendmeacoupleofsovereignstobuythem，couldyou?"

"Ay，sir；Icould。ButIwoan"t。I"lllendyethethings，though，ifyouhaveamindtogowithmeandbuy"em。"

Falconagreed，withaloftysmile；andthepurchasesweremade。

Mr。Falconpaintedalandscapeortwooutofhisimagination。Thedealerstowhomhetookthemdeclinedthem；oneadvisedthegentlemanpaintertocolortea-boards。"That"syourline，"saidhe。

"Theworldhasnotaste，"saidthegentlemanpainter:"butithasgotlotsofvanity:I"llpaintportraits。"

Hedid；andformidableones:hisportraitswereamazinglylikethepeople，andyetunlikemenandwomen，especiallyabouttheface。

Onething，hedidn"ttroublewithlightsandshades，butwentslapatthefeatures。

Hisbrushwouldneverhavekepthim；buthecarriedaninstrument，intheuseofwhichhewasreallyanartist，viz。，histongue。Bywheedlingandunderselling——forheonlychargedapoundforthepaintedcanvas——hecontrivedtolive；thenheaspiredtodressaswellaslive。Withthissecondobjectinview，hehituponacharacteristicexpedient。

Heusedtoprowlabout，andwhenhesawayoungwomansweepingtheafternoonstreetswithalongsilktrain，and，inshort，dressedtorideinthepark，yetparadingthestreets，hewouldtakehishatofftoher，withanairofprofoundrespect，andaskpermissiontotakeherportrait。Generallyhemetapromptrebuff；butifthefairwassounluckyastohesitateasinglemoment，hetoldherameltingtale；hehadoncedrivenhisfour-in-hand；butbyindorsinghisfriends"bills，wasreducedtopaintinglikeness，admirablelikenessesinoil，onlyaguineaeach。

Hispiteoustaleprovokedmoregibesthanpity，butashehadnoshame，therebuffswentfornothing:heactuallydidgetafewsittersbyhisaudacity:andsomeofthesittersactuallytookthepictures，andpaidforthem；othersdeclinedthemwithfuryassoonastheywerefinished。Thesehetookbackwithapiteoussigh，thatsometimesextractedhalfacrown。Thenhepaintedovertherejectedoneandletitdry；sothatsometimesapaidportraitwouldpresentabeautyenthronedonthedebrisoftwoorthreerivals，andthatiswherefewbeautieswouldobjecttosit。

AllthistimehewroteniceletterstoPhoebe，andadoptedthetoneofthestrugglingartist，andthetruelover，whowinshisbridebypatience，perseverance，andindomitableindustry；ababbledof"SelfHelp。"

Meantime，Phoebewasnotidle:anexcellentbusinesswoman，shetookimmediateadvantageofanewstationthatwasbuiltnearthefarm，tosendupmilk，butter，andeggstoLondon。Beinggenuine，theysoldlikewildfire。Observingthat，sheextendedheroperations，bybuyingofotherfarmers，andforwardingtoLondon:

andthen，havingofcourseaneyetoherstrugglingartist，shetoldherfathershemusthaveashopinLondon，andsomebodyinitshecoulddependupon。

"Withallmyheart，wench，"saidhe；"butitmustnotbethou。I

can"tsparethee。"

"MayIhaveDick，father?"

"Dick!heisratheryoung。"

"Butheisveryquick，father，andmindseverywordItellhim。"

"Ay，heisasfondoftheeaseveracowwasofacalf。Well，youcantryhim。"

Sothelove-sickwomanofbusinesssetupalittleshop，andputherbrotherDickinit，andalltoseemoreofherstrugglingartist。Shestayedseveraldays，toopenthelittleshop，andstartthebusiness。Sheadvertisedpuremilk，andchallengedscientificanalysisofeverythingshesold。Thiscameofherbeingareader；sheknew，bythejournals，thatweliveinasinfulandadulteratinggeneration，andanythingpuremustbeagodsendtothepoorpoisonedpublic。

Now，Dr。Staines，thoughknowntotheprofessionasadiagnost，wasalsoananalyst，andthischallengebroughthimdownonPhoebeDale。Hetoldherhewasaphysician，andinsearchofpurefoodforhisownfamily——wouldshereallysubmitthemilktoanalysis?

Phoebesmiledanhonestcountrysmile，andsaid，"Surely，sir。"

Shegavehimeveryfacility，andheappliedthosesimpletestswhicharecommonlyusedinFrance，thoughhardlyknowninEngland。

Hefounditperfectlypure，andtoldherso；andgazedatPhoebeforamoment，asaphenomenon。

Shesmiledagainatthat，herbroadcountrysmile。"ThatisawonderinLondon，Idaresay。It"smybeliefhalfthechildrenthatdiehereareperishedwithwateredmilk。Well，sir，weshan"thavethatonoursouls，fatherandI；heisafarmerinEssex。

Thiscomesamanymiles，thismilk。"

Staineslookedinherface，withkindlyapprovalmarkedonhisowneloquentfeatures。Sheblushedalittleatsofixedaregard。

Thenheaskedherifshewouldsupplyhimwithmilk，butter，andeggs。

"Why，ifyoumeansellyouthem，yes，sir，withpleasure。Butforsendingthemhometoyouinthisbigtown，assomedo，Ican"t；forthere"sonlybrotherDickandme:itisanexperimentlike。"

"Verywell，"saidStaines:"Iwillsendforthem。"

"Thankyoukindly，sir。Ihopeyouwon"tbeoffended，sir；butweonlysellforreadymoney。"

"Allthebetter:myorderathomeis，nobills。"

Whenhewasgone，Phoebe，assumingvastexperience，thoughthiswasonlyherthirdday，toldDickthatwasoneoftherightsort:"andoh，Dick，"saidshe，"didyounoticehiseye?"

"Notparticklar，sister。"

"Therenow；theboyisblind。Why，"twaslikeajewel。SuchaneyeIneversawinaman"shead，norawoman"sneither。"

StainestoldhiswifeaboutPhoebeandherbrother，andspokeofherwithacertainadmirationthatraisedRosa"scuriosity，andeventhatsortofvaguejealousythatfiresatbarepraise。"I

shouldliketoseethisphenomenon，"saidshe。"Youshall，"saidhe。"IhavetocallonMrs。Manly。Shelivesnear。Iwilldropyouatthelittleshop，andcomebackforyou。"

Hedidso，andthatgaveRosaaquarterofanhourtomakeherpurchases。WhenhecamebackhefoundherconversingwithPhoebe，asiftheywereoldfriends，andDickglaringathiswifewithaweandadmiration。Hecouldhardlygetheraway。

ShewasfarmoreextravagantinherpraisesthanDr。Staineshadbeen。"Whatagoodcreature!"saidshe。"Andhowclever!Tothinkofhersettingupashoplikethatallbyherself；forherDickisonlyseventeen。"

Dr。Stainesrecommendedthelittleshopwhereverhewent，andevenextendeditsoperations。HeaskedPhoebetogetherownwheatgroundathome，andsendtheflourupinbushelbags。"Theseassassins，thebakers，"saidhe，"areputtingcopperintotheflournow，aswellasalum。Pureflourisworthafancypricetoanyfamily。Withthatwecanmakethebreadoflife。Whatyoubuyintheshopsisthebreadofdeath。"

Dickwasagood，sharpboy，devotedtohissister。HestucktotheshopinLondon，andhandedthemoneytoPhoebe，whenshecameforit。SheworkedforitinEssex，andextendedhercountryconnectionforsupplyastheretailbusinessincreased。

Staineswroteanarticleonpurefood，andincidentallymentionedtheshopasaplacewhereflour，milk，andbutterweretobehadpure。ThisarticlewaspublishedintheLancet，andcausedquitearunuponthelittleshop。ByandbyPhoebeenlargedit，forwhichthereweregreatcapabilities，andmadeherselfaprettylittleparlor，andtheresheandDicksattoFalconfortheirportraits；

here，too，shehunghisrejectedlandscapes。Theywerefairinhereyes；whatmatterwhethertheywerelikenature?hishandhadpaintedthem。Sheknew，fromhim，thateverybodyelsehadrejectedthem。Withallthemoreprideandlovedidshehavethemframedingold，andhungupwiththeportraitsinherlittlesanctum。

ForafewmonthsPhoebeDalewasashappyasshedeservedtobe。

Herloverwasworking，andfaithfultoher——atleastshesawnoreasontodoubtit。Hecametoseehereveryevening，andseemeddevotedtoher:wouldsitquietlywithher，orwalkwithher，ortakehertoaplay，oramusic-hall——atherexpense。

Shenowlivedinaquietelysium，withabrightandrapturousdreamofthefuture；forshesawshehadhitonagoodveinofbusiness，andshouldsoonbeindependent，andabletoindulgeherselfwithahusband，andasknoman"sleave。

ShesenttoEssexforadairymaid，andsethertochurnmilkintobutter，corampopulo，atacertainhoureverymorning。Thismadeanewsensation。Atothertimesthewomanwasemployedtodelivermilkandcreamtoafewfavoredcustomers。

Mrs。Stainesdroppedinnowandthen，andchattedwithher。HersweetfaceandhernaivetewonPhoebe"sheart；andoneday，ashappinessisapttobecommunicative，sheletouttoher，inreplytoafeelerortwoastowhethershewasquitealone，thatshewasengagedtobemarriedtoagentleman。"Butheisnotrich，ma"am，"

saidPhoebeplaintively；"hehashadtrouble:obligedtoworkforhisliving，likeme；hepaintedthesepictures，EVERYONEOFTHEM。

Ifitwasnotmakingtoofree，andyoucouldspareaguinea——hechargesnomoreforthepicture，onlyyoumustgototheexpenseoftheframe。"

"OfcourseIwill，"saidRosawarmly。"I"llsitforithere，anydayyoulike。"

Now，Rosasaidthis，outofhereverreadykindness，nottowoundPhoebe:buthavingmadethepromise，shekeptclearoftheplaceforsomedays，hopingPhoebewouldforgetallaboutit。Meantimeshesentherhusbandtobuy。

Inaboutafortnightshecalledagain，primedwithevasionsifsheshouldbeaskedtosit；butnothingofthekindwasproposed。

Phoebewasdealingwhenshewentin。Thecustomersdisposedof，shesaidtoMrs。Staines，"Oh，ma"am，Iamgladyouarecome。I

havesomethingIshouldliketoshowyou。"Shetookherintotheparlor，andmadehersitdown:thensheopenedadrawer，andtookoutaverysmallsubstancethatlookedlikeatearofgroundglass，andputitonthetablebeforeher。"There，ma"am，"saidshe，"thatisallhehashadforpaintingafriend"spicture。"

"Oh!whatashame。"

"Hisfriendwasgoingabroad——toNatal；tohisunclethatfarmsoutthere，anddoesverywell；itisafirst-ratepart，ifyoutakeoutalittlestockwithyou，andsomemoney；somyonegavehimcredit，andwhenthelettercamewiththatpostmark，hecountedonafive-

poundnote；buttheletteronlysaidhehadgotnomoneyyet，butsenthimsomethingasakeepsake:andtherewasthislittlestone。

Poorfellow!heflungitdowninapassion；hewassodisappointed。"

Phoebe"sgreatgrayeyesfilled；andRosagavealittlecooofsympathythatwasverywomanlyandlovable。

Phoebeleanedhercheekonherhand，andsaidthoughtfully，"I

pickeditup，andbroughtitaway；for，afterall——don"tyouthink，ma"am，itisverystrangethatafriendshouldsenditallthatway，ifitwasworthnothingatall?"

"Itisimpossible。Hecouldnotbesoheartless。"

"Anddoyouknow，ma"am，whenItakeitupinmyfingers，itdoesn"tfeellikeathingthatwasworthnothing。"

"Nomoreitdoes:itmakesmyfingerstremble。MayItakeithome，andshowitmyhusband?heisagreatphysicianandknowseverything。"

"IamsureIshouldbeobligedtoyou，ma"am。"

Rosadrovehome，onpurposetoshowittoChristopher。Sheranintohisstudy:"Oh，Christopher，pleaselookatthat。Youknowthatgoodcreaturewehaveourflourandmilkandthingsof。Sheisengaged，andheisapainter。Oh，suchdaubs!Hepaintedafriend，andthefriendsentthathomeallthewayfromNatal，andhedasheditdown，andSHEpickeditup，andwhatisit?groundglass，orapebble，orwhat?"

"Humph!——byitsshape，andthegreat——brilliancy——andrefractionoflight，onthisangle，wherethestonehasgotpolishedbyrubbingagainstotherstones，inthecourseofages，I"minclinedtothinkitis——adiamond。"

"Adiamond!"shriekedRosa。"Nowondermyfingerstrembled。Oh，canitbe?Oh，yougood，cold-bloodedChristie!——Poorthings!——

Comealong，Diamond!Ohyoubeauty!Ohyouduck!"

"Don"tbeinsuchahurry。IonlysaidIthoughtitwasadiamond。

Letmeweighitagainstwater，andthenIshallKNOW。"

Hetookittohislittlelaboratory，andreturnedinafewminutes，andsaid，"Yes。Itisjustthreetimesandahalfheavierthanwater。Itisadiamond。"

"Areyoupositive?"

"I"llstakemyexistence。"

"Whatisitworth?"

"Mydear，I"mnotajeweller:butitisverylargeandpear-shaped，andIseenoflaw:Idon"tthinkyoucouldbuyitforlessthanthreehundredpounds。"

"Threehundredpounds!Itisworththreehundredpounds。"

"Orsellitformorethanahundredandfiftypounds。"

"Ahundredandfifty!Itisworthahundredandfiftypounds。"

"Why，mydear，onewouldthinkyouhadinvented"thediamond。"

Showmehowtocrystallizecarbon，andIwillshareyourenthusiasm。"

"Oh，Ileaveyoutocarbonizecrystal。Iprefertogladdenhearts:

andIwilldoitthisminute，withmydiamond。"

"Do，dear；andIwilltakethatopportunitytofinishmyarticleonAdulteration。"

RosadroveofftoPhoebeDale。

NowPhoebewasdrinkingteawithReginaldFalcon，inherlittleparlor。"Whoisthat，Iwonder?"saidshe，whenthecarriagedrewup。

Reginalddrewbackacornerofthegauzecurtainwhichhadbeendrawnacrossthelittleglassdoorleadingfromtheshop。

"Itisalady，andabeautiful——Oh!letmegetout。"Andherushedoutatthedoorleadingtothekitchen，nottoberecognized。

ThissetPhoebeallinaflutter，andthenextmomentMrs。Stainestappedatthelittledoor，thenopenedit，andpeeped。"Goodnews!

mayIcomein?"

"Surely，"saidPhoebe，stilltroubledandconfusedbyReginald"sstrangeagitation。

"There!Itisadiamond!"screamedRosa。"Myhusbandknewitdirectly。Heknowseverything。Ifeveryouareill，gotohimandnobodyelse——bytherefraction，andtheangle，anditsbeingthreetimesandahalfasheavyaswater。Itisworththreehundredpoundstobuy，andahundredandfiftypoundstosell。"

"Oh!"

"Sodon"tyougothrowingitaway，ashedid。(Inawhisper。)Twoteacups?Wasthathim?Ihavedrivenhimaway。Iamsosorry。

I"llgo；andthenyoucantellhim。Poorfellow!"

"Oh，ma"am，don"tgoyet，"saidPhoebe，trembling。"Ihaven"thalfthankedyou。"

"Oh，botherthanks。Kissme；thatistheway。"

"MayI?"

"Youmay，andmust。There——andthere——andthere。Ohdear，whatnicethingsgoodluckandhappinessare，andhowsweettobringthemforonce。"

UponthisPhoebeandshehadanicelittlecrytogether，andMrs。

Staineswentoffrefreshedthereby，andasgayasalark，pointingslylyatthedoor，andmakingfacestoPhoebethatsheknewhewasthere，andsheonlyretired，outofheradmirablediscretion，thattheymightenjoythediamondtogether。

Whenshewasgone，Reginald，whoseeyeandearhadbeenatthekeyhole，alternatelygloatingonthefaceanddrinkingtheaccentsoftheonlywomanhehadeverreallyloved，cameout，lookingpale，andstrangelydisturbed；andsatdownattable，withoutaword。

Phoebecamebacktohim，fullofthediamond。"Didyouhearwhatshesaid，mydear?Itisadiamond；itisworthahundredandfiftypoundsatleast。Why，whatailsyou?Ah!tobesure!youknowthatlady。"

"Ihavecausetoknowher。Cursedjilt!"

"Youseemagooddealputoutatthesightofher。"

"Ittookmebysurprise，thatisall。"

"Ittakesmebysurprisetoo。Ithoughtyouwerecured。IthoughtMYturnhadcomeatlast。"

Reginaldmetthisinsullensilence。ThenPhoebewassorryshehadsaidit；for，afterall，itwasn"ttheman"sfaultifanoldsweethearthadrunintotheroom，andgivenhimastart。Soshemadehimsomefreshtea，andpressedhimkindlytotryherhome-

madebreadandbutter。

Mylordrelaxedhisfrownandconsented，andofcoursetheytalkeddiamond。

Hetoldher，loftily，hemusttakeastudio，andhissittersmustcometohim，andmustnolongerexpecttobeimmortalizedforonepound。Itmustbetwopoundsforabust，andthreepoundsforakitcat。

"Nay，but，mydear，"saidPhoebe，"theywillpaynomorebecauseyouhaveadiamond。"

"Thentheywillhavetogounpainted，"saidMr。Falcon。

Thiswasintendedforathreat。Phoebeinstinctivelyfeltthatitmightnotbesoreceived；shecounselledmoderation。"Itisagreatthingtohaveearnedadiamond，"saidshe:"but"tisonlyonceinalife。Now，beruledbyme:goonjustasyouare。Sellthediamond，andgivemethemoneytokeepforyou。Why，youmightaddalittletoit，andsowouldI，tillwemadeituptwohundredpounds。Andifyoucouldonlyshowtwohundredpoundsyouhadmadeandlaidby，fatherwouldletusmarry，andImightkeepthisshop——

itpayswell，Icantellyou——andkeepmygentlemaninaslycorner；youneedneverbeseeninit。"

"Ay，ay，"saidhe，"thatisthesmallgame。ButIamamanthathavealwayspreferredthebiggame。Ishallsetupmystudio，andmakeenoughtokeepusboth。Sogivemethestone，ifyouplease。