Thedoorwasopenedbyamaid。
\"IsMrs。Stainesathome?\"
\"Yes，ma\'am，sheisatHOME:but——\"
\"CanIseeher?\"
\"Why，no，ma\'am，notatpresent。\"
\"ButImustseeher。Iamanoldfriend。Pleasetakehermycard。
LadyCicelyTreherne。\"
Themaidhesitated，andlookedconfused。\"Perhapsyoudon\'tknow，ma\'am。Mrs。Staines，sheis——thedoctorhavebeeninthehouseallday。\"
\"Ah，thedoctor!IbelieveDr。PhilipStainesishere。\"
\"Why，thatISthedoctor，ma\'am。Yes，heishere。\"
\"Then，prayletmeseehim——orno；IhadbetterseeMr。Lusignan。\"
\"Masterhavegoneoutfortheday，ma\'am；butifyou\'llstepinthedrawing-room，I\'lltellthedoctor。\"
LadyCicelywaitedinthedrawing-roomsometime，heart-sickandtrembling。
AtlastDr。Philipcamein，withhercardinhishand，lookingevidentlyalittlecrossattheinterruption。\"Now，madam，pleasetellme，asbrieflyasyoucan，whatIcandoforyou。\"
\"AreyouDr。PhilipStaines?\"
\"Iam，madam，atyourservice——forfiveminutes。Can\'tquitmypatientlong，justnow。\"
\"Oh，sir，thankGodIhavefoundyou。Bepreparedforillnews——
sadnews——aterriblecalamity——Ican\'tspeak。Readthat，sir。\"
AndshehandedhimTadcaster\'snote。
Hetookit，andreadit。
Heburiedhisfaceinhishands。\"Christopher!mypoor，poorboy!\"
hegroaned。Butsuddenlyaterribleanxietyseizedhim。\"Whoknowsofthis?\"heasked。
\"Onlymyself，sir。Icameheretobreakittoher。\"
\"Youareagood，kindlady，forbeingsothoughtful。Madam，ifthisgetstomyniece\'sears，itwillkillher，assureaswestandhere。\"
\"Thenletuskeepitfromher。Commandme，sir。Iwilldoanything。Iwilllivehere——takethelettersin——thejournals——
anything。\"
\"No，no；youhavedoneyourpart，andGodblessyouforit。Youmustnotstayhere。Yourladyship\'sverypresence，andyouragitation，wouldsettheservantstalking，andsomeidiot-fiendamongthembabbling——thereisnothingsoterribleasafool。\"
\"MayIremainattheinn，sir；justonenight?\"
\"Ohyes，Iwishyouwould；andIwillrunover，ifalliswellwithher——wellwithher?poorunfortunategirl!\"
LadyCicelysawhewishedhergone，andshewentdirectly。
Atnineo\'clockthatsameevening，asshelayonasofainthebestroomoftheinn，attendedbyhermaid，Dr。PhilipStainescametoher。Shedismissedhermaid。
Dr。Philipwastooold，inotherwords，hadlosttoomanyfriends，tobereallybrokendownbybereavement；buthewasstrangelysubdued。Theloudtoneswereoutofhim，andtheloudlaugh，andeventhekeensneer。Yethewasthesameman；butwithagentlersurface；andthiswasnotwithoutitspathos。
\"Well，madam，\"saidhegravelyandquietly。\"Itisasitalwayshasbeen。\'Asistheraceofleaves，sothatofman。\'Whenonefalls，anothercomes。Here\'salittleChristophercome，inplaceofhimthatisgone:abrave，beautifulboy，ma\'am；thefinestbutoneIeverbroughtintotheworld。Heiscometotakehisfather\'splaceinourhearts——Iseeyouvaluedhispoorfather，ma\'am——buthecomestoolateforme。Atyourage，ma\'am，friendshipscomenaturally；theyspringlikelovesinthesoftheartofyouth:atseventy，thegateisnotsoopen；thesoilismoresterile。I
shallnevercareforanotherChristopher；neverseeanothergrowtoman\'sestate。\"
\"Themother，sir，\"sobbedLadyCicely；\"thepoormother?\"
\"Likethemall——poorcreature:inheaven，madam；inheaven。Newlife!newexistence!anewcharacter。Allthepride，glory，rapture，andamazementofmaternity——thankstoherignorance，whichwemustprolong，orIwouldnotgiveonestrawforherlife，orherson\'s。Ishallneverleavethehousetillshedoesknowit，andcomewhenitmay，Idreadthehour。Sheisnotframedbynaturetobearsodeadlyashock。\"
\"Herfather，sir。Wouldhenotbethebestpersontobreakittoher?Hewasoutto-day。\"
\"Herfather，ma\'am?Ishallgetnohelpfromhim。Heisoneofthosesoft，gentlecreatures，thatcomeintotheworldwithwhatyourcantingfoolscallamission；andhismissionistotakecareofnumberone。Notdishonestly，mindyou，norviolently，norrudely，butdoucelyandcalmly。Thecareabrutelikemetakesofhisvitals，thatcareLusignantakesofhisoutercuticle。Hisnumberoneisasensitiveplant。Noscenes，nonoise；nothingpainful——by-the-by，thelittlecreaturethatwritesinthepapers，andcallscalamitiesPAINFUL，isofLusignan\'sbreed。Outto-day!
ofcoursehewasout，ma\'am:heknewfrommehisdaughterwouldbeinperilallday，sohevisitedafriend。Heknewhisowntenderness，andevadedpaternalsensibilities:aself-defender。I
countonnohelpfromthatcharmingman。\"
\"Aman!Icallsuchcreachaasweptiles!\"saidLadyCicely，herghastlycheekcoloringforamoment。
\"Thenyougivethemafalseimportance。\"
Inthecourseofthisinterview，LadyCicelyaccusedherselfsadlyofhavinginterferedbetweenmanandwife，andwiththebestintentionsbroughtaboutthiscruelcalamity。\"Judge，then，sir，\"
saidshe，\"howgratefulIamtoyouforundertakingthiscrueltask。Iwasherschoolfellow，sir，andIloveherdearly；butshehasturnedagainstme，andnow，oh，withwhathorrorshewillregardme!\"
\"Madam，\"saidthedoctor，\"thereisnothingmoremeanandunjustthantojudgeothersbyeventsthatnonecouldforesee。Yourconscienceisclear。Youdidyourbestformypoornephew:butFatewilleditotherwise。Asformyniece，shehasmanyvirtues，butjusticeisoneyoumustnotlookforinthatquarter。Justicerequiresbrains。It\'savirtuetheheartdoesnotdealin。Youmustbecontentwithyourowngoodconscience，andanoldman\'sesteem。Youdidallforthebest；andthisverydayyouhavedoneagood，kindaction。Godblessyouforit!\"
Thenhelefther；andnextdayshewentsadlyhome，andformanyalongdaythehollowworldsawnothingofCicelyTreherne。
WhenMr。Lusignancamehomethatnight，Dr。Philiptoldhimthemiserablestory，andhisfears。Hereceivedit，notasPhiliphadexpected。Thebachelorhadcountedwithouthisdormantpaternity。
Hewasterror-stricken——abject——fellintoachair，andwrunghishands，andweptpiteously。Tokeepitfromhisdaughtertillsheshouldbestronger，seemedtohimchimerical，impossible。However，Philipinsisteditmustbedone；andhemustmakesomeexcuseforkeepingoutofherway，orhismannerwouldrousehersuspicions。
Heconsentedreadilytothat，andindeedleftalltoDr。Philip。
Dr。Philiptrustednobody；notevenhisownconfidentialservant。
Heallowednojournaltocomeintothehousewithoutpassingthroughhishands，andhereadthemallbeforehewouldletanyothersoulinthehouseseethem。HeaskedRosatolethimbehersecretaryandopenherletters，givingasapretextthatitwouldbeaswellsheshouldhavenosmallworriesortroublejustnow。
\"Why，\"saidshe，\"Iwasneversowellabletobearthem。Itmustbeagreatthingtoputmeoutnow。Iamsohappy，andliveinthefuture。Well，dearuncle，youcanifyoulike——whatdoesitmatter?——onlytheremustbeoneexception:myownChristie\'sletters，youknow。\"
\"Ofcourse，\"saidhe，wincinginwardly。
TheverynextdaycamealetterofcondolencefromMissLucas。Dr。
Philipinterceptedit，andlockeditup，tobeshownheratamorefittingtime。
Buthowcouldhehopetokeepsopublicathingasthisfromenteringthehouseinoneofahundrednewspapers?
HewentintoGravesend，andsearchedallthenewspapers，toseewhathehadtocontendwith。Tohishorror，hefounditinseveraldailiesandweeklies，andintwoillustratedpapers。Hesataghastatthedifficultyandthedanger。
Thebestthinghecouldthinkofwastobuythemall，andcutouttheaccount。Hedidso，andbroughtallthepapers，thusmutilated，intothehouse，andsentthemintothekitchen。Hesaidtohisoldservant，\"ThesemayamuseMr。Lusignan\'speople，andI
haveextractedallthatinterestsme。\"
Bythesemeanshehopedthatnoneoftheservantswouldgoandbuymoreofthesesamepaperselsewhere。
Notwithstandingtheseprecautions，hetookthenurseapart，andsaid，\"Now，youareanexperiencedwoman，andtobetrustedaboutanexcitablepatient。Mind，IobjecttoanyfemaleservantenteringMrs。Staines\'sroomwithgossip。Keepthemoutsidethedoorforthepresent，please。Oh，andnurse，ifanythingshouldhappen，likelytogrieveortoworryher，itmustbekeptfromherentirely:canItrustyou?\"
\"Youmay，sir。\"
\"Ishalladdtenguineastoyourfee，ifshegetsthroughthemonthwithoutashockordisturbanceofanykind。\"
Shestaredathim，inquiringly。Thenshesaid，——
\"Youmayrelyonme，doctor。\"
\"IfeelImay。Still，shealarmsme。Shelooksquietenough，butsheisveryexcitable。\"
NotalltheseprecautionsgaveDr。Philipanyrealsenseofsecurity；stilllessdidtheytoMr。Lusignan。Hewasnotatenderfather，insmallthings，buttheideaofactualdangertohisonlychildwasterribletohimandhenowpassedhislifeinacontinualtremble。
Thisisthelesstobewonderedat，whenItellyouthateventhestoutPhilipbegantolosehisnerve，hisappetite，hissleep，underthishourlyterrorandthishourlytorture。
Welldidthegreatimaginationofantiquityfeignatorment，toogreatforthemindlongtoendure，intheswordofDamoclessuspendedbyasinglehairoverhishead。Heretheswordhungoveraninnocentcreature，whosmiledbeneathit，fearless；butthesetwooldmenmustsitandwatchthesword，andaskthemselveshowlongbeforethatsubtlesalvationshallsnap。
\"Illnewstravelsfast，\"saystheproverb。\"Thebirdsoftheairshallcarrythematter，\"saysHolyWrit；anditisso。Noboltsnorbars，nopromisesnorprecautions，canlongshutoutagreatcalamityfromtheearsitistoblast，theheartitistowither。
Theveryairseemsfullofit，untilitfalls。
Rosa\'schildwasmorethanafortnightold；andshewaslookingmorebeautifulthanever，asisoftenthecasewithaveryyoungmother，andDr。Philipcomplimentedheronherlooks。\"Now，\"saidhe，\"youreaptheadvantageofbeinggood，andobedient，andkeepingquiet。Inanothertendaysorso，Imaytakeyoutotheseasideforaweek。IhavethehonortoinformyouthatfromaboutthefourthtothetenthofMarchthereisalwaysaweekoffineweather，whichtakeseverybodybysurprise，exceptme。Itdoesnotastonishme，becauseIobserveitisinvariable。Now，whatwouldyousayifIgaveyouaweekatHerneBay，tosetyouupaltogether?\"
\"Asyouplease，dearuncle，\"saidMrs。Staines，withasweetsmile。
\"Ishallbeveryhappytogo，ortostay。Ishallbehappyeverywhere，withmydarlingboy，andthethoughtofmyhusband。
Why，Icountthedaystillheshallcomebacktome。No，tous；tous，mypet。Howdareanaughtymammysayto\'me，\'asif\'me\'washalfthe\'portanceofoo，apreciouspets!\"
Dr。Philipwassurprisedintoasigh。
\"Whatisthematter，dear?\"saidRosa，veryquickly。
\"Thematter?\"
\"Yes，dear，thematter。Yousighed；you，thelaughingphilosopher。\"
\"DidI?\"saidhe，togaintime。\"PerhapsIrememberedtheuncertaintyofhumanlife，andofallmortalhopes。Theoldwillhavetheirthoughts，mydear。Theyhaveseensomuchtrouble。\"
\"But，uncledear，heisaveryhealthychild。\"
\"Very。\"
\"Andyoutoldmeyourselfcarelessnesswasthecausesomanychildrendie。\"
\"Thatistrue。\"
Shegavehimacuriousandrathersearchinglook；then，leaningoverherboy，said，\"Mammy\'snotafraid。BeautifulPetwasnotborntodiedirectly。Hewillneverleavehismam-ma。No，uncle，henevercan。Formylifeisboundinhisandhisdearfather\'s。
Itisatriplecord:onego，goall。\"
ShesaidthiswithaquietresolutionthatchilledUnclePhilip。
Atthismomentthenurse，whohadbeenbendingsopertinaciouslyoversomeworkthathereyeswereinvisible，lookedquicklyup，castafurtiveglanceatMrs。Staines，andfindingshewasemployedforthemoment，madeanagitatedsignaltoDr。Philip。Allshedidwastoclenchhertwohandsandliftthemhalfwaytoherface，andthencastafrightenedlooktowardsthedoor；butPhilip\'ssensesweresosharpenedbyconstantalarmandwatching，thathesawatoncesomethingseriouswasthematter。Butashehadaskedhimselfwhatheshoulddoincaseofsomesuddenalarm，hemerelygaveanodofintelligencetothenurse，scarcelyperceptible，thenrosequietlyfromhisseat，andwenttothewindow。\"Snowcoming，I
think，\"saidhe。\"ForallthatweshallhavetheMarchsummerintendays。Youmarkmywords。\"Hethenwentleisurelyoutoftheroom；atthedoorheturned，and，withallthecunninghewasmasterof，said，\"Oh，bytheby，cometomyroom，nurse，whenyouareatleisure。\"
\"Yes，doctor，\"saidthenurse，butnevermoved。Shewastoobentonhidingtheagitationshereallyfelt。
\"Hadyounotbettergotohim，nurse?\"
\"PerhapsIhad，madam。\"
Sherosewithfeignedindifference，andlefttheroom。Shewalkedleisurelydownthepassage，then，castingahastyglancebehindher，forfearMrs。Stainesshouldbewatchingher，hurriedintothedoctor\'sroom。Theymetatonceinthemiddleoftheroom，andMrs。Briscoeburstout，\"Sir，itisknownalloverthehouse!\"
\"Heavenforbid!Whatisknown?\"
\"Whatyouwouldgivetheworldtokeepfromher。Why，sir，themomentyoucautionedme，ofcourseIsawtherewastrouble。ButlittleIthought——sir，notaservantinthekitchenorthestablebutknowsthatherhusband——poorthing!poorthing!——Ah!theregoesthehousemaid——tohavealookather。\"
\"Stopher!\"
Mrs。Briscoehadnotwaitedforthis；sherushedafterthewoman，andtoldherMrs。Staineswassleeping，andtheroommustnotbeenteredonanyaccount。
\"Oh，verywell，\"saidthemaid，rathersullenly。
Mrs。Briscoesawherreturntothekitchen，andcamebacktoDr。
Staines；hewaspacingtheroomintormentsofanxiety。
\"Doctor，\"saidshe，\"itistheoldstory:\'Servants\'friends，themaster\'senemies。\'Anoldservantcameheretogossipwithherfriendthecookshenevercouldabideherwhiletheyweretogether，byallaccounts，andtoldherthewholestoryofhisbeingdrownedatsea。\"
Dr。Philipgroaned，\"Cursedchatterbox!\"saidhe。\"Whatistobedone?Mustwebreakittohernow?Oh，ifIcouldonlybuyafewdaysmore!Thehearttobecrushedwhilethebodyisweak!Itistoocruel。Adviseme，Mrs。Briscoe。Youareanexperiencedwoman，andIthinkyouareakind-heartedwoman。\"
\"Well，sir，\"saidMrs。Briscoe，\"Ihadthenameofit，whenIwasyounger——beforeBriscoefailed，andItooktonursing；whichithardens，sir，byuse，andalongofthepatientsthemselves；forsickfolkarelumpsofselfishness；weseemoreofthemthanyoudo，sir。ButthisIWILLsay，\'tisn\'tselfishnessthatliesnowinthatroom，waitingfortheblowthatwillbringhertodeath\'sdoor，I\'msoreafraid；butasweet，gentle，thoughtfulcreature，aseversuppedsorrow；forIdon\'tknowhow\'tis，doctor，norwhy\'tis，butanangellikethathasalwaystosupsorrow。\"
\"Butyoudonotadviseme，\"saidthedoctor，inagitation，\"andsomethingmustbedone。\"
\"Adviseyou，sir；itisnotformetodothat。IamsureI\'matmywits\'ends，poorthing!Well，sir，Idon\'tseewhatyoucando，buttryandbreakittoher。Betterso，thanletitcometoherlikeaclapofthunder。ButIthink，sir，I\'dhaveawet-nurseready，beforeIsaidmuch:forsheisveryquick——andtentoonebutthefirstwordofsuchathingturnsherbloodtogall。Sir，I
onceknewapoorwoman——shewasacarpenter\'swife——a-nursingherchildintheafternoon——andinrunsafoolishwoman，andtellsherhewaskilleddead，offascaffold。\'Twastheman\'ssistertoldher。Well，sir，shewasknockedstupidlike，andshesatstaring，andnursingofherchild，beforeshecouldtakeitinrightly。Thechildwasdeadbeforesupper-time，andthewomanwasnotlongafter。Thewholefamilywassweptaway，sir，inafewhours，andI
mindthetablewasnotclearedhehaddinedon，whentheycametolaythemout。Well-a-day，nursesseesorrow!\"
\"Weallseesorrowthatlivelong，Mrs。Briscoe。Iamheart-brokenmyself；Iamdesperate。Youareagoodsoul，andI\'lltellyou。
Whenmynephewmarriedthispoorgirl，Iwasveryangrywithhim；
andIsoonfoundshewasnotfittobeastrugglingman\'swife；andthenIwasveryangrywithher。Shehadspoiledafirst-ratephysician，Ithought。But，sinceIknewherbetter，itisallchanged。Sheissolovable。HowIshallevertellherthisterriblething，Godknows。AllIknowis，thatIwillnotthrowachanceaway。HerbodySHALLbestronger，beforeIbreakherheart。
Cursedidiots，thatcouldnotsaveasingleman，withtheirboats，inacalmsea!Lordforgivemeforblamingpeople，whenIwasnottheretosee。IsayIwillgivehereverychance。Sheshallnotknowittillsheisstronger:no，notifIliveatherdoor，andsleepthere，andall。GoodGod!inspiremewithsomething。Thereisalwayssomethingtobedone，ifonecouldbutseeit。\"
Mrs。Briscoesighedandsaid，\"Sir，Ithinkanythingisbetterthanforhertohearitfromaservant——andtheyaresuretoblurtitout。Youngwomenaresuchfools。\"
\"No，no；Iseewhatitis，\"saidDr。Philip。\"Ihavegoneallwrongfromthefirst。Ihavebeenactinglikeawoman，whenI
shouldhaveactedlikeaman。Why，IonlytrustedYOUbyhalves。
Therewasafoolforyou。Nevertrustpeoplebyhalves。\"
\"Thatistrue，sir。\"
\"Well，then，nowIshallgoatitlikeaman。Ihaveavileopinionofservants；butnomatter。I\'lltrythem:theyarehuman，Isuppose。I\'llhitthembetweentheeyeslikeaman。Gotothekitchen，Mrs。Briscoe，andtellthemIwishtospeaktoalltheservants，indoorsorout。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
Shestoppedatthedoor，andsaid，\"Ihadbettergetbacktoher，assoonasIhavetoldthem。\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"AndwhatshallItellher，sir?Herfirstwordwillbetoaskmewhatyouwantedmefor。Isawthatinhereye。Shewascurious:
thatiswhyshesentmeafteryousoquick。\"
Dr。Philipgroaned。Hefelthewaswalkingamongpitfalls。Herapidlyflavoredsomedistilledwaterwithorange-flower，thentinteditabeautifulpink，andbottledit。\"There，\"saidhe；\"I
wasmixinganewmedicine。Tablespoon，fourtimesaday:hadtofilterit。Anylieyoulike。\"
Mrs。Briscoewenttothekitchen，andgavehermessage:thenwenttoMrs。Staineswiththemixture。
Dr。Philipwentdowntothekitchen，andspoketotheservantsverysolemnly。Hesaid，\"Mygoodfriends，Iamcometoaskyourhelpinamatteroflifeanddeath。Thereisapooryoungwomanup-stairs；
sheisawidow，anddoesnotknowit；andmustnotknowityet。Iftheblowfellnow，Ithinkitwouldkillher:indeed，ifshehearsitallofasudden，atanytime，thatmightdestroyher。Weareinsosoreastraitthatafeathermayturnthescale。Sowemusttryallwecantogainalittletime，andthentrusttoGod\'smercyafterall。Well，now，whatdoyousay?Willyouhelpmekeepitfromher，tillthetenthofMarch，say?andthenIwillbreakittoherbydegrees。Forgetsheisyourmistress。Masterandservant，thatisallverywellatapropertime；butthisisthetimetoremembernothingbutthatweareallonefleshandblood。Weliedowntogetherinthechurchyard，andwehopetorisetogetherwheretherewillbenomasterandservant。Thinkofthepoorunfortunatecreatureasyourownfleshandblood，andtellme，willyouhelpmetryandsaveher，underthisterribleblow?\"
\"Ay，doctor，thatwewill，\"saidthefootman。\"Onlyyougiveusourorders，andyouwillsee。\"
\"Ihavenorighttogiveyouorders；butIentreatyounottoshowherbywordorlook，thatcalamityisuponher。Alas!itisonlyareprieveyoucangiveherandtome。ThebitterhourMUSTcomewhenImusttellhersheisawidow，andherboyanorphan。Whenthatdaycomes，IwillaskyoualltoprayformethatImayfindwords。ButnowIaskyoutogivemethattendays\'reprieve。Letthepoorcreaturerecoveralittlestrength，beforethethunderboltofafflictionfallsonherhead。Willyoupromiseme?\"
Theypromisedheartily；andmorethanoneofthewomenbegantocry。
\"Ageneralassentwillnotsatisfyme，\"saidDr。Philip。\"Iwanteveryman，andeverywoman，togivemeahanduponit；thenIshallfeelsureofyou。\"
Themengavehimtheirhandsatonce。Thewomenwipedtheirhandswiththeiraprons，tomakesuretheywereclean，andgavehimtheirhandstoo。Thecooksaid，\"Ifanyoneofusgoesfromit，thiskitchenwillbetoohottoholdher。\"
\"Nobodywillgofromit，cook，\"saidthedoctor。\"I\'mnotafraidofthat；andnowsinceyouhavepromisedme，outofyourowngoodhearts，I\'lltryandbeevenwithyou。IfsheknowsnothingofitbythetenthofMarch，fiveguineastoeverymanandwomaninthiskitchen。Youshallseethat，ifyoucanbekind，wecanbegrateful。\"
Hethenhurriedaway。HefoundMr。Lusignaninthedrawing-room，andtoldhimallthis。Lusignanwasfluttered，butgrateful。\"Ah，mygoodfriend，\"saidhe，\"thisisahardtrialtotwooldmen，likeyouandme。\"
\"Itis，\"saidPhilip。\"Ithasshownmemyage。IdeclareIamtrembling；I，whosenerveswereiron。ButIhaveaparticularcontemptforservants。Mercenarywretches!IthinkHeaveninspiredmetotalktothem。Afterall，whoknows?perhapswemightfindawaytotheirhearts，ifwedidnoteternallyshocktheirvanity，andforgetthatitis，andmustbe，fargreaterthanourown。Thewomengavemetheirtears，andthemenwereearnest。
Notonehandlaycoldinmine。Asforyourkitchen-maid，I\'dtrustmylifetothatgirl。Whatagripshegaveme!Whatstrength!
Whatfidelitywasinit!MyhandwasneverGRASPEDbefore。I
thinkwearesafeforafewdaysmore。\"
Lusignansighed。\"Whatdoesitallcometo?Wearepullingthetriggergently，thatisall。\"
\"No，no；thatisnotit。Don\'tletusconfoundthematterwithsimiles，please。Keepthemforchildren。\"
Mrs。Stainesleftherbed；andwouldhaveleftherroom，butDr。
Philipforbadeitstrictly。
Oneday，seatedinherarm-chair，shesaidtothenurse，beforeDr。
Philip，\"Nurse，whydotheservantslooksocuriouslyatme?\"
Mrs。BriscoecastahastyglanceatDr。Philip，andthensaid，\"I
don\'tknow，madam。Inevernoticedthat。\"
\"Uncle，whydidnurselookatyoubeforesheansweredsuchasimplequestion?\"
\"Idon\'tknow。Whatquestion?\"
\"Abouttheservants。\"
\"Oh，abouttheservants!\"saidhecontemptuously。
\"Youshouldnotturnupyournoseatthem，fortheyareallmostkindandattentive。Only，Icatchthemlookingatmesostrangely；
really——asifthey——\"
\"Rosa，youaretakingmequiteoutofmydepth。Thelooksofservantgirls!Why，ofcoursealadyinyourconditionisanobjectofespecialinteresttothem。Idaresaytheyaresayingtooneanother，\'Iwonderwhenmyturnwillcome!\'Afellow-feelingmakesuswondrouskind——thatisaproverb，isitnot?\"
\"Tobesure。Iforgotthat。\"
Shesaidnomore；butseemedthoughtful，andnotquitesatisfied。