Hebowed。
\"Thankyouforcomingsopromptly。Dr。Barrisgone。Ifearhethinks——hethinks——ODr。Staines——nosignoflifebutinhispoorhands，thatkeepmovingnightandday。\"
Staineslookedverygraveatthat。LadyCicelyobservedit，and，faintatheart，couldsaynomore，butledthewaytothesick-
room。
Thereinaspaciouschamber，lightedbyagrandorielwindowandtwosidewindows，layrank，title，wealth，andyouth，strickendowninamomentbyacommonaccident。Thesufferer\'sfacewasbloodless，hiseyesfixed，andnosignsoflifebutinhisthumbs，andtheykeptworkingwithstrangeregularity。
Intheroomwereanurseandthesurgeon；theneighboringphysician，whohadcalledinDr。Barr，hadjustpaidhisvisitandgoneaway。
LadyCicelyintroducedDr。StainesandMr。White，andthenDr。
Stainesstoodandfixedhiseyesonthepatientinprofoundsilence。LadyCicelyscannedhiscountenancesearchingly，andwasstruckwiththeextraordinarypowerandintensityitassumedinexaminingthepatient；buttheresultwasnotencouraging。Dr。
Staineslookedgraveandgloomy。
Atlast，withoutremovinghiseyefromtherecumbentfigure，hesaidquietlytoMr。White，\"Thrownfromhishorse，sir。\"
\"Horsefellonhim，Dr。Staines。\"
\"Anyvisibleinjuries?\"
\"Yes。Severecontusions，andaribbrokenandpresseduponthelungs。Ireplacedandsetit。Willyousee?\"
\"Ifyouplease。\"
Heexaminedandfeltthepatient，andsaidithadbeenablydone。
Thenhewassilentandsearching。
Atlasthespokeagain。\"Themotionofthethumbscorrespondsexactlywithhispulse。\"
\"Isthatso，sir?\"
\"Itis。Thecaseiswithoutaparallel。Howlonghashebeenso?\"
\"Nearlyaweek。\"
\"Impossible!\"
\"Itisso，sir。\"
LadyCicelyconfirmedthis。
\"Allthebetter，\"saidDr。Stainesuponreflection。\"Well，sir，\"
saidhe，\"thevisibleinjurieshavingbeenablyrelieved，Ishalllookanotherwayforthecause。\"Then，afteranotherpause，\"I
musthavehisheadshaved。\"
LadyCicelydemurredalittletothis；butDr。Stainesstoodfirm，andhislordship\'svaletundertookthejob。
Stainesdirectedhimwheretobegin；andwhenhehadmadeacirculartonsureonthetopofthehead，haditspongedwithtepidwater。
\"Ithoughtso，\"saidhe。\"Hereisthemischief；\"andhepointedtoaveryslightindentationontheleftsideofthepiamater。
\"Observe，\"saidhe，\"thereisnocorrespondingindentationontheotherside。Underneaththistriflingdepressionaminutepieceofboneisdoubtlesspressingonthemostsensitivepartofthebrain。
Hemustbetrephined。\"
Mr。White\'seyessparkled。
\"Youareanhospitalsurgeon，sir?\"
\"Yes，Dr。Staines。Ihavenofearoftheoperation。\"
\"ThenIhandthepatientovertoyou。Thecaseatpresentisentirelysurgical。\"
Whitewasdrivenhome，andsoonreturnedwiththerequisiteinstruments。Theoperationwasneatlyperformed，andthenLadyCicelywascalledin。Shecametrembling；herbrother\'sfingerswerestillworking，butnotsoregularly。
\"ThatisonlyHABIT，\"saidStaines；\"itwillsoonleaveoff，nowthecauseisgone。\"
And，trulyenough，inaboutfiveminutesthefingersbecamequiet。
Theeyesbecamehumannext；andwithinhalfanhouraftertheoperationtheearlgavealittlesigh。
LadyCicelyclaspedherhands，andutteredalittlecryofdelight。
\"Thiswillnotdo，\"saidStaines，\"Ishallhaveyouscreamingwhenhespeaks。\"
\"Oh，Dr。Staines!willheeverspeak?\"
\"Ithinkso，andverysoon。Sobeonyourguard。\"
Thisstrangescenereacheditsclimaxsoonafter，bytheearlsaying，quietly，——
\"Areherkneesbroke，Tom?\"
LadyCicelyutteredalittlescream，butinstantlysuppressedit。
\"No，mylord，\"saidStaines，smartly；\"onlyrubbedabit。Youcangotosleep，mylord。I\'lltakecareofthemare。\"
\"Allright，\"saidhislordship；andcomposedhimselftoslumber。
Dr。Staines，attheearnestrequestofLadyCicely，stayedallnight；andincourseofthedayadvisedherhowtonursethepatient，sincebothphysicianandsurgeonhaddonewithhim。
Hesaidthepatient\'sbrainmightbeirritableforsomedays，andnowomeninsilkdressesorcrinoline，orcreakingshoes，mustentertheroom。Hetoldherthenursewasevidentlyaclumsywoman，andwouldbelettingthingsfall。Shehadbettergetsomeoldsoldierusedtonursing。\"Anddon\'twhisperintheroom，\"saidhe；\"nothingirritatesthemworse；anddon\'tletanybodyplayapianowithinhearing；butinadayortwoyoumaytryhimwithslowandcontinuousmusiconthefluteorviolinifyoulike。Don\'ttouchhisbedsuddenly；don\'tsitonitorleanonit。Dolesunlightintohisroombydegrees；andwhenhecanbearit，drenchhimwithit。Nevermindwhattheoldschooltellyou。Aboutthesethingstheyknowagooddeallessthannothing。\"
LadyCicelyreceivedallthislikeanoracle。
ThecurewastelegraphedtoDr。Barr，andhewasrequestedtosettlethefee。Hewasnotthemantounderselltheprofession，andwasjealousofnobody，havingalargepractice，andaverywealthywife。Sohetelegraphedback——\"Fiftyguineas，andaguineaamilefromLondon。\"
So，asChristopherStainessatatanearlybreakfast，withthecarriagewaitingtotakehimtothetrain，twonoteswerebroughthimonasalver。
TheywerebothdirectedbyLadyCicelyTreherne。Oneofthemcontainedafewkindandfeelingwordsofgratitudeandesteem；theother，acheck，drawnbytheearl\'ssteward，foronehundredandthirtyguineas。
HebowleduptoLondon，andtolditalltoRosa。Shesparkledwithpride，affection，andjoy。
\"Now，whosaysyouarenotagenius?\"shecried。\"Ahundredandthirtyguineasforonefee!Now，ifyouloveyourwifeasshelovesyou——youwillsetupabrougham。\"
CHAPTERVIII。
DoctorStainesbeggedleavetodistinguish；hehadnotsaidhewouldsetupacarriageatthefirstonehundredguineafee，butonlythathewouldnotsetuponebefore。Therearemisguidedpeoplewhowouldcallthislogic:butRosasaiditwasequivocating，andurgedhimsowarmlythatatlastheburstout，\"Whocangoonforeversaying\'No，\'totheonlycreatureheloves?\"——andcaved。Inforty-eighthoursmoreabroughamwaitedatMrs。Staines\'sdoor。TheservantengagedtodriveitwasAndrewPearman，abachelor，and，hitherto，anunder-groom。Hereadilyconsentedtobecoachman，andtodocertaindomesticworkaswell。
SoMrs。Staineshadaman-servantaswellasacarriage。
Erelong，threeorfourpatientscalled，orwrote，oneaftertheother。TheseRosasetdowntobrougham，andcrowed；sheevencrowedtoLadyCicelyTreherne，towhoseinfluence，andnottobrougham\'s，everyoneofthesepatientswasowing。LadyCicelykissedher，anddemurelyenjoyedthepoorsoul\'sself-satisfaction。
Staineshimself，whilehedrovetoorfromthesepatients，feltmoresanguine，andbuoyedashewasbytheconsciousnessofability，begantohopehehadturnedthecorner。
HesentanaccountofLordAyscough\'scasetoamedicalmagazine:
andsofullistheworldofflunkeyism，thatthisarticle，thoughhewithheldthename，retainingonlythetitle，gottheliterarywedgeinforhimatonce:andinduecoursehebecameapaidcontributortotwomedicalorgans，andusedtostudyandwritemore，andindentthelittlestoneyardlessthanheretofore。
ItwasaboutthistimecircumstancesmadehimacquaintedwithPhoebeDale。HerintermediatehistoryIwilldisposeofinfewerwordsthanitdeserves。Herruin，Mr。ReginaldFalcon，wasdismissedfromhisclub，formarkinghighcardsonthebackwithhisnail。Thisstoppedhisremainingresource——borrowing:sohegotmoreandmoreoutatelbows，tillatlasthecamedowntohangingaboutbilliard-rooms，andmakingalittlemoneybyconcealinghisgame；fromthat，however，herosetobeamarker。
Havingculminatedtothat，hewroteandproposedmarriagetoMissDale，inacharmingletter:sheshowedittoherfatherwithpride。
Now，ifhisvanity，hisdisloyalty，hisfalsehood，hisingratitude，andhisothervirtueshadnotstoodintheway，hewouldhavedonethisthreeyearsago，andbeenjumpedat。
Buttheoffercametoolate；notforPhoebe——shewouldhavetakenhiminamoment——butforherfriends。Abaitedhookisonething，abarehookisanother。FarmerDalehadlongdiscoveredwherePhoebe\'smoneywent:hesaidnotawordtoher；butwentuptotownlikeashot；foundFalconout，andtoldhimhemustn\'tthinktoeathisdaughter\'sbread。Sheshouldmarryamanthatcouldmakeadecentlivelihood；andifshewastorunawaywithHIM，whythey\'dstarvetogether。Thefarmerwasresolute，andspokeveryloud，likeonethatexpectsopposition，andcomespreparedtoquarrel。
Insteadofthat，thisartfulrogueaddressedhimwithdeeprespectandanaffectedveneration，thatquitepuzzledtheoldman；
acquiescedineveryword，expressedcontritionforhispastmisdeeds，andtoldthefarmerhehadquitedeterminedtolaborwithhishands。\"Youknow，farmer，\"saidhe，\"Iamnottheonlygentlemanwhohascometothatinthepresentday。Now，allmyfriendsthathaveseenmysketches，assuremeIamabornpainter；
andapainterI\'llbe——forloveofPhoebe。\"
Thefarmermadeawryface。\"Painter!thatisasorrysortofatrade。\"
\"Youaremistaken。It\'sthebesttradegoing。Therearegentlemenmakingtheirthousandsayearbyit。\"
\"Notinourparts，therebain\'t。Stopabit。Whatbeyegoingtopaint，sir?Housen，orfolk?\"
\"Oh，hangit，nothouses。Figures，landscapes。\"
\"Well，yemightjustmakeshifttoliveatit，Isuppose，withhereandthereasignboard。Theyarethebestpaid，ourway:but，Lordblessye，THEYwantsheadpiece。Well，sir，letmeseeyourwork。
Thenwe\'lltalkfurther。\"
\"I\'llgotoworkthisafternoon，\"saidFalconeagerly；thenwithaffectedsurprise，\"Blessme；Iforgot。Ihavenopalette，nocanvas，nocolors。Youcouldn\'tlendmeacoupleofsovereignstobuythem，couldyou?\"
\"Ay，sir；Icould。ButIwoan\'t。I\'lllendyethethings，though，ifyouhaveamindtogowithmeandbuy\'em。\"
Falconagreed，withaloftysmile；andthepurchasesweremade。
Mr。Falconpaintedalandscapeortwooutofhisimagination。Thedealerstowhomhetookthemdeclinedthem；oneadvisedthegentlemanpaintertocolortea-boards。\"That\'syourline，\"saidhe。
\"Theworldhasnotaste，\"saidthegentlemanpainter:\"butithasgotlotsofvanity:I\'llpaintportraits。\"
Hedid；andformidableones:hisportraitswereamazinglylikethepeople，andyetunlikemenandwomen，especiallyabouttheface。
Onething，hedidn\'ttroublewithlightsandshades，butwentslapatthefeatures。
Hisbrushwouldneverhavekepthim；buthecarriedaninstrument，intheuseofwhichhewasreallyanartist，viz。，histongue。Bywheedlingandunderselling——forheonlychargedapoundforthepaintedcanvas——hecontrivedtolive；thenheaspiredtodressaswellaslive。Withthissecondobjectinview，hehituponacharacteristicexpedient。
Heusedtoprowlabout，andwhenhesawayoungwomansweepingtheafternoonstreetswithalongsilktrain，and，inshort，dressedtorideinthepark，yetparadingthestreets，hewouldtakehishatofftoher，withanairofprofoundrespect，andaskpermissiontotakeherportrait。Generallyhemetapromptrebuff；butifthefairwassounluckyastohesitateasinglemoment，hetoldherameltingtale；hehadoncedrivenhisfour-in-hand；butbyindorsinghisfriends\'bills，wasreducedtopaintinglikeness，admirablelikenessesinoil，onlyaguineaeach。
Hispiteoustaleprovokedmoregibesthanpity，butashehadnoshame，therebuffswentfornothing:heactuallydidgetafewsittersbyhisaudacity:andsomeofthesittersactuallytookthepictures，andpaidforthem；othersdeclinedthemwithfuryassoonastheywerefinished。Thesehetookbackwithapiteoussigh，thatsometimesextractedhalfacrown。Thenhepaintedovertherejectedoneandletitdry；sothatsometimesapaidportraitwouldpresentabeautyenthronedonthedebrisoftwoorthreerivals，andthatiswherefewbeautieswouldobjecttosit。
AllthistimehewroteniceletterstoPhoebe，andadoptedthetoneofthestrugglingartist，andthetruelover，whowinshisbridebypatience，perseverance，andindomitableindustry；ababbledof\"SelfHelp。\"
Meantime，Phoebewasnotidle:anexcellentbusinesswoman，shetookimmediateadvantageofanewstationthatwasbuiltnearthefarm，tosendupmilk，butter，andeggstoLondon。Beinggenuine，theysoldlikewildfire。Observingthat，sheextendedheroperations，bybuyingofotherfarmers，andforwardingtoLondon:
andthen，havingofcourseaneyetoherstrugglingartist，shetoldherfathershemusthaveashopinLondon，andsomebodyinitshecoulddependupon。
\"Withallmyheart，wench，\"saidhe；\"butitmustnotbethou。I
can\'tsparethee。\"
\"MayIhaveDick，father?\"
\"Dick!heisratheryoung。\"
\"Butheisveryquick，father，andmindseverywordItellhim。\"
\"Ay，heisasfondoftheeaseveracowwasofacalf。Well，youcantryhim。\"
Sothelove-sickwomanofbusinesssetupalittleshop，andputherbrotherDickinit，andalltoseemoreofherstrugglingartist。Shestayedseveraldays，toopenthelittleshop，andstartthebusiness。Sheadvertisedpuremilk，andchallengedscientificanalysisofeverythingshesold。Thiscameofherbeingareader；sheknew，bythejournals，thatweliveinasinfulandadulteratinggeneration，andanythingpuremustbeagodsendtothepoorpoisonedpublic。
Now，Dr。Staines，thoughknowntotheprofessionasadiagnost，wasalsoananalyst，andthischallengebroughthimdownonPhoebeDale。Hetoldherhewasaphysician，andinsearchofpurefoodforhisownfamily——wouldshereallysubmitthemilktoanalysis?
Phoebesmiledanhonestcountrysmile，andsaid，\"Surely，sir。\"
Shegavehimeveryfacility，andheappliedthosesimpletestswhicharecommonlyusedinFrance，thoughhardlyknowninEngland。
Hefounditperfectlypure，andtoldherso；andgazedatPhoebeforamoment，asaphenomenon。
Shesmiledagainatthat，herbroadcountrysmile。\"ThatisawonderinLondon，Idaresay。It\'smybeliefhalfthechildrenthatdiehereareperishedwithwateredmilk。Well，sir，weshan\'thavethatonoursouls，fatherandI；heisafarmerinEssex。
Thiscomesamanymiles，thismilk。\"
Staineslookedinherface，withkindlyapprovalmarkedonhisowneloquentfeatures。Sheblushedalittleatsofixedaregard。
Thenheaskedherifshewouldsupplyhimwithmilk，butter，andeggs。
\"Why，ifyoumeansellyouthem，yes，sir，withpleasure。Butforsendingthemhometoyouinthisbigtown，assomedo，Ican\'t；forthere\'sonlybrotherDickandme:itisanexperimentlike。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidStaines:\"Iwillsendforthem。\"
\"Thankyoukindly，sir。Ihopeyouwon\'tbeoffended，sir；butweonlysellforreadymoney。\"
\"Allthebetter:myorderathomeis，nobills。\"
Whenhewasgone，Phoebe，assumingvastexperience，thoughthiswasonlyherthirdday，toldDickthatwasoneoftherightsort:\"andoh，Dick，\"saidshe，\"didyounoticehiseye?\"
\"Notparticklar，sister。\"
\"Therenow；theboyisblind。Why，\'twaslikeajewel。SuchaneyeIneversawinaman\'shead，norawoman\'sneither。\"
StainestoldhiswifeaboutPhoebeandherbrother，andspokeofherwithacertainadmirationthatraisedRosa\'scuriosity，andeventhatsortofvaguejealousythatfiresatbarepraise。\"I
shouldliketoseethisphenomenon，\"saidshe。\"Youshall，\"saidhe。\"IhavetocallonMrs。Manly。Shelivesnear。Iwilldropyouatthelittleshop，andcomebackforyou。\"
Hedidso，andthatgaveRosaaquarterofanhourtomakeherpurchases。WhenhecamebackhefoundherconversingwithPhoebe，asiftheywereoldfriends，andDickglaringathiswifewithaweandadmiration。Hecouldhardlygetheraway。
ShewasfarmoreextravagantinherpraisesthanDr。Staineshadbeen。\"Whatagoodcreature!\"saidshe。\"Andhowclever!Tothinkofhersettingupashoplikethatallbyherself；forherDickisonlyseventeen。\"
Dr。Stainesrecommendedthelittleshopwhereverhewent，andevenextendeditsoperations。HeaskedPhoebetogetherownwheatgroundathome，andsendtheflourupinbushelbags。\"Theseassassins，thebakers，\"saidhe，\"areputtingcopperintotheflournow，aswellasalum。Pureflourisworthafancypricetoanyfamily。Withthatwecanmakethebreadoflife。Whatyoubuyintheshopsisthebreadofdeath。\"
Dickwasagood，sharpboy，devotedtohissister。HestucktotheshopinLondon，andhandedthemoneytoPhoebe，whenshecameforit。SheworkedforitinEssex，andextendedhercountryconnectionforsupplyastheretailbusinessincreased。
Staineswroteanarticleonpurefood，andincidentallymentionedtheshopasaplacewhereflour，milk，andbutterweretobehadpure。ThisarticlewaspublishedintheLancet，andcausedquitearunuponthelittleshop。ByandbyPhoebeenlargedit，forwhichthereweregreatcapabilities，andmadeherselfaprettylittleparlor，andtheresheandDicksattoFalconfortheirportraits；
here，too，shehunghisrejectedlandscapes。Theywerefairinhereyes；whatmatterwhethertheywerelikenature?hishandhadpaintedthem。Sheknew，fromhim，thateverybodyelsehadrejectedthem。Withallthemoreprideandlovedidshehavethemframedingold，andhungupwiththeportraitsinherlittlesanctum。
ForafewmonthsPhoebeDalewasashappyasshedeservedtobe。
Herloverwasworking，andfaithfultoher——atleastshesawnoreasontodoubtit。Hecametoseehereveryevening，andseemeddevotedtoher:wouldsitquietlywithher，orwalkwithher，ortakehertoaplay，oramusic-hall——atherexpense。
Shenowlivedinaquietelysium，withabrightandrapturousdreamofthefuture；forshesawshehadhitonagoodveinofbusiness，andshouldsoonbeindependent，andabletoindulgeherselfwithahusband，andasknoman\'sleave。
ShesenttoEssexforadairymaid，andsethertochurnmilkintobutter，corampopulo，atacertainhoureverymorning。Thismadeanewsensation。Atothertimesthewomanwasemployedtodelivermilkandcreamtoafewfavoredcustomers。
Mrs。Stainesdroppedinnowandthen，andchattedwithher。HersweetfaceandhernaivetewonPhoebe\'sheart；andoneday，ashappinessisapttobecommunicative，sheletouttoher，inreplytoafeelerortwoastowhethershewasquitealone，thatshewasengagedtobemarriedtoagentleman。\"Butheisnotrich，ma\'am，\"
saidPhoebeplaintively；\"hehashadtrouble:obligedtoworkforhisliving，likeme；hepaintedthesepictures，EVERYONEOFTHEM。
Ifitwasnotmakingtoofree，andyoucouldspareaguinea——hechargesnomoreforthepicture，onlyyoumustgototheexpenseoftheframe。\"
\"OfcourseIwill，\"saidRosawarmly。\"I\'llsitforithere，anydayyoulike。\"
Now，Rosasaidthis，outofhereverreadykindness，nottowoundPhoebe:buthavingmadethepromise，shekeptclearoftheplaceforsomedays，hopingPhoebewouldforgetallaboutit。Meantimeshesentherhusbandtobuy。
Inaboutafortnightshecalledagain，primedwithevasionsifsheshouldbeaskedtosit；butnothingofthekindwasproposed。
Phoebewasdealingwhenshewentin。Thecustomersdisposedof，shesaidtoMrs。Staines，\"Oh，ma\'am，Iamgladyouarecome。I
havesomethingIshouldliketoshowyou。\"Shetookherintotheparlor，andmadehersitdown:thensheopenedadrawer，andtookoutaverysmallsubstancethatlookedlikeatearofgroundglass，andputitonthetablebeforeher。\"There，ma\'am，\"saidshe，\"thatisallhehashadforpaintingafriend\'spicture。\"
\"Oh!whatashame。\"
\"Hisfriendwasgoingabroad——toNatal；tohisunclethatfarmsoutthere，anddoesverywell；itisafirst-ratepart，ifyoutakeoutalittlestockwithyou，andsomemoney；somyonegavehimcredit，andwhenthelettercamewiththatpostmark，hecountedonafive-
poundnote；buttheletteronlysaidhehadgotnomoneyyet，butsenthimsomethingasakeepsake:andtherewasthislittlestone。
Poorfellow!heflungitdowninapassion；hewassodisappointed。\"
Phoebe\'sgreatgrayeyesfilled；andRosagavealittlecooofsympathythatwasverywomanlyandlovable。
Phoebeleanedhercheekonherhand，andsaidthoughtfully，\"I
pickeditup，andbroughtitaway；for，afterall——don\'tyouthink，ma\'am，itisverystrangethatafriendshouldsenditallthatway，ifitwasworthnothingatall?\"
\"Itisimpossible。Hecouldnotbesoheartless。\"
\"Anddoyouknow，ma\'am，whenItakeitupinmyfingers，itdoesn\'tfeellikeathingthatwasworthnothing。\"
\"Nomoreitdoes:itmakesmyfingerstremble。MayItakeithome，andshowitmyhusband?heisagreatphysicianandknowseverything。\"
\"IamsureIshouldbeobligedtoyou，ma\'am。\"
Rosadrovehome，onpurposetoshowittoChristopher。Sheranintohisstudy:\"Oh，Christopher，pleaselookatthat。Youknowthatgoodcreaturewehaveourflourandmilkandthingsof。Sheisengaged，andheisapainter。Oh，suchdaubs!Hepaintedafriend，andthefriendsentthathomeallthewayfromNatal，andhedasheditdown，andSHEpickeditup，andwhatisit?groundglass，orapebble，orwhat?\"
\"Humph!——byitsshape，andthegreat——brilliancy——andrefractionoflight，onthisangle，wherethestonehasgotpolishedbyrubbingagainstotherstones，inthecourseofages，I\'minclinedtothinkitis——adiamond。\"
\"Adiamond!\"shriekedRosa。\"Nowondermyfingerstrembled。Oh，canitbe?Oh，yougood，cold-bloodedChristie!——Poorthings!——
Comealong，Diamond!Ohyoubeauty!Ohyouduck!\"
\"Don\'tbeinsuchahurry。IonlysaidIthoughtitwasadiamond。
Letmeweighitagainstwater，andthenIshallKNOW。\"
Hetookittohislittlelaboratory，andreturnedinafewminutes，andsaid，\"Yes。Itisjustthreetimesandahalfheavierthanwater。Itisadiamond。\"
\"Areyoupositive?\"
\"I\'llstakemyexistence。\"
\"Whatisitworth?\"
\"Mydear，I\'mnotajeweller:butitisverylargeandpear-shaped，andIseenoflaw:Idon\'tthinkyoucouldbuyitforlessthanthreehundredpounds。\"
\"Threehundredpounds!Itisworththreehundredpounds。\"
\"Orsellitformorethanahundredandfiftypounds。\"
\"Ahundredandfifty!Itisworthahundredandfiftypounds。\"
\"Why，mydear，onewouldthinkyouhadinvented\'thediamond。\'
Showmehowtocrystallizecarbon，andIwillshareyourenthusiasm。\"
\"Oh，Ileaveyoutocarbonizecrystal。Iprefertogladdenhearts:
andIwilldoitthisminute，withmydiamond。\"
\"Do，dear；andIwilltakethatopportunitytofinishmyarticleonAdulteration。\"
RosadroveofftoPhoebeDale。
NowPhoebewasdrinkingteawithReginaldFalcon，inherlittleparlor。\"Whoisthat，Iwonder?\"saidshe，whenthecarriagedrewup。
Reginalddrewbackacornerofthegauzecurtainwhichhadbeendrawnacrossthelittleglassdoorleadingfromtheshop。
\"Itisalady，andabeautiful——Oh!letmegetout。\"Andherushedoutatthedoorleadingtothekitchen，nottoberecognized。
ThissetPhoebeallinaflutter，andthenextmomentMrs。Stainestappedatthelittledoor，thenopenedit，andpeeped。\"Goodnews!
mayIcomein?\"
\"Surely，\"saidPhoebe，stilltroubledandconfusedbyReginald\'sstrangeagitation。
\"There!Itisadiamond!\"screamedRosa。\"Myhusbandknewitdirectly。Heknowseverything。Ifeveryouareill，gotohimandnobodyelse——bytherefraction，andtheangle，anditsbeingthreetimesandahalfasheavyaswater。Itisworththreehundredpoundstobuy，andahundredandfiftypoundstosell。\"
\"Oh!\"
\"Sodon\'tyougothrowingitaway，ashedid。Inawhisper。Twoteacups?Wasthathim?Ihavedrivenhimaway。Iamsosorry。
I\'llgo；andthenyoucantellhim。Poorfellow!\"
\"Oh，ma\'am，don\'tgoyet，\"saidPhoebe，trembling。\"Ihaven\'thalfthankedyou。\"
\"Oh，botherthanks。Kissme；thatistheway。\"
\"MayI?\"
\"Youmay，andmust。There——andthere——andthere。Ohdear，whatnicethingsgoodluckandhappinessare，andhowsweettobringthemforonce。\"
UponthisPhoebeandshehadanicelittlecrytogether，andMrs。
Staineswentoffrefreshedthereby，andasgayasalark，pointingslylyatthedoor，andmakingfacestoPhoebethatsheknewhewasthere，andsheonlyretired，outofheradmirablediscretion，thattheymightenjoythediamondtogether。
Whenshewasgone，Reginald，whoseeyeandearhadbeenatthekeyhole，alternatelygloatingonthefaceanddrinkingtheaccentsoftheonlywomanhehadeverreallyloved，cameout，lookingpale，andstrangelydisturbed；andsatdownattable，withoutaword。
Phoebecamebacktohim，fullofthediamond。\"Didyouhearwhatshesaid，mydear?Itisadiamond；itisworthahundredandfiftypoundsatleast。Why，whatailsyou?Ah!tobesure!youknowthatlady。\"
\"Ihavecausetoknowher。Cursedjilt!\"
\"Youseemagooddealputoutatthesightofher。\"
\"Ittookmebysurprise，thatisall。\"
\"Ittakesmebysurprisetoo。Ithoughtyouwerecured。IthoughtMYturnhadcomeatlast。\"
Reginaldmetthisinsullensilence。ThenPhoebewassorryshehadsaidit；for，afterall，itwasn\'ttheman\'sfaultifanoldsweethearthadrunintotheroom，andgivenhimastart。Soshemadehimsomefreshtea，andpressedhimkindlytotryherhome-
madebreadandbutter。
Mylordrelaxedhisfrownandconsented，andofcoursetheytalkeddiamond。
Hetoldher，loftily，hemusttakeastudio，andhissittersmustcometohim，andmustnolongerexpecttobeimmortalizedforonepound。Itmustbetwopoundsforabust，andthreepoundsforakitcat。
\"Nay，but，mydear，\"saidPhoebe，\"theywillpaynomorebecauseyouhaveadiamond。\"
\"Thentheywillhavetogounpainted，\"saidMr。Falcon。
Thiswasintendedforathreat。Phoebeinstinctivelyfeltthatitmightnotbesoreceived；shecounselledmoderation。\"Itisagreatthingtohaveearnedadiamond，\"saidshe:\"but\'tisonlyonceinalife。Now，beruledbyme:goonjustasyouare。Sellthediamond，andgivemethemoneytokeepforyou。Why，youmightaddalittletoit，andsowouldI，tillwemadeituptwohundredpounds。Andifyoucouldonlyshowtwohundredpoundsyouhadmadeandlaidby，fatherwouldletusmarry，andImightkeepthisshop——
itpayswell，Icantellyou——andkeepmygentlemaninaslycorner；youneedneverbeseeninit。\"
\"Ay，ay，\"saidhe，\"thatisthesmallgame。ButIamamanthathavealwayspreferredthebiggame。Ishallsetupmystudio，andmakeenoughtokeepusboth。Sogivemethestone，ifyouplease。