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。\"