第11章

Ishalltakeitroundtothemall，andtherogueswon"tgetitoutofMEforahundredandfifty；why，itisasbigasanut。"

"No，no，Reginald。Moneyhasalwaysmademischiefbetweenyouandme。Youneverhadfiftypoundsyet，youdidn"tfallintotemptation。Doprayletmekeepitforyou；orelsesellit——I

knowhowtosell；nobodybetter——andkeepthemoneyforagoodoccasion。"

"Isityours，ormine?"saidhe，sulkily。

"Whyyours，dear；youearnedit。"

"Thengiveitme，please。"Andhealmostforceditoutofherhand。

Sonowshesatdownandcriedoverthispieceofgoodluck，forherheartfilledwithforebodings。

Helaughedather，butatlasthadthegracetoconsoleher，andassurehershewastormentingherselffornothing。

"Timewillshow，"saidshe，sadly。

Timedidshow。

Threeorfourdayshecame，asusual，tolaughheroutofherforebodings。Butpresentlyhisvisitsceased。Sheknewwhatthatmeant:hewaslivinglikeagentleman，meltinghisdiamond，andplayingherfalsewiththefirstprettyfacehemet。

Thisblow，comingaftershehadbeensohappy，struckPhoebeDalestupidwithgrief。Thelineonherhighforeheaddeepened；andatnightshesatwithherhandsbeforeher，sighing，andsighing，andlisteningforthefootstepsthatnevercame。

"Oh，Dick!"shesaid，"neveryouloveanyone。Iamawearyofmylife。Andtothinkthat，butforthatdiamond——oh，dear!oh，dear!

oh，dear!"

ThenDickusedtotryandcomfortherinhisway，andoftenputhisarmroundherneck，andgaveherhisroughbuthonestsympathy。

Dick"srareaffectionwasheronedropofcomfort；itwassomethingtorelieveherswellingheart。

"Oh，Dick!"shesaidtohimonenight，"IwishIhadmarriedhim。"

"What，tobeill-used?"

"Hecouldn"tusemeworse。Ihavebeenwife，andmother，andsweetheart，andall，tohim；andtobeleftlikethis。Hetreatsmelikethedirtbeneathhisfeet。"

""Tisyourownfault，Phoebe，partly。Yousaytheword，andI"llbreakeveryboneinhiscarcass。"

"What，dohimamischief!Why，I"dratherdiethanharmahairofhishead。Youmustneverliftahandtohim，orIshallhateyou。"

"HateME，Phoebe?"

"Ay，boy:Ishould。Godforgiveme:"tisnousedeceivingourselves；whenawomanlovesamanshedespises，neveryoucomebetweenthem；there"snoreasoninherlove，soitisincurable。

Onecomfort，itcan"tgoonforever；itmustkillme，beforemytimeandsobest。IfIwasonlyamother，andhadalittleReginaldtodandleonmykneeandgloatupon，tillhespenthismoney，andcamebacktome。That"swhyIsaidIwishedIwashiswife。Oh!whydoesGodfillapoorwoman"sbosomwithlove，andnothingtospenditonbutastone；forsurehisheartmustbeone。

IfIhadonlysomethingthatwouldletmealwaysloveit，alittletoddlingthingatmyknee，thatwouldalwaysletmelookatit，andloveit，somethingtooyoungtobefalsetome，tooweaktorunawayfrommylong——ing——arms——and——year——ningheart!"Thencameaburstofagony，andmoansofdesolation，tillpoorpuzzledDickblubberedloudlyathergrief；andthenhertearsflowedinstreams。

Troubleontrouble。Dickhimselfgotstrangelyoutofsorts，andcomplainedofshivers。Phoebesenthimtobedearly，andmadehimsomewhitewinewheyveryhot。Inthemorninghegotup，andsaidhewasbetter；butafterbreakfasthewasviolentlysick，andsufferedseveralreturnsofnauseabeforenoon。"OnewouldthinkI

waspoisoned，"saidhe。

Atoneo"clockhewasseizedwithakindofspasminthethroatthatlastedsolongitnearlychokedhim。

ThenPhoebegotfrightened，andsenttothenearestsurgeon。Hedidnothurry，andpoorDickhadanotherfrightfulspasmjustashecamein。

"Itishysterical，"saidthesurgeon。"Nodiseaseoftheheart，isthere?Givehimalittlesal-volatileeveryhalfhour。"

Inspiteofthesal-volatiletheseterriblespasmsseizedhimeveryhalfhour；andnowheusedtospringoffthebedwithacryofterrorwhentheycame；andeachonelefthimweakerandweaker；hehadtobecarriedbackbythewomen。

Asad，sickeningfearseizedonPhoebe。SheleftDickwiththemaid，andtyingonherbonnetinamoment，rushedwildlydownthestreet，askingtheneighborsforagreatdoctor，thebestthatcouldbehadformoney。Onesenthereastamile，anotherwest，andshewasalmostdistracted，whenwhoshoulddriveupbutDr。andMrs。Staines，tomakepurchases。Shedidnotknowhisname，butsheknewhewasadoctor。Sherantothewindow，andcried，"Oh，doctor，mybrother!Oh，praycometohim。Oh!oh!"

Dr。Stainesgotquickly，butcalmly，out；toldhiswifetowait；

andfollowedPhoebeup-stairs。ShetoldhiminafewagitatedwordshowDickhadbeentaken，andallthesymptoms；especiallywhathadalarmedherso，hisspringingoffthebedwhenthespasmcame。

Dr。Stainestoldhertoholdthepatientup。Helostnotamoment，butopenedhismouthresolutely，andlookeddown。

"Theglottisisswollen，"saidhe:thenhefelthishands，andsaid，withthegrave，terriblecalmofexperience，"Heisdying。"

"Oh，no!no!Oh，doctor，savehim!savehim!"

"Nothingcansavehim，unlesswehadasurgeononthespot。Yes，I

mightsavehim，ifyouhavethecourage:openinghiswindpipebeforethenextspasmishisonechance。"

"Openhiswindpipe!Oh，doctor!Itwillkillhim。Letmelookatyou。"

Shelookedhardinhisface。Itgaveherconfidence。

"Isittheonlychance?"

"Theonlyone:anditisflyingwhilewechatter。"

"DOIT。"

Hewhippedouthislancet。

"ButIcan"tlookonit。ItrusttoyouandmySaviour"smercy。"

Shefellonherknees，andbowedherheadinprayer。

Stainesseizedabasin，putitbythebedside，madeanincisioninthewindpipe，andgotDickdownonhisstomach，withhisfaceoverthebedside。Somebloodran，butnotmuch。"Now!"hecried，cheerfully，"asmallbellows!There"soneinyourparlor。Run。"

Phoeberanforit，andatDr。Staines"directionliftedDickalittle，whilethebellows，dulycleansed，weregentlyappliedtotheapertureinthewindpipe，andtheactionofthelungsdelicatelyaidedbythisprimitivebuteffectualmeans。

HeshowedPhoebehowtodoit，torealeafoutofhispocket-book，wroteahastydirectiontoanablesurgeonnear，andsenthiswifeoffwithitinthecarriage。

Phoebeandheneverleftthepatienttillthesurgeoncamewithalltheinstrumentsrequired；amongsttherest，withabig，tortuouspairofnippers，withwhichhecouldreachtheglottis，andsnipit。Buttheyconsulted，andthoughtitwisertocontinuethesurermethod；andsoalittletubewasneatlyinsertedintoDick"swindpipe，andhisthroatbandaged；andbythisaperturehedidhisbreathingforsomelittletime。

Phoebenursedhimlikeamother；andtheterrorandthejoydidhergood，andmadeherlessdesolate。

Dickwasonlyjustwellwhenbothofthemweresummonedtothefarm，andarrivedonlyjustintimetoreceivetheirfather"sblessingandhislastsigh。

Theirelderbrother，amarriedman，inheritedthefarm，andwasexecutor。PhoebeandDickwereleftfifteenhundredpoundsapiece，onconditionoftheirleavingEnglandandgoingtoNatal。

Theyknewdirectlywhatthatmeant。Phoebewastobepartedfromabadman，andDickwastocomfortherfortheloss。

WhenthispartofthewillwasreadtoPhoebe，sheturnedfaint，andonlyherhealthandbodilyvigorkeptherfromswooningrightaway。

Butsheyielded。"Itisthewillofthedead，"saidshe，"andI

willobeyit；for，oh，ifIhadbutlistenedtohimmorewhenhewasalivetoadviseme，Ishouldnotsitherenow，sickatheartanddry-eyed，whenIoughttobethinkingonlyofthegoodfriendthatisgone。"

Whenshehadcometothisshebecamefeverishlyanxioustobegone。

Shebusiedherselfinpurchasingagriculturalmachines，andstores，andevenstock；andtoseeherpinchingthebeasts"ribstofindtheircondition，andparryingallattemptstocheather，youwouldneverhavebelievedshecouldbealove-sickwoman。

Dickkeptheruptothemark。Heonlylefthertobargainwiththemasterofagoodvessel；foritwasnotrifletotakeouthorsesandcows，andmachines，andbalesofcloth，cotton，andlinen。

Whenthatwassettledtheycameintotowntogether，andPhoebeboughtshrewdly，atwholesalehousesinthecity，forcash，andwouldhavebargains:andthelittleshopin——Streetwasturnedintoawarehouse。

Theywereallardor，ascolonistsshouldbe；andwhatpleasedDickmost，shenevermentionedFalcon；yethelearnedfromthemaidthatworthyhadbeentheretwice，lookingveryseedy。

Thedaydrewnear。Dickwasinhighspirits。

"Weshallsoonmakeourfortuneoutthere，"hesaid；"andI"llgetyouagoodhusband。"

Sheshuddered，butsaidnothing。

Theeveningbeforetheyweretosail，Phoebesatalone，inherblackdress，tiredwithwork，andaskingherself，sickatheart，couldsheeverreallyleaveEngland，whenthedooropenedsoftly，andReginaldFalcon，shabbilydressed，camein，andthrewhimselfintoachair。

Shestartedupwithascream，thensankdownagain，trembling，andturnedherfacetothewall。

"Soyouaregoingtorunawayfromme!"saidhesavagely。

"Ay，Reginald，"saidshemeekly。

"Thisisyourfinelove，isit?"

"Youhavewornitout，dear，"shesaidsoftly，withoutturningherheadfromthewall。

"IwishIcouldsayasmuch；but，curseit，everytimeIleaveyouIlearntoloveyoumore。IamneverreallyhappybutwhenIamwithyou。"

"Blessyouforsayingthat，dear。IoftenthoughtyouMUSTfindthatoutoneday；butyoutooktoolong。"

"Oh，betterlatethannever。Phoebe!CanyouhavethehearttogototheCape，andleavemeallaloneintheworld，withnobodythatreallycaresforme?Surelyyouarenotobligedtogo。"

"Yes；myfatherleftDickandmefifteenhundredpoundsapiecetogo:thatwasthecondition。PoorDickloveshisunhappysister。

Hewon"tgowithoutme——Ishouldbehisruin——poorDick，thatreallylovesme；andhelaya-dyinghere，andthegooddoctorandme——Godblesshim——webroughthimbackfromthegrave。Ah，youlittleknowwhatIhavegonethrough。Youwerenothere。CatchyoubeingnearmewhenIamintrouble。There，Imustgo。Imustgo。Iwillgo；ifIflingmyselfintotheseahalfway。"

"And，ifyoudo，I"lltakeadoseofpoison；forIhavethrownawaythetruestheart，thesweetest，mostunselfish，kindest，generous——

oh!oh!oh!"

Andhebegantohowl。

ThissetPhoebesobbing。"Don"tcry，dear，"shemurmuredthroughhertears；"ifyouhavereallyanyloveforme，comewithme。"

"What，leaveEngland，andgotoadesert?"

"Lovecanmakeadesertagarden。"

"Phoebe，I"lldoanythingelse。I"llswearnottoleaveyourside。

I"llneverlookatanyotherfacebutyours。ButIcan"tliveinAfrica。"

"Iknowyoucan"t。Ittakesalittlereallovetogotherewithapoorgirllikeme。Ah，well，I"dhavemadeyousohappy。Wearenotpooremigrants。Ihaveahorseforyoutoride，andgunstoshoot；andmeandDickwoulddoalltheworkforyou。Butthereareothershereyoucan"tleaveforme。Well，then，good-by，dear。

InAfrica，orhere，Ishallalwaysloveyou；andmanyasalttearI

shallshedforyouyet，manyaoneIhave，aswellyouknow。Godblessyou。PrayforpoorPhoebe，thatgoesagainstherwilltoAfrica，andleavesherheartwiththee。"

ThiswastoomuchevenfortheselfishReginald。Hekneeledatherknees，andtookherhand，andkissedit，andactuallyshedatearortwooverit。

Shecouldnotspeak。Hehadnohopeofchangingherresolution；

andpresentlyheheardDick"svoiceoutside，sohegotuptoavoidhim。"I"llcomeagaininthemorning，beforeyougo。"

"Oh，no!no!"shegasped。"Unlessyouwantmetodieatyourfeet。

Iamalmostdeadnow。"

Reginaldslippedoutbythekitchen。

Dickcamein，andfoundhissisterleaningwithherheadbackagainstthewall。"Why，Phoebe，"saidhe，"whateveristhematter?"andhetookherbytheshoulder。

Shemoaned，andhefeltheralllimpandpowerless。

"Whatisit，lass?Whateveristhematter?Isitaboutgoingaway?"

Shewouldnotspeakforalongtime。

Whenshedidspeak，itwastosaysomethingforwhichmymalereadermaynotbeprepared。Butitwillnotsurprisethewomen。

"ODick——forgiveme!"

"Why，whatfor?"

"Forgiveme，orelsekillme:Idon"tcarewhich。"

"Ido，though。There，Iforgiveyou。Nowwhat"syourcrime?"

"Ican"tgo。Forgiveme!"

"Can"tgo?"

"Ican"t。Forgiveme!"

"I"mblessedifIdon"tbelievethatvagabondhasbeenheretormentingofyouagain。"

"Oh，don"tmiscallhim。Heispenitent。Yes，Dick，hehasbeenherecryingtome——andIcan"tleavehim。Ican"t——Ican"t。DearDick!youareyoungandstout-hearted；takeallthethingsover，andmakeyourfortuneoutthere，andleaveyourpoorfoolishsisterbehind。IshouldonlyflingmyselfintothesaltseaifIlefthimnow，andthatwouldbepeacetome，butagrieftothee。"

"Lordsake，Phoebe，don"ttalkso。Ican"tgowithoutyou。Anddobutthink，why，thehorsesareonboardbynow，andallthegear。

It"smybeliefagoodhidingisallyouwant，tobringyoutoyoursenses；butIhan"tthehearttogiveyouone，worseluck。BlessedifIknowwhattosayordo。"

"Iwon"tgo!"criedPhoebe，turningviolentallofasudden。"No，notifIamdraggedtotheshipbythehairofmyhead。Forgiveme!"Andwiththatwordshewasamouseagain。

"Eh，butwomenarekittlecattletodrive，"saidpoorDickruefully。Anddownhesatatanonplus，andveryunhappy。

Phoebesatopposite，sullen，heart-sick，wretchedtothecore；butdeterminednottoleaveReginald。

Thencameaneventthatmighthavebeenforeseen，yetittookthembothbysurprise。

Alightstepwasheard，andagraceful，thoughseedy，figureenteredtheroomwithasetspeechinhismouth:"Phoebe，youareright。Ioweittoyourlongandfaithfulaffectiontomakeasacrificeforyou。IwillgotoAfricawithyou。Iwillgototheendoftheworld，soonerthanyoushallsayIcareforanywomanonearthbutyou。"

Bothbrotherandsisterweresounpreparedforthis，thattheycouldhardlyrealizeitatfirst。

Phoebeturnedhergreat，inquiringeyesonthespeaker，anditwasasighttoseeamazement，doubt，hope，andhappinessanimatingherfeatures，oneafteranother。

"Isthisreal?"saidshe。

"Iwillsailwithyouto-morrow，Phoebe；andIwillmakeyouagoodhusband，ifyouwillhaveme。"

"Thatisspokelikeaman，"saidDick。"Youtakehimathisword，Phoebe；andifheill-usesyououtthere，I"llbreakeveryboneinhisskin。"

"Howdareyouthreatenhim?"saidPhoebe。"Youhadbestleavetheroom。"

OutwentpoorDick，withthetearinhiseyeatbeingsnubbedso。

Whilehewasputtinguptheshutters，Phoebewasmakinglovetoherpseudopenitent。"Mydear，"saidshe，"trustyourselftome。Youdon"tknowallmyloveyet；forIhaveneverbeenyourwife，andI

wouldnotbeyourjade；thatistheonlythingIeverrefusedyou。

Trustyourselftome。Why，youneverfoundhappinesswithothers；

tryitwithme。Itshallbethebestday"sworkyoueverdid，goingoutintheshipwithme。Youdon"tknowhowhappyalovingwifecanmakeherhusband。I"llpetyououtthereasmanwasneverpetted。Andbesides，itisn"tforlife；Dickandmewillsoonmakeafortuneoutthere，andthenI"llbringyouhome，andseeyouspenditanywayyoulikebutone。Oh，howIloveyou!doyoulovemealittle?Iworshipthegroundyouwalkon。Iadoreeveryhairofyourhead!"Hernoblearmwentroundhisneckinamoment，andthegrandeurofherpassionelectrifiedhimsofarthathekissedheraffectionately，ifnotquitesowarmlyasshedidhim:andsoitwasallsettled。Themaidwasdischargedthatnightinsteadofthemorning，andReginaldwastooccupyherbed。Phoebewentup-

stairswithherheartliterallyonfire，topreparehissleeping-

room，andsoDickandReginaldhadaword。

"Isay，Dick，howlongwillthisvoyagebe?"

"Twomonths，sir，Iamtold。"

"Pleasetocastyoureyesonthissuitofmine。Don"tyouthinkitisratherseedy——togotoAfricawith?Why，Ishalldisgraceyouonboardtheship。Isay，Dick，lendmethreesovs。，justtobuyanewsuitattheslop-shop。"

"Well，brother-in-law，"saidDick，"Idon"tseeanyharminthat。

I"llgoandfetchthemforyou。"

WhatdoesthissensibleDickdobutgoup-stairstoPhoebe，andsay，"Hewantsthreepoundstobuyasuit；amItolendithim?"

Phoebewasshakingandpattingherpenitent"spillow。Shedroppeditonthebedindismay。"Oh，Dick，notforalltheworld!Why，ifhehadthreesovereigns，he"ddesertmeatthewater"sedge。

Oh，Godhelpme，howIlovehim!Godforgiveme，howImistrusthim!GoodDick!kindDick!saywehavesuitsofclothes，andwe"llfithimlikeaprince，asheoughttobe，onboardship；butnotashillingofmoney:and，mydear，don"tputtheweightonME。Youunderstand?"

"Ay，mistress，Iunderstand。"

"GoodDick!"

"Oh，allright!andthendon"tyousnapthisheregood，kindDick"snoseoffatawordagain。"

"Never。Igetwildifanybodythreatenshim。ThenI"mnotmyself。

Forgivemyhastytongue。YouknowIloveyou，dear!"

"Oh，ay!youlovemewellenough。Butseemstomeyourloveispreciouslikecoldveal，andyourloveforthatchapishotroastbeef。"

"Ha，ha，ha，ha!"

"Oh，yecanlaughnow，canye?"

"Ha，ha，ha!"

"Well，themoreofthatmusic，thebetterforme。"

"Yes，dear；butgoandtellhim。"

Dickwentdown，andsaid，"I"vegotnomoneytospare，tillIgettotheCape；butPhoebehasgotaboxfullofsuits，andImadeherpromisetokeepitout。Shewilldressyoulikeaprince，youmaybesure。"

"Oh，thatisit，isit?"saidReginalddryly。

Dickmadenoreply。

Atnineo"clocktheywereonboardthevessel；attensheweighedanchor，andasteam-vesseldrewherdowntheriveraboutthirtymiles，thencastoff，andlefthertothesouth-easterlybreeze。

Upwentsailaftersail；shenoddedherloftyhead，andglidedawayforAfrica。

PhoebeshedafewnaturaltearsatleavingtheshoresofOldEngland；buttheysoondried。Shewasdemurelyhappy，watchingherprize，andaskingherselfhadshereallysecuredit，andallinafewhours?

Theyhadaprosperousvoyage:weremarriedatCapeTown，andwentupthecountry，bagandbaggage，lookingoutforagoodbargaininland。ReginaldwasmountedonanEnglishhorse，andallowedtozigzagabout，andshoot，andplay，whilehiswifeandbrother-in-

lawmarchedslowlywiththeircavalcade。

Whatwithair，exercise，wholesomefood，andsmilesofwelcome，anddeliciouspetting，thisegotistenjoyedhimselffinely。Headmittedasmuch。Sayshe，oneeveningtohiswife，whosatbyhimforthepleasureofseeinghimfeed，"Itsoundsabsurd；butIneverwassohappyinallmylife。"

Atthat，thecelestialexpressionofherpastoralface，andthematernalgesturewithwhichshedrewherpet"sheadtoherqueenlybosom，wasapictureforcelibacytognashtheteethat。

CHAPTERIX。

Duringthisperiod，themostremarkablethingsthathappenedtoDr。

andMrs。StaineswerereallythosewhichIhaverelatedasconnectingthemwithPhoebeDaleandherbrother；towhichIwillnowaddthatDr。StainesdetailedDick"scaseinaremarkablepaper，entitled"OedemaoftheGlottis，"andshowedhowthepatienthadbeenbroughtbackfromthegravebytracheotomyandartificialrespiration。Hereceivedahighpriceforthisarticle。

Totellthetruth，hewascarefulnottoadmitthatitwashewhohadopenedthewindpipe；sothecreditofthewholeoperationwasgiventoMr。Jenkyn；andthisgentlemanwasnaturallypleased，andthrewagoodmanyconsultationfeesinStaines"sway。

TheLucases，tohisgreatcomfort——forhehadaninstinctiveaversiontoMissLucas——leftLondonforParisinAugust，anddidnotreturnalltheyear。

InFebruaryhereviewedhisyear"sworkandtwelvemonths"

residenceintheBijou。Thepecuniaryresultwas，outgoings，ninehundredandfiftypounds；income，fromfees，twohundredandeightypounds；writing，ninetypounds。

HeshowedthesefigurestoMrs。Staines，andaskedherifshecouldsuggestanydiminutionofexpenditure。Couldshedowithlesshousekeepingmoney?

"Oh，impossible!Youcannotthinkhowtheservantseat；andtheywon"ttouchourhome-madebread。"

"Thefools!Why?"

"Oh，becausetheythinkitcostsusless。Servantsseemtomealwaystohatethepeoplewhosebreadtheyeat。"

"Morelikelyitistheirvanity。Nothingthatisnotpaidforbeforetheireyesseemsgoodenoughforthem。Well，dear，thebakerswillrevengeus。Butisthereanyotheritemwecouldreduce?Dress?"

"Dress!Why，Ispendnothing。"

"Forty-fivepoundsthisyear。"

"Well，Ishallwantnonenextyear。"

"Well，then，Rosa，asthereisnothingwecanreduce，Imustwritemore，andtakemorefees，orweshallbeinthewrongbox。Onlyeighthundredandsixtypoundsleftofourlittlecapital；and，mind，wehavenotanothershillingintheworld。Onecomfort，thereisnodebt。Wepayreadymoneyforeverything。"

Rosacoloredalittle，butsaidnothing。

Stainesdidhispartnobly。Heread；hewrote；hepacedtheyard。

Heworehisoldclothesinthehouse；hetookoffhisnewoneswhenhecamein。Hewasallgenius，drudgery，patience。

HowPhoebeDalewouldhavevaluedhim，co-operatedwithhim，andpettedhim，ifshehadhadthegoodlucktobehiswife!

Theseasoncameback，andwithitMissLucas，towingabrilliantbride，Mrs。Vivian，young，rich，pretty，andgay，withawaistyoucouldspan，andathirstforpleasure。

ThisladywasthefirstthatevermadeRosadownrightjealous。Sheseemedtohaveeverythingthefemaleheartcoulddesire；andshewasNo。1withMissLucasthisyear。Now，RosawasNo。1lastseason，andhadweaklyimaginedthatwastolastforever。ButMissLucashadalwaysasortoffemaleflame，anditneverlastedtwoseasons。

RosadidnotcaresoverymuchforMissLucasbefore，exceptasaconvenientfriend；butnowshewasmortifiedtotearsatfindingMissLucasmademorefusswithanotherthanwithher。

ThisfoolishfeelingspurredhertoattemptarivalrywithMrs。

Vivian，intheverythingswhererivalrywashopeless。

MissLucasgavebothladiesticketsforaflower-show，whereallthegreatfolkweretobe，princesandprincesses，etc。

"ButIhavenothingtowear，"sighedRosa。

"Thenyoumustgetsomething，andminditisnotpink，please；forwemustnotclashincolors。YouknowI"mdark，andpinkbecomesme。(TheselfishyoungbrutewasnothalfsodarkasRosa。)MineiscomingfromWorth"s，inParis，onpurpose。AndthisnewMadameCie，ofRegentStreet，hassuchaduckofabonnet，justcomefromParis。Shewantedtomakemeonefromit；butItoldherIwouldhavenonebutthepatternbonnet——andsheknowsverywellshecan"tpassacopyoffonme。Letmedriveyouupthere，andyoucanseemine，andorderone，ifyoulikeit。"

"Oh，thankyou!letmejustrunandspeaktomyhusbandfirst。"

Staineswaswritingforthebarelife，andanumberofGermanbooksabouthim，slavingtomakeafewpounds——whenincomesthebuoyantfigureandbeamingfacehissouldelightedin。

Helaiddownhiswork，toenjoythesunbeamoflove。

"Oh，darling，I"veonlycomeinforaminute。Wearegoingtoaflower-showonthe13th；everybodywillbesobeautifullydressed——

especiallythatMrs。Vivian。Ihavegottenyardsofbeautifulbluesilkinmywardrobe，butthatisnotenoughtomakeawholedress——everythingtakessomuchstuffnow。MadameCiedoesnotcaretomakeupdressesunlessshefindsthesilk，butMissLucassaysshethinks，toobligeafriendofhers，shewoulddoitforonceinaway。Youknow，dear，itwouldonlytakeafewyardsmore，anditwouldlastasadinner-dressforeversolong。"

Thensheclaspedhimroundtheneck，andleanedherheaduponhisshoulder，andlookedlovinglyupinhisface。"IknowyouwouldlikeyourRosatolookaswellasMrs。Vivian。"

"Nooneeverlooksaswell，inmyeyes，asmyRosa。There，thedresswilladdnothingtoyourbeauty；butgoandgetit，topleaseyourself；itisveryconsiderateofyoutohavechosensomethingofwhichyouhavetenyards，already。See，dear，I"mtoreceivetwentypoundsforthisarticle；ifresearchwaspaiditoughttobeahundred。Ishalladditalltoyourallowancefordressesthisyear。Sonodebt，mind；butcometomeforeverything。"

ThetwoladiesdroveofftoMadameCie"s，aprettyshoplinedwithdarkvelvetandlacedraperies。

Inthebackroomtheywerepackingalovelybridaldress，goingoffthefollowingSaturdaytoNewYork。

"What，sendfromAmericatoLondon?"

"Oh，dear，yes!"exclaimedMadameCie。"TheAmericanladiesareexcellentcustomers。Theybuyeverythingofthebest，andthemostexpensive。"

"Ihavebroughtanewcustomer，"saidMissLucas；"andIwantyoutodoagreatfavor，andthatistomatchabluesilk，andmakeheraprettydressfortheflower-showonthe13th。"

MadameCieproducedawhitemuslinpolonaise，whichshewasjustgoingtosendhometothePrincess——，tobewornovermauve。

"Oh，howprettyandsimple!"exclaimedMissLucas。

"Ihavesomelaceexactlylikethat，"saidMrs。Staines。

"Thenwhydon"tyouhaveapolonaise?Thelaceistheonlyexpensivepart，themuslinisamerenothing；anditissuchausefuldress，itcanbewornoveranysilk。"

ItwasagreedMadameCiewastosendforthebluesilkandthelace，andthedressesweretobetriedononThursday。

OnThursday，asRosawentgaylyintoMadameCie"sbackroomtohavethedressestriedon，MadameCiesaid，"Youhaveabeautifullaceshawl，butitwantsarranging；infiveminutesIcouldastonishyouwithwhatIcoulddotothatshawl。"

"Oh，praydo，"saidMrs。Staines。

Thedressmakerkeptherword。Bythetimethebluedresswastriedon，MadameCiehad，withtheaidofafewpins，plaits，andabowofblueribbon，transformedthehalflaceshawlintooneofthesmartestanddistinguethingsimaginable；butwhenthebillcameinatChristmas，forthatfiveminutes"laboranddistinguetouch，shechargedonepoundeight。

MadameCiethentoldtheladies，inanartfullyconfidentialtone，shehadaquantityofblacksilkcominghome，whichshehadpurchasedconsiderablybelowcostprice；andthatsheshouldliketomakethemeachadress——notforherownsake，buttheirs——assheknewtheywouldnevermeetsuchabargainagain。"Youknow，MissLucas，"shecontinued，"wedon"twantourmoney，whenweknowourcustomers。Christmasissoonenoughforus。"

"Christmasisalongtimeoff，"thoughttheyoungwife，"nearlytenmonths。IthinkI"llhaveablacksilk，MadameCie；butImustnotsayanythingtothedoctoraboutitjustyet，orhemightthinkmeextravagant。"