第13章
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  \"Oh!whatisthematternow?\"saidshe。

  \"Thematteriswhatithasalwaysbeen,ifIcouldonlyhaveseenit。Youhavedeceivedme,anddisgracedyourself。Lookatthosebills。\"

  \"Whatbills?Oh!\"

  \"Youhavehadanallowanceforhousekeeping。\"

  \"Itwasn\'tenough。\"

  \"Itwasplenty,ifyouhadkeptfaithwithme,andpaidreadymoney。Itwasenoughforthefirstfiveweeks。Iamhousekeepernow,andIshallallowmyselftwopoundsaweekless,andnotoweashillingeither。\"

  \"Well,allIknowis,Icouldn\'tdoit:nowomancould。\"

  \"Then,youshouldhavecometome,andsaidso;andIwouldhaveshownyouhow。WasIinEgypt,orattheNorthPole,thatyoucouldnotfindme,totreatmelikeafriend?Youhaveruinedus:

  thesedebtswillsweepawaythelastshillingofourlittlecapital;butitisn\'tthat,oh,no!itisthemiserabledeceit。\"

  Rosa\'seyecaughtthesumtotalofMadameCie\'sbill,andsheturnedpale。\"Oh,whatacheatthatwomanis!\"

  ButsheturnedpalerwhenChristophersaid,\"Thatistheonehonestbill;forIgaveyouleave。Itisthesethatpartus:these!

  these!Lookatthem,falseheart!There,goandpackupyourthings。Wecanliveherenolonger;weareruined。Imustsendyoubacktoyourfather。\"

  \"Ithoughtyouwould,soonerorlater,\"saidMrs。Staines,panting,trembling,butshowingalittlefight。\"HetoldyouIwasn\'tfittobeapoorman\'swife。\"

  \"Anhonestman\'swife,youmean:thatiswhatyouarenotfitfor。

  Youwillgohometoyourfather,andIshallgointosomehumblelodgingtoworkforyou。I\'llcontrivetokeepyou,andfindyouahundredayeartospendindress——theonlythingyourheartcanreallylove。ButIwon\'thaveanenemyhereinthedisguiseofafriend;andIwon\'thaveawifeaboutmeImusttreatlikeaservant,andwatchlikeatraitor。\"

  Thewordswereharsh,buttheagonywithwhichtheywerespokendistinguishedthemfromvulgarvituperation。

  TheyoverpoweredpoorRosa;shehadbeenailingalittlesometime,andfromremorseandterror,coupledwithothercauses,naturegaveway。Herlipsturnedwhite,shegaspedinarticulately,and,withalittlepiteousmoan,tottered,andswooneddeadaway。

  Hewaswalkingwildlyabout,readytotearhishair,whenshetottered;hesawherjustintimetosaveher,andlaidhergentlyonthefloor,andkneeledoverher。

  Awaywentangerandeveryotherfeelingbutloveandpityforthepoor,weakcreaturethat,withallherfaults,wassolovableandsoloved。

  Heappliednoremediesatfirst:heknewtheywereuselessandunnecessary。Helaidherheadquitelow,andopeneddoorandwindow,andloosenedallherdress,sighingdeeplyallthetimeathercondition。

  Whilehewasthusemployed,suddenlyastrangecrybrokefromhim:

  acryofhorror,remorse,joy,tenderness,allcombined:acrycomparedwithwhichlanguageisinarticulate。Hisswiftandpracticaleyehadmadeadiscovery。

  Hekneeledoverher,withhiseyesdilatingandhishandsclasped,apictureofloveandtenderremorse。

  Shestirred。

  Thenhemadehaste,andappliedhisremedies,andbroughtherslowlybacktolife;heliftedherup,andcarriedherinhisarmsquiteawayfromthebillsandthings,that,whenshecameto,shemightseenothingtoreviveherdistress。Hecarriedhertothedrawing-room,andkneeleddownandrockedherinhisarms,andpressedheragainandagaingentlytohisheart,andcriedoverher。\"Omydove,mydove!thetendercreatureGodgavemetoloveandcherish,andhaveIuseditharshly?IfIhadonlyknown!ifI

  hadonlyknown!\"

  Whilehewasthusbemoaningher,andblaminghimself,andcryingoverherliketherain,——he,whomshehadneverseenshedatearbeforeinallhistroubles,——shewascomingtoentirely,andherquickearscaughthiswords,andsheopenedherlovelyeyesonhim。

  \"Iforgiveyou,dear,\"shesaidfeebly。\"BUTIHOPEYOUWILLBEA

  KINDERFATHERTHANAHUSBAND。\"

  Thesequietwords,spokenwithraregravityandsoftness,wentthroughthegreatheartlikeaknife。

  Hegaveasortofshiver,butsaidnotaword。

  ButthatnighthemadeasolemnvowtoGodthatnoharshwordfromhislipsshouldeveragainstrikeabeingsoweak,soloving,andsobeyondhiscomprehension。Whylookforcourageandcandorinacreaturesotimidandshy,shecouldnoteventellherhusbandTHAT

  until,withhersubtlesense,shesawhehaddiscoveredit?

  CHAPTERXII。

  Tobeafather;tohaveanimageofhisdarlingRosa,andafruitoftheirlovetoliveandworkfor:thisgavethesoreheartaheavenlyglow,andelasticitytobear。Shouldthisdearobjectbeborntoaninheritanceofdebt,ofpoverty?Never。

  Hebegantoactasifhewasevennowafather。HeentreatedRosanottotroubleorvexherself;hewouldlookintotheirfinances,andsetallstraight。

  Hepaidallthebills,andputbyaquarter\'srentandtaxes。Thenthereremainedofhislittlecapitaljusttenpounds。

  Hewenttohisprinters,andhadathousandorder-checksprinted。

  Theseformsranthus:——

  \"Dr。Staines,of13DearStreet,Mayfairblankfordate,ordersofblankherefortradesmanandgoodsordered,forcash。

  Receivedsametimeblankfortradesman\'sreceipt。Notice:Dr。

  Stainesdisownsallordersnotprintedonthisform,andpaidforatdateoforder。\"

  Heexhibitedtheseforms,andwarnedallthetradespeople,beforeawitnesswhomhetookroundforthatpurpose。

  HepaidoffPearmanonthespot。PearmanhadmetClara,dressedlikeapauper,hersoldierhavingemptiedherboxtotheverydregs,andhenowofferedtostay。Butitwastoolate。

  StainestoldthecookMrs。Staineswasindelicatehealth,andmustnotbetroubledwithanything。Shemustcometohimforallorders。

  \"Yes,sir,\"saidshe。Butshenosoonercomprehendedthechecksystemfullythanshegavewarning。Itputastoptoherwholesalepilfering。Rosa\'scookshadmadefullyahundredpoundsoutofheramongstthemsinceshebegantokeepaccounts。

  Underthemalehousekeepereveryarticlewasweighedondelivery,andthissoonrevealedthatthebutcherandthefishmongerhadhabituallydeliveredshortweightfromthefirst,besidesputtingdownthesamethingtwice。Thethingsweresentbackthatmoment,withaprintedform,statingthenatureandextentofthefraud。

  Thewasherwoman,whohadbeenpilferingwholesalesolongasMrs。

  Stainesandhersloppy-headedmaidscountedthelinen,andthenforgotit,wasbroughtupwitharun,bytriplicateforms,andbyStainescountingthethingsbeforetwowitnesses,andcompellingthewasherwomantocountthemaswell,andverifyordisputeonthespot。Thelaundressgavewarning——aplainconfessionthatstealinghadbeenpartofhertrade。

  Hekeptthehousewellforthreepoundsaweek,exclusiveofcoals,candles,andwine。Hiswifehadhadfivepounds,andwhateversheaskedfordinner-parties,yetfounditnothalfenoughuponhermethod。

  Hekeptnocoachman。Ifhevisitedapatient,amanintheyarddrovehimatashillingperhour。

  Bythesemeans,andbyworkinglikeagalleyslave,hedraggedhisexpendituredownalmosttoalevelwithhisincome。

  Rosawasquitecontentatfirst,andthoughtherselfluckytoescapereproachesonsucheasyterms。

  Butbyandbysorigorousasystembegantogallher。OnedayshefanciedaBathbun;sentthenewmaidtothepastry-cook\'s。

  Pastry-cookaskedtoseethedoctor\'sorder。Maidcouldnotshowit,andcamebackbunless。

  Rosacameintothestudytocomplaintoherhusband。

  \"ABathbun,\"saidStaines。\"Why,theyarecoloredwithannotto,tosaveanegg,andannottoisadulteratedwithchromatesthatarepoison。Adulterationuponadulteration。I\'llmakeyouarealBathbun。\"Offcoat,andintothekitchen,andmadeherthree,pure,butratherheavy。Hebroughtthemherinduecourse。Shedeclinedthemlanguidly。Shewasoffthenotion,astheysayinScotland。

  \"IfIcan\'thaveathingwhenIwantit,Idon\'tcareforitatall。\"Suchwastheprincipleshelaiddownforhisfutureguidance。

  Hesighed,andwentbacktohiswork;sheclearedtheplate。

  Oneday,whensheaskedforthecarriage,hetoldherthetimewasnowcomeforhertoleaveoffcarriageexercise。Shemustwalkwithhimeveryday,instead。

  \"ButIdon\'tlikewalking。\"

  \"Iamsorryforthat。Butitisnecessarytoyou,andbyandbyyourlifemaydependonit。\"

  Quietly,butinexorably,hedraggedheroutwalkingeveryday。

  Inoneofthesewalksshestoppedatashopwindow,andfellinlovewithsomebaby\'sthings。\"Oh!Imusthavethat,\"saidshe。

  \"Imust。IshalldieifIdon\'t;you\'llseenow。\"

  \"Youshall,\"saidhe,\"whenIcanpayforit,\"anddrewheraway。

  Thetearsofdisappointmentstoodinhereyes,andhisheartyearnedoverher。Buthekepthishead。

  Hechangedthedinnerhourtosix,andusedtogooutdirectlyafterwards。

  Shebegantocomplainofhisleavingheralonelikethat。

  \"Well,butwaitabit,\"saidhe;\"supposeIammakingalittlemoneybyit,tobuyyousomethingyouhavesetyourhearton,poordarling!\"

  Inaveryfewdaysafterthis,hebroughtheralittleboxwithaslitinit。Heshookit,andmoneyrattled;thenheunlockedit,andpouredoutalittlepileofsilver。\"There,\"saidhe,\"putonyourbonnet,andcomeandbuythosethings。\"

  Sheputonherbonnet,andonthewaysheaskedhowitcametobeallinsilver。

  \"Thatisapuzzler,\"saidhe,\"isn\'tit?\"

  \"Andhowdidyoumakeit,dear?bywriting?\"

  \"No。\"

  \"Byfeesfromthepoorpeople?\"

  \"What,undersellmybrethren!Hangit,no!Mydear,Imadeithonestly,andsomedayIwilltellyouhowImadeit;atpresent,allIwilltellyouisthis:Isawmydarlinglongingforsomethingshehadarighttolongfor;Isawthetearsinhersweeteyes,and——oh,comealong,do。IamwretchedtillIseeyouwiththethingsinyourhand。\"

  Theywenttotheshop;andStainessatandwatchedRosabuyingbaby-clothes。Oh,itwasaprettysighttoseethismodestyoungcreature,littlemorethanachildherself,anticipatingmaternity,butblushingeverynowandthen,andlookingaskantatherlordandmaster。Howhisverybowelsyearnedoverher!

  Andwhentheygothome,shespreadthethingsonatable,andtheysathandinhand,andlookedatthem,andsheleanedherheadonhisshoulder,andwentquietlytosleepthere。

  Andyet,astimerolledon,shebecameirritableattimes,andimpatient,andwantedallmannerofthingsshecouldnothave,andmadehimunhappy。

  Thenhewasoutfromsixo\'clocktillone,andshetookitintoherheadtobejealous。Somanyhourstospendawayfromher!Nowthatshewantedallhiscomfort。

  Presently,Ellen,thenewmaid,gotgossipingintheyard,andagroomtoldherhermasterhadasweetheartonthesly,hethought;

  forhedrovethebroughamouteveryeveninghimself;\"and,\"saidtheman,\"hewearsamustacheatnight。\"

  Ellenranin,brimfulofthis,andtoldthecook;thecooktoldthewasherwoman;thewasherwomantoldadozenfamilies,tillabouttwohundredpeopleknewit。

  AtlastitcametoMrs。Stainesinaroundaboutway,attheverymomentwhenshewascomplainingtoLadyCicelyTreherneofherhardlot。Shehadbeentellinghershewasnothingmorethanalay-

  figureinthehouse。

  \"Myhusbandishousekeepernow,andcook,andall,andmakesmedeliciousdishes,Icantellyou;SUCHcurries!Icouldn\'tkeepthehousewithfivepoundsaweek,sonowhedoesitwiththree:

  andInevergetthecarriage,becausewalkingisbestforme;andhetakesitouteverynighttomakemoney。Idon\'tunderstandit。\"

  LadyCicelysuggestedthatperhapsDr。Stainesthoughtitbestforhertoberelievedofallworry,andsoundertookthehousekeeping。

  \"No,no,no,\"saidRosa;\"Iusedtopaythemallapartoftheirbills,andthenalittlemore,andsoIkeptgettingdeeper;andI

  wasashamedtotellChristie,sothathecallsdeceit;andoh,hespoketomesocruellyonce!Buthewasverysorryafterwards,poordear!Whyaregirlsbroughtupsosilly?allpiano,andnosense;andwhyaremensillierstilltogoandmarrysuchsillythings?Awife!Iamnotsomuchasaservant。Oh,Iamfinelyhumiliated,and,\"withasuddenheartynaiveteallherown,\"itservesmejustright。\"

  WhileLadyCicelywaspuzzlingthisout,incamealetter。Rosaopenedit,readit,andgaveacrylikeawoundeddeer。

  \"Oh!\"shecried,\"Iamamiserablewoman。Whatwillbecomeofme?\"

  Theletterinformedherbluntlythatherhusbanddrovehisbroughamouteverynighttopursueacriminalamour。

  WhileRosawaswringingherhandsinrealanguishofheart,LadyCicelyreadthelettercarefully。

  \"Idon\'tbelievethis,\"saidshequietly。

  \"Nottrue!Why,whowouldbesowickedastostabapoor,inoffensivewretchlikeme,ifitwasn\'ttrue?\"

  \"Thefirstuglywomanwould,inaminute。Don\'tyouseethewitercan\'ttellyouwherehegoes?Dwiveshisbwoughamout!Thatisallyourinfaumantknows。\"

  \"Oh,mydearfriend,blessyou!WhathaveIbeencomplainingtoyouabout?Allislight,excepttolosehislove。WhatshallI

  do?Iwillnevertellhim。IwillneveraffronthimbysayingI

  suspectedhim。\"

  \"Wosa,ifyoudothat,youwillalwayshaveaserpentgnawingyou。

  No;youmustputtheletterquietlyintohishand,andsay,\'Isthereanytruthinthat?\'\"

  \"Oh,Icouldnot。Ihaven\'tthecourage。IfIdothat,Ishallknowbyhisfaceifthereisanytruthinit。\"

  \"Well,andyoumustknowthetwuth。Youshallknowit。Iwanttoknowittoo;forifhedoesnotloveyoutwuly,Iwillnevaatwustmyselftoanythingsodeceitfulasaman。\"

  Rosaatlastconsentedtofollowthisadvice。

  AfterdinnersheputtheletterintoChristopher\'shand,andaskedhimquietlywasthereanytruthinthat:thenherhandstrembled,andhereyesdrankhim。

  Christopherreadit,andfrowned;thenhelookedup,andsaid,\"No,notaword。Whatscoundrelsthereareintheworld!Togoandtellyouthat,NOW!Why,youlittlegoose!haveyoubeensillyenoughtobelieveit?\"

  \"No,\"saidsheirresolutely。\"ButDOyoudrivethebroughamouteverynight?\"

  \"ExceptSunday。\"

  \"Where?\"

  \"Mydearwife,IneverlovedyouasIloveyounow;andifitwasnotforyou,Ishouldnotdrivethebroughamoutofnights。ThatisallIshalltellyouatpresent;butsomedayI\'lltellyouallaboutit。\"

  Hetooksuchacalmhighhandwithheraboutit,thatshesubmittedtoleaveitthere;butfromthismomenttheserpentdoubtnibbledher。

  Ithadonecuriouseffect,though。Sheleftoffcomplainingoftrifles。

  NowithappenedonenightthatLadyCicelyTreherneandafriendwereataconcertinHanoverSquare。Theotherladyfeltratherfaint,andLadyCicelyofferedtotakeherhome。Thecarriageshadnotyetarrived,andMissMacnamarasaidtowalkafewstepswoulddohergood:asmartcabmansawthemfromadistanceanddroveup,andtouchinghishatsaid,\"Cab,ladies?\"

  Itseemedaverysuperiorcab,andMissMacnamarasaid\"Yes\"

  directly。

  Thecabmanbustleddownandopenedthedoor;MissMacnamaragotinfirst,thenLadyCicely;hereyefellonthecabman\'sface,whichwaslightedfullbyastreet-lamp,anditwasChristopherStaines!

  Hestartedandwinced;butthewomanoftheworldnevermovedamuscle。

  \"Whereto?\"saidStaines,avertinghishead。

  Shetoldhimwhere,andwhentheygotout,said,\"I\'llsendityoubytheservant。\"

  Aflunkeysoonafterappearedwithhalf-a-crown,andtheamateurcoachmandroveaway。Hesaidtohimself,\"Come,mymustacheisabetterdisguisethanIthought。\"

  Nextday,andthedayafter,heaskedRosa,withaffectedcarelessness,hadsheheardanythingofLadyCicely。

  \"No,dear;butIdaresayshewillcallthisafternoon:itisherday。\"

  Shedidcallatlast,andafterafewwordswithRosa,becamealittlerestless,andaskedifshemightconsultDr。Staines。

  \"Certainly,dear。Cometohisstudio。\"

  \"No;mightIseehimhere?\"

  \"Certainly。\"Sherangthebell,andtoldtheservanttoaskDr。

  Stainesifhewouldbekindenoughtostepintothedrawing-room。

  Dr。Stainescamein,andbowedtoLadyCicely,andeyedheralittleuncomfortably。

  Shebegan,however,inawaythatputhimquiteathisease。\"YouremembertheadviceyougaveusaboutmylittlecousinTadcastah。\"

  \"Perfectly:hislifeisveryprecarious;heisbilious,consumptive,and,ifnotwatched,willbeepileptical;andhehasafond,weakmother,whowilllethimkillhimself。\"

  \"Exactly:andyouwecommendedaseavoyage,withamedicalattendanttowatchhisdiet,andcontwolhishabits。Well,shetookotheradvice,andtheyouthisworse;sonowsheisfwightened,andamonthagosheaskedmetopwoposetoyoutosailaboutwithTadcastah;andsheofferedmeathousandpoundsayear。

  Iputonmystifflook,andsaid,\'Countess,witheverydesiahtoobligeyou,Imustdeclinetocawwythatoffahtoamanofgenius,learning,andweputation,whohastheballathisfeetinLondon。\'\"

  \"Lordforgiveyou,LadyCicely。\"

  \"LordblessherforstandingupformyChristie。\"

  LadyCicelycontinued:\"Now,thisgoodlady,youmustknow,isnotexactlyoneofus:thelateearlmawwiedintocotton,orwool,orsomething。Soshesaid,\'Nameyourpriceforhim。\'Ishwuggedmyshoulders,smiledaffably,andasaffectedlyasyoulike,andchangedthesubject。Butsincethenthingshavehappened。Iamafwaiditismydutytomakeyouthejudgewhetheryouchoosetosailaboutwiththatlittlecub——Rosa,Icanbeataboutthebushnolonger。Isitafitthingthatamanofgenius,atwhosefeetweoughtalltobesittingwithreverence,shoulddriveacabinthepublicstreets?Yes,RosaStaines,yourhusbanddriveshisbroughamoutatnight,nottovisitanyotherlady,asthatanonymouswretchtoldyou,buttomakeafewmisewableshillingsforyou。\"

  \"Oh,Christie!\"

  \"Itisnouse,Dr。Staines;Imustandwilltellher。Mydear,hedroveMEthreenightsago。Hehadacabman\'sbadgeonhispoorarm。IfyouknewwhatIsufferedinthosefiveminutes!Indeeditseemscrueltospeakofit——butIcouldnotkeepitfromRosa,andthereasonImustercouragetosayitbeforeyou,sir,itisbecauseIknowshehasotherfriendswhokeepyououtoftheirconsultations;and,afterall,itistheworldthatoughttoblush,andnotyou。\"

  Herladyship\'skindlybosomheaved,andshewantedtocry;soshetookherhandkerchiefoutofherpocketwithouttheleasthurry,andpresseditdelicatelytohereyes,anddidcryquietly,butwithoutanydisguise,likeabravelady,whoneithercriednordidanythingelseshewasashamedtobeseenat。

  AsforRosa,shesatsobbingroundChristopher\'sneck,andkissedhimwithallhersoul。

  \"Dearme!\"saidChristopher。\"Youarebothverykind。But,beggingyourpardon,itismuchadoaboutnothing。\"

  LadyCicelytooknonoticeofthatobservation。\"So,Rosadear,\"

  saidshe,\"Ithinkyouarethepersontodecidewhetherhehadnotbettersailaboutwiththatlittlecub,than——oh!\"

  \"Iwillsettlethat,\"saidStaines。\"Ihaveonebelovedcreaturetoprovidefor。Imayhaveanother。IMUSTmakemoney。Turningabroughamintoacab,whateveryoumaythink,isanhonestwayofmakingit,andIamnotthefirstdoctorwhohascoinedhisbroughamatnight。ButifthereisagooddealofmoneytobemadebysailingwithLordTadcaster,ofcourseIshouldpreferthattocab-driving,forIhavenevermadeabovetwelveshillingsanight。\"

  \"Oh,astothat,sheshallgiveyoufifteenhundredayear。\"

  \"ThenIjumpatit。\"

  \"What!andleaveME?\"

  \"Yes,love:leaveyou——foryourgood;andonlyforatime。LadyCicely,itisanobleoffer。MydarlingRosawillhaveeverycomfort——ay,everyluxury,tillIcomehome,andthenwewillstartafreshwithagoodbalance,andwithmoreexperiencethanwedidatfirst。\"

  LadyCicelygazedonhimwithwonder。Shesaid,\"Oh!whatstoutheartsmenhave!No,no;don\'tlethimgo。See;heisacting。

  Hisgreatheartistornwithagony。Iwillhavenohandinpartingmanandwife——no,notforaday。\"Andshehurriedawayinrareagitation。

  Rosafellonherknees,andaskedChristopher\'spardonforhavingbeenjealous;andthatdayshewasafloodofdivinetenderness。

  Sherepaidhimrichlyfordrivingthecab。ButshewasunnaturallycoolaboutLadyCicely;andtheexquisitereasonsooncameout。

  \"Ohyes!Sheisverygood;verykind;butitisnotformenow!

  No!youshallnotsailaboutwithhercubofacousin,andleavemeatsuchatime。\"

  Christophergroaned。

  \"Christie,youshallnotseethatladyagain。Shecameheretopartus。SHEISINLOVEWITHYOU。Iwasblindnottoseeitbefore。\"

  Nextday,asLadyCicelysataloneinthemorning-roomthinkingoverthisveryscene,afootmanbroughtinacardandanote。\"Dr。

  StainesbegsparticularlytoseeLadyCicelyTreherne。\"

  Thelady\'spalecheekcolored;shestoodirresoluteasinglemoment。\"IwillseeDr。Staines,\"saidshe。

  Dr。Stainescamein,lookingpaleandworn;hehadnotsleptawinksinceshesawhimlast。

  Shelookedathimfull,anddivinedthisataglance。Shemotionedhimtoaseat,andsatdownherself,withherwhitehandpressingherforehead,andherheadturnedalittleawayfromhim。

  CHAPTERXIII。

  Hetoldherhehadcometothankherforhergreatkindness,andtoaccepttheoffer。

  Shesighed。\"Ihopeditwastodeclineit。Thinkofthemiseryofseparation,bothtoyouandher。\"

  \"Itwillbemisery。Butwearenothappyasitis,andshecannotbearpoverty。Norisitfairsheshould,whenIcangivehereverycomfortbyjustplayingthemanforayearortwo。\"HethentoldLadyCicelythereweremorereasonsthanhechosetomention:gohemust,andwould;andheimploredhernottolettheaffairdrop。

  Inshort,hewassadbutresolved,andshefoundshemustgoonwithit,orbreakfaithwithhim。Shetookherdesk,andwrotealetterconcludingthebargainforhim。Shestipulatedforhalftheyear\'sfeeinadvance。ShereadDr。Stainestheletter。

  \"YouAREafriend!\"saidhe。\"Ishouldneverhaveventuredonthat;itwillbeagodsendtomypoorRosa。YouwillbekindtoherwhenIamgone?\"

  \"Iwill。\"

  \"SowillUnclePhilip,Ithink。IwillseehimbeforeIgo,andshakehands。Hehasbeenagoodfriendtome;buthewastooharduponHER;andIcouldnotstandthat。\"

  Thenhethankedandblessedheragain,withthetearsinhiseyes,andlefthermoredisturbedandtearfulthanshehadeverbeensinceshegrewtowoman。\"Ocruelpoverty!\"shethought,\"thatsuchamanshouldbetornfromhishome,andthankmefordoingit——

  allforalittlemoney——andherearewepoorcommonplacecreaturesrollinginit。\"

  Staineshurriedhome,andtoldhiswife。Sheclungtohimconvulsively,andweptbitterly;butshemadenodirectattempttoshakehisresolution;shesaw,byhisironlook,thatshecouldonlyafflict,notturnhim。

  NextdaycameLadyCicelytoseeher。LadyCicelywasveryuneasyinhermind,andwantedtoknowwhetherRosawasreconciledtotheseparation。

  Rosareceivedherwithaforcedpolitenessandanicycoldnessthatpetrifiedher。Shecouldnotstaylonginfaceofsuchareception。Atparting,shesaid,sadly,\"Youlookonmeasanenemy。\"

  \"Whatelsecanyouexpect,whenyoupartmyhusbandandme?\"saidRosa,withquietsternness。

  \"Imeantwell,\"saidLadyCicelysorrowfully;\"butIwishIhadneverinterfered。\"

  \"SodoI,\"andshebegantocry。

  LadyCicelymadenoanswer。Shewentquietlyaway,hangingherheadsadly。

  Rosawasunjust,butshewasnotrudenorvulgar;andLadyCicely\'stemperwassowellgovernedthatitneverblindedherheart。Shewithdrew,butwithouttheleastideaofquarrellingwithherafflictedfriend,orabandoningher。Shewentquietlyhome,andwrotetoLady——,tosaythatsheshouldbegladtoreceiveDr。

  Staines\'sadvanceassoonasconvenient,sinceMrs。Staineswouldhavetomakefresharrangements,andthemoneymightbeuseful。

  Themoneywasforthcomingdirectly。LadyCicelybroughtittoDearStreet,andhandedittoDr。Staines。Hiseyessparkledatthesightofit。

  \"GivemylovetoRosa,\"saidshesoftly,andcuthervisitveryshort。

  StainestookthemoneytoRosa,andsaid,\"Seewhatourbestfriendhasbroughtus。Youshallhavefourhundred,andIhope,afterthebitterlessonsyouhavehad,youwillbeabletodowiththatforsomemonths。ThetwohundredIshallkeepasareservefundforyoutodrawon。\"

  \"No,no!\"saidRosa。\"Ishallgoandlivewithmyfather,andneverspendapenny。OChristie,ifyouknewhowIhatemyselfforthefollythatispartingus!Oh,whydon\'ttheyteachgirlssenseandmoney,insteadofmusicandtheglobes?\"

  ButChristopheropenedabankingaccountforher,andgaveheracheck-book,andentreatedhertopayeverythingbycheck,andrunnobillswhatever;andshepromised。HealsoadvertisedtheBijou,andputabillinthewindow:\"Theleaseofthishouse,andthefurniture,tobesold。\"

  Rosacriedbitterlyatsightofit,thinkinghowhighinhopetheywere,whentheyhadtheirfirstdinnerthere,andalsowhenshewenttoherfirstsaletobuythefurniturecheap。

  Andnoweverythingmovedwithterriblerapidity。TheAmphitritewastosailfromPlymouthinfivedays;and,meantime,therewassomuchtobedone,thatthedaysseemedtogallopaway。

  Dr。Stainesforgotnothing。Hemadehiswillinduplicate,leavingalltohiswife;heleftonecopyatDoctors\'Commonsandanotherwithhislawyer;inventoriedallhisfurnitureandeffectsinduplicate,too;wrotetoUnclePhilip,andthencalledonhimtoseekareconciliation。Unfortunately,Dr。PhilipwasinScotland。

  AtlastthissadpairwentdowntoPlymouthtogether,theretomeetLordTadcasterandgoonboardH。M。S。Amphitrite,lyingoutatanchor,underordersfortheAustralianStation。

  Theymetattheinn,asappointed;andsentwordoftheirarrivalonboardthefrigate,askingtoremainonshoretillthelastminute。

  Dr。StainespresentedhispatienttoRosa;andafteralittlewhiledrewhimapartandquestionedhimprofessionally。Hethenaskedforaprivateroom。HereheandRosareallytookleave;forwhatcouldthepoorthingssaytoeachotheronacrowdedquay?Hebeggedherforgiveness,onhisknees,forhavingoncespokenharshlytoher,andshetoldhim,withpassionatesobs,hehadneverspokenharshlytoher;herfollyitwashadpartedthem。

  Poorwretches!theyclungtogetherwithathousandvowsofloveandconstancy。Theyweretoprayforeachotheratthesamehours:tothinkofsomekindwordorlovingact,atotherstatedhours;andsotheytriedtofightwiththeirsufferingmindsagainstthecruelseparation;andifeithershoulddie,theotherwastoliveweddedtomemory,andneverlistentolovefromotherlips;butno!Godwaspitiful;Hewouldletthemmeetagainerelong,topartnomore。Theyrockedineachother\'sarms;theycriedovereachother——itwaspitiful。

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