Nowonderthreeyearsofthishaddrawnatell-talewrinkleacrossthepolishedbrow。
PhoebeDalehadnotreceivedaletterforsomedays；thatrousedhersuspicionandstungherjealousy；shecameuptoLondonbyfasttrain，anddowntoGravesenddirectly。
Shehadathickveilthatconcealedherfeatures；andwithalittleinquiringandbribing，shesoonfoundoutthatMr。Falconwastherewithashowydogcart。\"Ah!\"thoughtPhoebe，\"hehaswonalittlemoneyatplayorpigeon-shooting；sonowhehasnoneedofme。\"
Shetookthelodgingsoppositehim，butobservednothingtillthisverymorning，whenshesawhimthrowoffhisdressing-gownallinahurryandflingonhiscoat。Shetiedonherbonnetasrapidly，andfollowedhim，untilshediscoveredtheobjectofhispursuit。
Itwasasurprisetoher，andapuzzle，toseeanothermanstepin，asiftotakeherpart。ButasReginaldstillfollowedtheloiteringpair，shefollowedReginald，tillheturnedandfoundherathisheels，whiteandlowering。
Sheconfrontedhiminthreateningsilenceforsometime，duringwhichhepreparedhisdefence。
\"SoitisaLADYthistime，\"saidshe，inherlow，richvoice，sternly。
\"Isit?\"
\"Yes，andIshouldsaysheisbespoke——thattall，fine-builtgentleman。ButIsupposeyoucarenomoreforhisfeelingsthanyoudoformine。\"
\"Phoebe，\"saidtheegotist，\"Iwillnottrytodeceiveyou。Youhaveoftensaidyouaremytruefriend。\"
\"AndIthinkIhaveprovedit。\"
\"Thatyouhave。Well，then，bemytruefriendnow。Iaminlove——
reallyinlove——thistime。YouandIonlytormenteachother；letuspartfriends。ThereareplentyoffarmersinEssexthatwouldjumpatyou。Asforme，I\'lltellyouthetruth；Ihaverunthrougheveryfarthing；myestatemortgagedbeyonditsvalue——twoorthreewritsoutagainstme——thatiswhyIslippeddownhere。MyonlychanceistomarryMoney。HerfatherknowsIhaveland，andheknowsnothingaboutthemortgages；sheishisonlydaughter。
Don\'tstandinmyway，thatisagoodgirl；bemyfriend，asyoualwayswere。Hangitall，Phoebe，can\'tyousayawordtoafellowthatisdrivenintoacorner，insteadofglaringatmelikethat?
There!Iknowitisungrateful；butwhatcanafellowdo?Imustlivelikeagentlemanorelsetakeadoseofprussicacid；youdon\'twanttodrivemetothat。Why，youproposedtopart，lasttime，yourself。\"
Shegavehimonemajestic，indescribablelook，thatmadeevenhiscallousheartquiver，andturnedaway。
Thenthescampadmiredherfordespisinghim，andcouldnotbeartoloseher。Hefollowedher，andputforthallthosepowersofpersuadingandsoothing，whichhadsooftenprovedirresistible。
Butthistimeitwasinvain。Theinsultwastoosavage，andhisegotismtoobrutal，forhoneyedphrasestoblindher。
Afterenduringitalongtimewithasilentshudder，sheturnedandshookhimfiercelyoffherlikesomepoisonousreptile。
\"Doyouwantmetokillyou?I\'dlieverkillmyselfforlovingsuchathingasTHOU。Gothyways，man，andletmegomine。\"Inherpassionshedroppedhercultivationforonce，andwentbacktotheTHOUandTHEEofhergrandam。
Hecoloredupandlookedspitefulenough；buthesoonrecoveredhiscynicalegotism，andwentoffwhistlinganoperaticpassage。
Shecrepttoherlodgings，andburiedherfaceinherpillow，androckedherselftoandfroforhoursinthebitterestagonytheheartcanfeel，groaningoverhergreataffectionwasted，flungintothedirt。
Whileshewasthus，sheheardalittlecommotion。ShecametothewindowandsawFalcon，exquisitelydressed，driveoffinhisdogcart，attendedbytheacclamationsofeightboys。Shesawataglancehewasgonecourting；herkneesgavewayunderher，and，suchisthepowerofthemind，thisstalwartgirllayweakaswateronthesofa，andhadnotthepowertogohome，thoughjustthenshehadbutonewish，onehope——toseeheridol\'sfacenomore，norhearhiswheedlingtongue，thathadruinedherpeace。
TheexquisiteMr。FalconwasreceivedbyRosaLusignanwithacertaintremorthatflatteredhishopes。Hetoldher，incharminglanguage，howhehadadmiredheratfirstsight，thenesteemedher，thenlovedher。
Sheblushedandpanted，andshowedmorethanonceadesiretointerrupthim，butwastoopolite。Sheheardhimoutwithrisingdismay，andheofferedherhishandandheart。
Butbythistimeshehadmadeuphermindwhattosay。\"OMr。
Falcon!\"shecried，\"howcanyouspeaktomeinthisway?Why，I
amengaged。Didn\'tyouknow?\"
\"No；Iamsureyouarenot，oryouwouldneverhavegivenmetheencouragementyouhave。\"
\"Oh，allengagedyoungladiesflirt——alittle；andeverybodyhereknowsIamengagedtoDr。Staines。\"
\"Why，Ineversawhimhere。\"
Rosa\'stactwasaqualitythatcameandwent；sosheblushed，andfalteredout，\"Wehadalittletiff，asloverswill。\"
\"Andyoudidmethehonortoselectmeascat\'s-pawtobringhimonagain。Wasnotthatratherheartless?\"
Rosa\'sfitfultactreturnedtoher。
\"Oh，sir，donotthinksoillofme。Iamnotheartless，Iamonlyunwise；andyouaresosuperiortothepeopleaboutyou；Icouldnothelpappreciatingyou，andIthoughtyouknewIwasengaged，andsoIwaslessonmyguard。IhopeIshallnotloseyouresteem，thoughIhavenorighttoanythingmore。Ah!IseebyyourfaceIhavebehavedveryill:prayforgiveme。\"
AndwiththissheturnedonthewatersoftheNile，betterknowntoyou，perhaps，as\"crocodiletears。\"
Falconwasagentlemanonthesurface，andknewheshouldonlymakemattersworsebyquarrellingwithher。Sohegroundhisteeth，andsaid，\"Mayyourownheartneverfeelthepangsyouhaveinflicted。
Ishallloveyouandrememberyoutillmydyingday。\"
Hebowedceremoniouslyandlefther。
\"Ay，\"saidhetohimself，\"IWILLrememberyou，youheartlessjilt，andthemanyouhavejiltedmefor。Stainesishisd——dname，isit?\"
Hedrovebackcrestfallen，bitter，and，foronceinhislife，heart-sick，anddrewupathislodgings。Herehefoundattendantswaitingtoreceivehim。
Asheriff\'sofficertookhisdogcartandhorseunderajudgment；
thedisturbancethiscausedcollectedatinycrowd，gapingandgrinning，andbroughtPhoebe\'swhitefaceandeyesswollenwithweepingtothewindow。
Falconsawherandbrazeneditout。\"Takethem，\"saidhe，withanoath。\"I\'llhaveabetterturn-outbyto-morrow，breakfast-time。\"
Thecrowdcheeredhimforhisspirit。
Hegotdown，litacigar，chaffedtheofficerandthecrowd，andwas，onthewhole，admired。
Thenanotherofficer，whohadbeenhuntinghimincoupleswiththeother，steppedforwardandtookHIM，forthebalanceofajudgmentdebt。
Thentheswell\'scigarfelloutofhismouth，andhewasseriouslyalarmed。\"Why，Cartwright，\"saidhe，\"thisistoobad。Youpromisednottoseemethismonth。YoupassedmefullintheStrand。\"
\"Youaremistaken，sir，\"saidCartwright，withsullenirony。\"I\'vegotatwin-brother；amanytakeshimforme，tilltheyfindsthedifference。\"Then，loweringhisvoice，\"WhatcallhadyoutoboastinyourclubyouhadmadeitrightwithBillCartwright，andhe\'dneverseeyou?Thatgotabout，andsoIwasboundtoseeyouorlosemybread。There\'soneortwoIdon\'tsee，butthentheyarerealgentlemen，andthinksofmeaswellastheirselves，anddoesn\'tblab。\"
\"Imusthavebeendrunk，\"saidFalconapologetically。\"Morelikelyblowingacloud。Whenyouyounggentsgetsa-smokingtogether，you\'dtellonyourownmothers。Comealong，colonel，offwegotoMerrimashee。\"
\"Why，itisonlytwenty-sixpounds。Ihavepaidtherest。\"
\"Morethanthat；there\'sthecosts。\"
\"Comein，andI\'llsettleit。\"
\"Allright，sir。Jem，watchtheback。\"
\"Oh，Ishallnottrythatgamewithasharphandlikeyou，Cartwright。\"
\"Youhadbetternot，sir，\"saidCartwright；buthewassoftenedalittlebythecompliment。
Whentheywerealone，Falconbeganbysayingitwasabadjobforhim。
\"Why，Ithoughtyouwasa-goingtopayitallinamoment。\"
\"Ican\'t；butIhavegotafriendoverthewaythatcould，ifshechose。Shehasalwaysgotmoney，somehow。\"
\"Oh，ifitisashe，itisallright。\"
\"Idon\'tknow。Shehasquarrelledwithme；butgivemealittletime。Here!haveaglassofsherryandabiscuit，whileItryiton。\"
HavingthusmuffledCartwright，thismanoftheworldopenedhiswindowandlookedout。Thecrowdhadfollowedthecaptureddogcart，sohehadthestreettohimself。HebeckonedtoPhoebe，andafterconsiderablehesitationsheopenedherwindow。
\"Phoebe，\"saidhe，intonesoftenderregret，admirablynaturalandsweet，\"Ishallneveroffendyouagain；soforgivemethisonce。I
havegiventhatgirlup。\"
\"Notyou，\"saidPhoebe，sullenly。
\"IndeedIhave。Afterourquarrel，Istartedtoproposetoher；
butIhadnottheheart；Icamebackandlefther。\"
\"Timewillshow。Ifitisnother，itwillbesomeother，youfalse，heartlessvillain。\"
\"Come，Isay，don\'tbesohardonmeintrouble。Iamgoingtoprison。\"
\"SoIsuppose。\"
\"Ah!butitisworsethanyouthink。Iamonlytakenforapaltrythirtypoundsorso。\"
\"Thirty-three，fifteen，five，\"suggestedCartwright，inamuffledwhisper，hismouthbeingfullofbiscuit。
\"Butoncetheygetmetoasponging-house，detainerswillpourin，andmycruelcreditorswillconfinemeforlife。\"
\"Itisthebestplaceforyou。Itwillputastoptoyourwickedness，andIshallbeatpeace。That\'swhatIhaveneverknown，nightorday，thisthreeyears。\"
\"Butyouwillnotbehappyifyouseemegotoprisonbeforeyoureyes。Wereyoueverinsideaprison?Justthinkwhatitmustbetobecoopedupinthosecoldgrimcellsallalone；fortheyuseadebtorlikeacriminalnow。\"
Phoebeshuddered；butshesaid，bravely，\"Well，tellTHEMyouhavebeena-courting。TherewasatimeI\'dhavediedsoonerthanseeahairofyourheadhurt；butitisallovernow；youhavewornmeout。\"
Thenshebegantocry。
Falconheavedadeepsigh。\"ItisnomorethanIdeserve，\"saidhe。\"I\'llpackupmythings，andgowiththeofficer。Givemeonekindwordatparting，andI\'llthinkofitinmyprison，nightandday。\"
Hewithdrewfromthewindowwithanotherdeepsigh，toldCartwright，cheerfully，itwasallright，andproceededtopackuphistraps。
MeantimePhoebesatatherwindowandcriedbitterly。Herwordshadbeenbraverthanherheart。
Falconmanagedtopaythetrifleheowedforthelodgings，andpresentlyhecameoutwithCartwright，andtheattendantcalledacab。Histhingswerethrownin，andCartwrightinvitedhimtofollow。Thenhelookedup，andcastagenuinelookofterrorandmiseryatPhoebe。Hethoughtshewouldhaverelentedbeforethis。
Herheartgaveway；Iamafraiditwould，evenwithoutthatpiteousandmuteappeal。Sheopenedthewindow，andaskedMr。Cartwrightifhewouldbegoodenoughtocomeandspeaktoher。
Cartwrightcommittedhisprisonertothesubordinate，andknockedatthedoorofPhoebe\'slodgings。Shecamedownherselfandlethimin。Sheledthewayupstairs，motionedhimtoaseat，satdownbyhim，andbegantocryagain。Shewasthoroughlyunstrung。
Cartwrightwashuman，andmutteredsomewordsofregretthatapoorfellowmustdohisduty。
\"Oh，itisnotthat，\"sobbedPhoebe。\"Icanfindthemoney。I
havefoundmoreforhimthanthat，many\'sthetime。\"Then，dryinghereyes，\"Butyoumustknowtheworld，andIdaresayyoucanseehow\'tiswithme。\"
\"Ican，\"saidCartwright，gravely。\"Ioverheardyouandhim；and，mygirl，ifyoutakemyadvice，why，lethimgo。Heisagentlemanskindeep，anddresseswell，andcanpalaveragirl，nodoubt；butblessyourheart，Icanseeataglanceheisnotworthyourlittlefinger，anhonest，decentyoungwomanlikeyou。Why，itislikebutterfightingwithstone。Lethimgo；orIwilltellyouwhatitis，youwillhangforhimsomeday，orelsemakeawaywithyourself。\"
\"Ay，sir，\"saidPhoebe，\"that\'slikelier；andifIwastolethimgotoprison，Ishouldsitmedownandthinkofhispartinglook，andIshouldflingmyselfintothewaterforhimbeforeIwasadayolder。\"
\"Yemustn\'tdothatanyway。Whilethere\'slifethere\'shope。\"
UponthisPhoebeputhimaquestion，andfoundhimreadytodoanythingforher，inreason——providedhewaspaidforit。Andtheendofitallwas，theprisonerwasconveyedtoLondon；Phoebegottherequisitesum；Falconwasdepositedinathird-classcarriageboundforEssex。Phoebepaidhisdebt，andgaveCartwrightapresent，andawayrattledthetrainconveyingthehandsomeegotistintotemporaryretirement，towit，atavillagefivemilesfromtheDales\'farm。Shewastooashamedofheryounggentlemanandherselftobeseenwithhiminhernativevillage。Ontheroaddownhewasfulloflittlepracticalattentions；shereceivedthemcoldly；hismellifluousmouthwasoftenathercar，pouringthanksandpraisesintoit；shenevervouchsafedawordofreply。Allshedidwastoshuddernowandthen，andcryatintervals。Yet，wheneverheleftherside，herwholebodybecamerestless；andwhenhecamebacktoher，afurtivethrillannouncedtheinsanecomplacencyhisbarecontactgaveher。Surely，ofalltheformsinwhichlovetormentstheheart，thiswasthemostterribleandpitiable。
Mr。Lusignanfoundhisdaughterintears。
\"Why，whatisthematternow?\"saidhe，alittlepeevishly。\"Wehavehadnothingofthissortofthinglately。\"
\"Papa，itisbecauseIhavemisconductedmyself。Iamafoolish，imprudentgirl。IhavebeenflirtingwithMr。Falcon，andhehastakenaCRUELadvantageofit——proposedtome——thisveryafternoon——
actually!\"
\"Hashe?Well，heisafinefellow，andhasalandedestateinNorfolk。There\'snothinglikeland。Theymaywellcallitrealproperty——thereissomethingtoshow；youcanwalkonit，andrideonit，andlookoutofwindowatit:thatISproperty。\"
\"Oh，papa!whatareyousaying?WouldyouhavememarryonemanwhenIbelongtoanother?\"
\"Butyoudon\'tbelongtoanyoneexcepttome。\"
\"Oh，yes；Ido。IbelongtomydearChristopher。\"
\"Why，youdismissedhimbeforemyveryeyes；andveryillyoubehaved，beggingyourpardon。Themanwasyourablephysicianandyourbestfriend，andsaidnothingthatwasnotforyourgood；andyoutreatedhimlikeadog。\"
\"Yes，buthehasapologized。\"
\"Whatfor?beingtreatedlikeadog?\"
\"Oh，don\'tsayso，papa!Atallevents，hehasapologized，asagentlemanshouldwhenever——whenever\"——
\"Wheneveraladyisinthewrong。\"
\"Don\'t，papa；andIhaveaskedhimtodinner。\"
\"Withallmyheart。Ishallbedownrightgladtoseehimagain。
Youusedhimabominably。\"
\"Butyouneednotkeepsayingso，\"whinedRosa。\"Andthatisnotall，dearpapa；theworstofitis，Mr。Falconproposingtomehasopenedmyeyes。Iamnotfittobetrustedalone。Iamtoofondofdancing，andflirtingwillfollowsomehow。Oh，thinkhowillI
wasafewmonthsago，andhowunhappyyouwereaboutme!Theywerekillingme。Hecameandsavedme。Yes，papa，IoweallthishealthandstrengthtoChristopher。Ididtakethemoff，theverynextday，andseetheeffectofitandmylongwalks。Iowehimmylife，andwhatIvaluefarmore，mygoodlooks。La!IwishIhadnottoldyouthat。Andafterallthis，don\'tIbelongtomyChristopher?HowcouldIbehappyorrespectmyselfifImarriedanyoneelse?Andoh，papa!helookswanandworn。HehasbeenfrettingforhisSimpleton。Oh，dear!Imustn\'tthinkofthat——itmakesmecry；andyoudon\'tlikescenes，doyou?\"
\"Hate\'em!\"
\"Well，then，\"saidRosa，coaxingly，\"I\'lltellyouhowtoendthem。
MarryyourSimpletontotheonlymanwhoisfittotakecareofher。Oh，papa!thinkofhisdeep，deepaffectionforme，andpraydon\'tsnubhimif——byanychance——afterdinner——heshouldHAPPENtoaskyou——something。\"
\"Oh，thenitispossiblethat，bythemerestchance，thegentlemanyouhaveaccidentallyaskedtodinner，may，bysomestrangefortuity，besurprisedintoaskingmeasecondtimeforsomethingverymuchresemblingmydaughter\'shand——eh?\"
Rosacoloredhigh。\"Hemight，youknow。HowcanItellwhatgentlemenwillsaywhentheladieshaveretiredandtheyareleftalonewith——with\"——
\"Withthebottle。Ay，that\'strue；whenthewineisin，thewitisout。\"
SaidRosa，\"Well，ifheshouldhappentobesofoolish，praythinkofME；ofallweowehim，andhowmuchIlovehim，andoughttolovehim。\"Shethenbestowedapropitiatorykiss，andranofftodressfordinner；itwasamuchlongeroperationto-daythanusual。
Dr。Staineswaspunctual。Mr。Lusignancommentedfavorablyonthat。
\"Healwaysis，\"saidRosa，eagerly。
Theydinedtogether。Mr。Lusignanchattedfreely，butStainesandRosawereunderafeelingofrestraint，Stainesinparticular；hecouldnothelpfeelingthatbeforelonghisfatemustbesettled。
HewouldeitherobtainRosa\'shand，orhavetoresignhertosomemanoffortunewhowouldstepin；forbeautysuchasherscouldnotlonglackbrilliantoffers。Longing，thoughdreading，toknowhisfate，hewasgladwhendinnerended。
Rosasatwiththemalittlewhileafterdinner，thenrose，bestowedanotherpropitiatorykissonherfather\'shead，andretiredwithamodestblush，andalookatChristopherthatwasalmostdivine。
Itinspiredhimwiththecourageoflions，andhecommencedtheattackatonce。
CHAPTERV。
\"Mr。Lusignan，\"saidhe，\"thelasttimeIwashereyougavemesomehopesthatyoumightbeprevailedontotrustthatangel\'shealthandhappinesstomycare。\"
\"Well，Dr。Staines，Iwillnotbeataboutthebushwithyou。Myjudgmentisstillagainstthismarriage；youneednotlooksoalarmed；itdoesnotfollowIshallforbidit。IfeelIhavehardlyarightto，formyRosamightbeinhergravenowbutforyou；and，anotherthing，whenIinterferedbetweenyoutwoIhadnoproofyouwereamanofability；Ihadonlyyoursweetheart\'swordforthat；andIneverknewacasebeforewhereayounglady\'sswandidnotturnoutagoose。Yourrareabilitygivesyouanotherchanceintheprofessionalbattlethatisbeforeyou；indeed，itputsadifferentfaceonthewholematter。Istillthinkitpremature。Comenow，woulditnotbemuchwisertowait，andsecureagoodpracticebeforeyoumarryamerechild?There!
there!Ionlyadvise；Idon\'tdictate；youshallsettleittogether，youtwowiseacres。OnlyImustmakeonepositivecondition。Ihavenothingtogivemychildduringmylifetime；butonethingIhavedoneforher；yearsagoIinsuredmylifeforsixthousandpounds；andyoumustdothesame。Iwillnothaveherthrownontheworldawidow，withachildortwo，perhaps，tosupport，andnotafarthing；youknowtheinsecurityofmortallife。\"
\"Ido!Ido!Why，ofcourseIwillinsuremylife，andpaytheannualpremiumoutofmylittlecapital，untilincomeflowsin。\"
\"Willyouhandmeoverasumsufficienttopaythatpremiumforfiveyears?\"
\"Withpleasure。\"
\"ThenIfear，\"saidtheoldgentleman，withasigh，\"myoppositiontothematchmustceasehere。Istillrecommendyoutowait；but——
there!Imightjustaswelladvisefireandtowtoliveneighborsandkeepcool。\"
Toshowtheinjusticeofthissimile，ChristopherStainesstartedupwithhiseyesallaglow，andcriedout，rapturously，\"Oh，sir，mayItellher?\"
\"Yes，youmaytellher，\"saidLusignan，withasmile。\"Stop——whatareyougoingtotellher?\"
\"Thatyouconsent，sir。Godblessyou!Godblessyou!Oh!\"
\"Yes，butthatIadviseyoutowait。\"
\"I\'lltellherall，\"saidStaines，andrushedoutevenashespoke，andupsetaheavychairwithaloudthud。
\"Ah!ah!\"criedtheoldgentlemanindismay，andputhisfingersinhisears——toolate。\"Isee，\"saidhe，\"therewillbenopeaceandquietnowtilltheyareoutofthehouse。\"Helightedasoothingcigartocounteractthefracas。
\"PoorlittleRosa!achildbutyesterday，andnowtoencounterthecaresofawife，andperhapsamother。Ah!sheisbutyoung，butyoung。\"
Theoldgentlemanprophesiedtruly；fromthatmomenthehadnopeacetillhewithdrewallsemblanceofdissent，andevenofprocrastination。
Christopherinsuredhislifeforsixthousandpounds，andassignedthepolicytohiswife。FourhundredpoundswashandedtoMr。
LusignantopaythepremiumsuntilthegeniusofDr。Stainesshouldhavesecuredhimthatlargeprofessionalincome，whichdoesnotcomeallatonce，eventotherarephysician，whoisCapax，Efficax，Sagax。
Thewedding-daywasnamed。Thebridesmaidswereselected，theguestsinvited。NonerefusedbutUnclePhilip。Hedeclined，inhisfineboldhand，tocountenanceinpersonanactoffollyhedisapproved。Christopherputhisletterawaywithamomentarysigh，andwouldnotshowitRosa。Allotherletterstheyreadtogether，charmingpastimeofthathappyperiod。Presentspouredin。Silverteapots，coffeepots，sugar-basins，cream-jugs，fruit-
dishes，silver-giltinkstands，albums，photograph-books，littlecandlesticks，choicelittleservicesofchina，shellsalt-cellarsinacaselinedwithmaroonvelvet；aBible，superbinbindingandclasps，andeverythingbutthetext——thatwasillegible；asilkscarffromBenares；agoldchainfromDelhi，sixfeetlongornearly；aMaltesenecklace，adittoinexquisitefilagreefromGenoa；Englishbrooches，atrifletoobigandbrainless；apostlespoons；atreble-linedparasolwithivorystickandhandle；anivorycard-case，richlycarved；workboxofsandal-woodandivory，etc。Mr。Lusignan\'sCityfriends，asusualwiththesegentlemen，sentthemostvaluablethings。Everydayoneortwopackagesweredelivered，and，inopeningthem，Rosainvariablyutteredapeculiarscreamofdelight，andherfatherputhisfingersinhisears；yettherewasmusicinthisveryscream，ifhewouldonlyhavelistenedtoitcandidly，insteadoffixinghismindonhisvaguetheoryofscreams——soformedwasshetopleasetheearaswellastheeye。
Atlastcameaparcelsheopenedandstaredat，smilingandcoloringlikearose，butdidnotscream，beingtoodumfoundedandperplexed；forlo!ateapotofsomebasematerial，butsimpleandelegantinform，beinganexactreproductionofamelon；andinsidethisteapotacanvasbagcontainingtenguineasinsilver，andawash-leatherbagcontainingtwentyguineasingold，andaslipofpaper，whichRosa，beingnowhalfrecoveredfromherstupefaction，readouttoherfatherandDr。Staines:
\"Peoplethatbuypresentsblindfoldgiveduplicatesandtriplicates；andmenseldomchoosetoawoman\'staste；sobepleasedtoaccepttheenclosedtea-leaves，andbuyforyourself。
Theteapotyoucanputonthehob，foritisnickel。\"
Rosalookedsorepuzzledagain。\"Papa，\"saidshe，timidly，\"haveweanyfriendthatis——alittle——deranged?\"
\"Alot。\"
\"Oh，then，thataccounts。\"
\"Whyno，love，\"saidChristopher。\"Ihaveheardofmuchlearningmakingamanmad，butneverofmuchgoodsense。\"
\"What!Doyoucallthissensible?\"
\"Don\'tyou?\"
\"I\'llreaditagain，\"saidRosa。\"Well——yes——Ideclare——itisnotsomadasIthought；butitisveryeccentric。\"
Lusignansuggestedtherewasnothingsoeccentricascommonsense，especiallyintimeofwedding。\"This，\"saidhe，\"comesfromtheCity。Itisafriendofmine，someoldfox；heisthrowingdustinyoureyeswithhisreasons；hisrealreasonwasthathistimeismoney；itwouldhavecosttheoldrogueahundredpounds\'worthoftime——youknowtheCity，Christopher——togooutandchoosethegirlapresent；sohehassenthisclerkoutwithachecktobuyapewterteapot，andfillitwithspecie。\"
\"Pewter!\"criedRosa。\"Nosuchthing!It\'snickel。Whatisnickel，Iwonder?\"
Thehandwritingaffordednoclew，sotherethediscussionended:
butitwasanicelittlemystery，andveryconvenient；madeconversation。Rosahadmanyananimateddiscussionaboutitwithherfemalefriends。
Thewedding-daycameatlast。Thesunshone——ACTUALLY，asRosaobserved。Thecarriagesdroveup。Thebridesmaids，principallyoldschoolfellowsandimpassionedcorrespondentsofRosa，werepretty，anddressedalikeanddelightfully；butthebridewaspeerless；herSouthernbeautyliterallyshoneinthatwhitesatindressandveil，andherheadwasregalwiththeCrownoforange-
blossoms。Anothercrownshehad——truevirginmodesty。Alowmurmurburstfromthementhemomenttheysawher；theoldwomenforgaveherbeautyonthespot，andtheyoungwomenalmostpardonedit；shewassosweetandwomanly，andsosisterlytoherownsex。
Whentheystartedforthechurchshebegantotremble，shescarceknewwhy；andwhenthesolemnwordsweresaid，andtheringwasputonherfinger，shecriedalittle，andlookedhalfimploringlyatherbridesmaidsonce，asifsearedatleavingthemforanuntriedandmysteriouslifewithnowomannear。
Theyweremarried。Thencamethebreakfast，thathourofuneasinessandblushingtosuchabrideasthis；butatlastshewasreleased。Shespedup-stairs，thankinggoodnessitwasover。
Downcameherlastbox。Thebridefollowedinaplaintravellingdress，whichhergloriouseyesandbrowsandherrichglowingcheeksseemedtoillumine:shewashandedintothecarriage，thebridegroomfollowed。Alltheyoungguestsclusteredaboutthedoor，armedwithwhiteshoes——slippersaregoneby。
Theystarted；theladiesflungtheirwhiteshoesrightandleftwithreligiousimpartiality，exceptthatnotoneoftheirmissileswentattheobject。Themen，moreskilful，sentashowerontotheroofofthecarriage，whichistheluckyspot。Thebridekissedherhand，andmanagedtoputoffcrying，thoughitcostherastruggle。Thepartyhurrahed；enthusiasticyouthsgatheredfallenshoes，andranandhurledthemagainwithcheerfulyells，andawaywentthehappypair，thebrideleaningsweetlyandconfidinglywithbothherwhitehandsonthebridegroom\'sshoulder，whilehedriedthetearsthatwouldrunnowatleavinghomeandparentforever，andkissedheroften，andencircledherwithhisstrongarm，andmurmuredcomfort，andlove，andpride，andjoy，andsweetvowsoflifelongtendernessintoherears，thatsoonstolenearerhislipstohear，andthefaircheekgrewsoftlytohisshoulder。
CHAPTERVI。
Dr。StainesandMrs。StainesvisitedFrance，Switzerland，andtheRhine，andpassedamonthofElysiumbeforetheycametoLondontofacetheirrealdestinyandfightthebattleoflife。
Andhere，methinks，areaderofnovelsmayperhapscryoutandsay，\"Whatmannerofmanisthis，whomarrieshisheroandheroine，andthen，insteadofleavingthemhappyforlife，andatrestfromhisuneasypenandalltheirothertroubles，flowscoollyonwiththeiradventures?\"
TothisIcanonlyreplythattheoldEnglishnovelisnoruletome，andlifeis；andIrespectfullyproposeanexperiment。Catcheightoldmarriedpeople，fourofeachsex，andsayuntothem，\"Sir，\"or\"Madam，didthemoreremarkableeventsofyourlifecometoyoubeforemarriageorafter?\"Mostofthemwillsay\"after，\"
andletthatbemyexcusefortreatingthemarriageofChristopherStainesandRosaLusignanasmerelyoneincidentintheirlives；anincidentwhich，sofarfromendingtheirstory，ledbydegreestomorestrikingeventsthananythatoccurredtothembeforetheyweremanandwife。
Theyreturned，then，fromtheirhoneytour，andStaines，whowasmethodicalandkeptadiary，madethefollowingentrytherein:——
\"Wehavenowalifeofendurance，andself-denial，andeconomy，beforeus；wehavetorentahouse，andfurnishit，andliveinit，untilprofessionalincomeshallflowinandmakeallthingseasy:
andwehavetwothousandfivehundredpoundslefttodoitwith。\"
Theycametoafamilyhotel，andDr。Staineswentoutdirectlyafterbreakfasttolookforahouse。Actingonafriend\'sadvice，hevisitedthestreetsandplacesnorthofOxfordStreet，lookingforagoodcommodioushouseadaptedtohisbusiness。Hefoundthreeorfouratfairrents，neithercheapnordear，thedistrictbeingrespectableandratherwealthy，butnolongerfashionable。